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Posts Tagged ‘Eugene Airport’

Big Day for EUG

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Duck Fans to the Rose Bowl!

Rose Bowl fever hit the Willamette Valley in December as the 7th ranked University of Oregon Ducks made the voyage from Eugene to Pasadena to play the 8^th ranked Ohio Buckeyes. Even though the Ducks were not victorious in the game, the Eugene Airport celebrated a major victory.

December 30^th was not a usual day at the Eugene Airport. On a normal holiday travel day about 1,100 passengers depart from EUG. On December 30^th the airport had that number of people stepping onto an airplane in the first three hours of the day. By 1 PM we had processed over 1,700 departing passengers and by day’s end the 2,000 mark was passed. This more than doubled our average number of passengers, about 980, per day.

Why the major traffic flying out of EUG? We had six Rose Bowl charters carrying Duck alumni and supporters to LA for the big game. Starting with a 280-passenger Boeing 767 that departed at 7 AM (which is during our busy morning push) and followed by four Boeing 737 charters and an MD-80 charter.

Even with double our normal daily passenger count everything went very smoothly. Thanks to numerous planning meetings held between the airport staff and tenants, a plan was developed to accommodate the additional traffic. The TSA developed “Operation Duck” which allowed them to accommodate twice the amount of passengers and maintain a screening line that resulted in wait times not over ten minutes. Airport staff and Eugene Police monitored the curb-front to prevent gridlock. Our food and retail concessions ramped up to handle the additional onslaught of business and accommodated the crowds with minimal wait times.

Thanks to the hard work and planning on everyone’s part the day was a success. All of our normal passenger traffic was able to depart on their way to their holiday destinations and almost a thousand Duck fans were able to head to sunny LA to see the granddaddy of all college football games.

Now we are relaxing and taking some good notes so we can prepare for the next time the Ducks or OSU Beavers go to the Rose Bowl.

Tags: Charter, EUG, Eugene Airport, Pasadena, Rose Bowl, Travel, UO Ducks
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Flying Through The Fog

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Fog at the Eugene Airport

The other day two flights were cancelled at the Eugene Airport and a third flight diverted to another airport due to fog. It’s certainly not something we like to see. You might think this happens quite often, given how foggy the Willamette Valley can be in the winter. Fortunately, it doesn’t impact the Eugene Airport too much thanks to some pretty snazzy equipment in use at EUG.

It’s called a Category III Instrument Landing System. Not many Airports the size of EUG have equipment that allows for very low visibility landings; in this case, what’s called a Runway Visual Range, between 1200 to 600 feet. Less than 600 feet visibility is when the fog is like pea soup and nothing is landing. (This happens very rarely.)

Three things have to work in tandem to make the system work; the Cat III ILS equipment on the ground, Head Up Display equipment on the aircraft, and a pilot trained to use it. Most of the aircraft and pilots landing and taking off at the Eugene Airport are able to use the system. There are a few aircraft and/or pilots not equipped to use it and that’s generally when fog results in a cancellation or diversion.

When the Cat III system was put in place in December 2005 it made a huge difference at the Eugene Airport. Instead of frequent diversions and cancelations due to low visibility, most flights now arrive and depart as scheduled, unaffected by the fog.

Tags: cancellation, diversion, EUG, Eugene Airport, fog, weather
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Consider a Career in Aviation

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

: Eugene Airport Director Tim Doll, A.A.E.

As the economy slid into a recession over the past year and the unemployment rate has climbed, it is a good time for individuals looking at career changes to consider working in the aviation industry. This is also a good time for students in high school to consider a career in aviation. When I talk to people about careers in aviation they automatically think either a pilot or flight attendant. Those are only two positions of thousands that are available in the field of aviation. Aviation jobs are available in the airline industry, airport industry, space industry, manufacturing industry, business industry, general aviation industry, food and retail concessions and many other industries that I have not listed.

For this blog entry, I want to focus on jobs that can be found at a local air carrier airport such as the Eugene Airport. I will start with positions that work directly for the airport owner. These positions range from janitorial positions to the Airport Director position. Do you enjoy working with trees, grass, bushes? Maybe a career as an airport landscape person would be right for you. If you prefer pavement work or painting, airfield maintenance positions cover those areas. If you are more of an office type person, airports have jobs related to administrative work, human resources work, financial accounting, grant administration, marketing and public relations, information technology and other administrative functions. An exciting job in the airport field is Airport Operations. These positions allow the employee to be on the airfield inspecting the facilities to make sure all regulations are met and that a safe and secure environment is maintained. These positions are also stepping stones into higher management level positions at airports. Are you outgoing and like people, maybe a job with terminal maintenance is right for you. Interact with thousands of people a day as you help maintain the terminal building in a clean, safe and secure manner.

Other job opportunities at your local air carrier airport include working for the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller, management, administration or technical services. If you like federal government, another possibility would be working for the Transportation Security Administration. Airlines offer all types of jobs from ramp work which includes loading and unloading airplanes, ticket counter and gate area representatives as well as pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers and all other administrative jobs you would find with any business. Love small private airplanes? Get a job with a fixed based operator. These jobs range from ramp work to fueling to administrative type positions as well as flight instructors, and ground instructors. Like working in the restaurant business but wish you could be near airplanes, careers are available at airport restaurants and lounges. Bartenders, waiters/waitresses, cooks, etc are all needed to run a restaurant at an airport. Prefer selling retail, work as a sales person at an airport gift shop.

No matter what your desire is, you should be able to find a job and career in aviation. From engineering to executive management to working in the outdoors mowing fields, the opportunities are endless. Aviation careers are rewarding and if you love airplanes and flying, you will enjoy coming to work each day and experience the marvel of flight.

Tags: aviation, careers, Eugene Airport, jobs
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The Official Complaint Taker

Friday, September 25th, 2009

I tell people I am “The Official Complaint Taker” for the Eugene Airport, which often they think is funny, but it’s true. I feel very strongly that passengers and other patrons at EUG should be able to speak to a real and empathetic person when they have a concern or complaint about their experience at our airport, so I have appointed myself this person.

Fortunately at EUG I don’t get too many complaints. Most people find our airport friendly and easy all the way around: easy access, check-in, security screening, and boarding for departures, and easy to navigate upon arrival. We have some of the most professional and friendly tenant partners around: airlines, TSA, car rental agents, etc.

Commercial air travel today is not always easy and sometimes I do get complaints. From my experience, attitude is everything. Passengers are pretty understanding about delays due to weather or mechanical issues. Most realize that there is a domino effect that happens; when flights in one region get backed up, it can back up flights across the nation. What they do not tolerate is bad attitudes and I completely understand. The vast majority of the complaints I receive could have been avoided by people just being nice.

I don’t have a hammer. That’s my way of saying I have no power over how our tenant partners deal with our passengers. What I do have to wield is constant contact with our airline station and tenant managers to mitigate problems. I answer and follow up on every complaint, encourage apologies and corrective action, and reinforce how we want passengers at EUG to be treated. Sometimes this means even taking it to the corporate level.

Traveling can be stressful, but there are some things passengers can do to help ensure a good experience. Be prepared; come to the airport 90-minutes before your flight (120-minutes during heavy holiday travel), know your airline’s baggage requirements (weight, fees, and carry-on), listen and follow directions at check-in and security screening, and above all be nice! My mom always told me growing up: “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar,” so when something does go awry, try the nice approach first. I guarantee you’ll get better service than the guy next to you who’s yelling at the ticket agent.

Tags: air travel, airline complaints, EUG, Eugene Airport, travel tips
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Eugene Intergalactic Spaceport in our Future?

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

As I was relaxing on a recent Delta Airlines flight between St. Louis and Atlanta, I reflected back on how far aviation has progressed since the December 17th, 1903, first piloted powered flight. Orville Wright piloted the first flight which lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet which is a shorter distance than the length of the airplane I was sitting in.

Over the past 105 years, commercial air travel grew into an industry that we know and love today. From the classic DC-3 aircraft that revolutionized air transport in the 1930’s and 1940’s to the invention of jet aircraft commercial travel in the 1950’s, passenger were taking to the skies for their travel needs. In 1903 it is hard to believe that Orville and Wilbur would have any idea that in 67 years 336 passengers aboard a Boeing 747 traveling between New York and London would usher in the age of jumbo jets weighing close to a million pounds or supersonic travel would be available on the Concorde flying at 1,330 miles per hour.

If all this happened in a short 105 years, imagine what can happen in the next 105 years. In 2025 passengers might be traveling in aircraft that no longer require oil based fuels to propel them. These new designed aircraft will steadily evolve into sleeker more efficient transport devices that can fly at higher altitudes with higher speeds and more passenger room but still operate out of our current airport structure.

With the race to provide commercial space travel already underway, I can imagine a time in the next thirty years that we will see passengers not only transported to locations anywhere on earth but to bases on other planets and the moon. Air travel may become what was depicted in the early 1960’s cartoon “The Jetsons .”

Whatever transpires in the aviation industry, the Eugene Airport or possibly the future Eugene Intergalactic Spaceport, will be there to serve the travelers of western Oregon.

Tags: commercial air travel, Concorde, Eugene Airport, first flight, Intergalactic, Orville Wright, Spaceport, The Jetsons
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I Dream of Eugenie

Friday, July 10th, 2009

In my last blog entry I dreamed a bit about taking advantage of our new air service between Eugene and Oakland, just spur of the moment hopping on a flight, and what I would do while I was in the Bay Area. This entry is focused on travelers living in the Bay Area, or really anywhere else, coming to visit western Oregon.

resized5th-Street-exterior I love being a tourist in my own back yard. I’m guilty (as are many Oregonians) of taking for granted the fantastically unique opportunities our state has to offer, so I make a concerted effort to practice what I preach and get out and experience them. Here’s an insider’s look at the cool things to do on a long weekend in western Oregon.

From the Bay Area, I’d fly in on Allegiant Air’s Friday mid-day flight, grab my bags, a rental car and a Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor’s Guide and hit the road. With check in time at 3 p.m. at my hotel, I’d take advantage of this little gap of time to survey the area, taking a drive through downtown Eugene, and checking out the view atop Skinner Butte:

http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=675&PageID=1568&cached=true&mode=2&userID=2

There are so many great sights, eateries, and places to stay in the Eugene area. I’ll mention a few of my favorites, but your best resource for everything good and fun is the Eugene, Cascades & Coast website:

http://www.travellanecounty.org

After getting settled in my hotel I’d take a walk (depending on hotel location) over to the 5th Street Public Market:

http://www.5stmarket.com

There are great shops and restaurants in this historic building that was originally a poultry processing plant. More shops are located along the 5th street side.

If I arrive on the first Friday of the month I’ll take advantage of the Lane Art Council’s First Friday ArtWalk:

http://www.lanearts.org/communityarts/firstfriday.

The free guided tours take visitors through the many galleries in downtown Eugene, which open their doors, offer refreshments, and a chance to meet many of the artists.

I’d keep it casual for dinner. The Pacific Northwest is known for its microbrew and there are several breweries located in the Eugene/Springfield area worth a visit. Here are a few:

Hop Valley Brewing Co. http://www.hopvalleybrewing.com

Eugene City Brewery http://www.rogue.com

Steelhead Brewing Co. http://www.steelheadbrewery.com

McMenamins http://www.mcmenamins.com

Saturday I’m up early so I can enjoy one of the Eugene/Springfield area’s many running trails. Find the Oregon Track Club’s printable runner’s map here:

http://www.oregontrackclub.org/images/runnersmap_07.pdf

Then it’s on to the Saturday Market in the Park Blocks at 8th and Oak in downtown Eugene, including local crafts, live music, great food, and a farmer’s market. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday, spring to fall, this is where to experience true local flavor:

http://www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org

During the summer months there are so many festivals in the region that chances are one will be happening when I visit. The Eugene, Cascades & Coast website mentioned above offers a calendar of what’s happening:

http://www.travellanecounty.org/calendar

Things not to miss… Art in the Vinyard, the Scandinavian Festival, the Lane County Fair, and the Eugene Celebration.

Sunday I’ll take a drive up to the wineries. There are so many in the region! Here’s where to find the Wineries of Lane County:

http://www.wineriesoflanecounty.com

Here are links to three that are close together:

http://www.kingestate.com

http://www.sweetcheekswinery.com

http://www.silvanridge.com

Back in town for dinner I’d find a great new place to try. It is criminal to go to a chain restaurant when visiting someplace new! I’d ask around and see where the local folks point me. Some frequently mentioned spots include Cafe Zenon and:

http://www.marcherestaurant.com

http://www.luckynoodle.com

http://www.adamsplacerestaurant.com

http://www.oesrestaurant.com

http://www.ambrosiarestaurant.com

Headed home on Monday I’d arrive early at the Eugene Airport (http://www.flyEUG.com) for my 1:30 p.m. departure back to Oakland and have lunch at Wings Bar & Grille. This is not your typical airport food! The pre-security screening, full-service restaurant offers fresh Northwest cuisine. If I’m short on time I can still find some great to-go meals upstairs at the Avolare’ Deli Bar & Lounge.

I dreamed up a great long weekend of adventure… hope you do too!

Tags: 5th Street Market, Adams Place Restaurant, Ambrosia, Art in the Vinyard, Avolare Deli Bar & Lounge, Bay Area, Cafe Zenon, Eugene Airport, Eugene Cascades & Coast, Eugene Celebration, Eugene City Brewery, Eugene Oregon, First Friday ArtWalk, Hop Valley Brewing Co., King Estate, Lane Art Council, Lane County Fair, Lucky Noodle, Marche Restaurant, McMenamins, Oakland California, Oregon Electric Station, Oregon Track Club, Rogue, Running, Saturday Market, Scandinavian Festival, Silvan Ridge Winery, Skinner Butte Park, Steelhead Brewery, Sweet Cheeks Winery, Travel Lane County, western Oregon, Wineries of Lane County, Wings Bar & Grille
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Dreaming About a Little Bay Area Getaway

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Allegiant Air's inaugural flight between Eugene and Oakland.

With all the excitement surrounding Allegiant Air starting service between Eugene and Oakland this week it got me dreaming about stepping onto that inaugural flight at the last minute. Sure I might have had a few inconveniences without any luggage, but I think I could have made do.

I’ve visited family in the Bay Area at least once a year for the past 20 years. I even lived in The Haight for one summer during college… quite the adventure. The Bay Area is a fun place to visit and one that is easily navigated via public transportation.

So what would I do on my impromptu visit? Well, I’d try not to be too touristy, and do what the locals do when I visit. I would take the AirBART Shuttle from the Oakland International Airport (http://www.flyoakland.com/index2.cfm) to the BART Coliseum/Oakland Station (http://www.flyoakland.com/bart_airbart.shtml), and then take BART under the bay into San Francisco.

After getting settled in my hotel I’d head out for a hike up to North Beach (assuming I’m staying downtown), check out the sights along the way, and find a great restaurant to grab a bite to eat.

On Tuesday, I would head down to The Ferry Building Marketplace at the end of Market Street. I love going to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. It is a California certified farmers market operated by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. The market is open on Tuesday and Saturday. http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

Another thing I love to do in the Bay Area is visit Crissy Field. This is another great place to walk by the bay or rent a bicycle, do some exploring, and get some exercise. http://www.parksconservancy.org/our_work/crissy/visit.asp

I always enjoy heading over, again via BART, to Berkeley for the day for lunch and unique shopping opportunities along Telegraph Avenue. Then it’s off for some fun and people watching at Tilden Park http://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden. A little too far to walk from the UC Berkeley area, but it’s easy to get to on the bus. http://www2.actransit.org/maps/index.php. Use the http://511.org trip planner to get it all figured out.

Be sure to find a copy of http://www.themonthly.com for a listing of events and happenings in the East Bay Area. You never know what gem you might stumble upon while you’re there.

On my family’s visit to San Francisco last summer we stayed at a house in the Ingleside Terrace neighborhood. One of the things we missed out on that I’d love to catch this summer is the Stern Grove Festival (http://www.sterngrove.org) that features free outdoor concerns throughout the summer.

Next time… what Bay Area travelers can enjoy on a visit to Eugene!

Tags: Allegiant Air, East Bay, Eugene Airport, Oakland, Oakland International Airport, San Francisco Bay Area, Travel
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