Global Entry Event

A special Global Entry enrollment event was held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on April 25. There were 54 appointments processed that day.

Global Entry is a voluntary expedited clearance initiative for pre-approved low-risk international travelers, who are processed by biometric identification using a designated kiosk, rather than waiting in line for entry processing by a CBP officer when entering the U.S. at a participating airport. Watch for another Global Entry Workshop in Fargo soon.

Quarterly Spotlight: Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting

Airport Fire Chief, David Bush discusses Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting  (ARFF) at Hector International Airport. The ARFF team provides fire protection for Hector International Airport and surrounding community.  They are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They operate out of the North Dakota Air National Guard Crash Rescue facility located immediately adjacent to the airfield and can respond within seconds of an emergency occurring at the airport. The FAA requires ARFF departments to be able to respond to the mid-point of the furthest runway within 3 minutes of being alerted of an incident/accident.

To become eligible for employment, candidates are required to possess multiple certifications, including Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and Hazardous Materials Operations, as well as numerous other certifications that can be obtained upon initial employment. There are many options available to someone who desires to acquire the necessary certifications and become an Airport Firefighter.

ARFF differs from our municipal fire department partners in that ARFF is focused almost exclusively on aircraft and aircraft fuels, whereas municipal fire departments central focus is on structures/buildings. Many of the requirements for both are similar but the types of emergencies are very different with different strategies involved to mitigate these emergencies.

Members of the Hector International Airport Fire Department are expected to be familiar with multiple types of aircraft (commercial, cargo, general aviation, rotary wing aircraft, and military aircraft), aircraft fuels, and be familiar with the multitude of emergencies that can occur in an aeronautical environment.

Members are also required to meet physical fitness and appearance standards set forth by the department.  Members must also understand that they often interact with people who may be highly emotional, injured, stressed, and generally having their worst day ever and that they must be able to be professional and be able to show empathy and kindness to everyone we help.

Ekman appointed to Airport Authority

Paula Ekman was appointed to the Municipal Airport Authority for a five-year term on April 8. Ekman brings over 20 years of government and airline industry experience and is passionate about travel and giving back to our community.

She replaces Tammy Linn, whose five year term ended. We extend our appreciation to Tammy Linn for her dedication and service to the Municipal Airport Authority.

Municipal Airport Authority board members include:

• Chair – Rick Engen
• Vice-Chair – John Cosgriff
• James Kapitan
• Erik Lind
• Paula Ekman

Parking Lot Exit Plaza Update

The new parking lot Exit Plaza project will replace outdated structures located on the west side of the long-term parking lot. The new Exit Plaza is being constructed on the south end of the long-term parking lot. It is scheduled to be completed by December 2022. The existing structures will be removed in 2023 to allow for additional parking spaces.

Terminal Expansion Study Underway

Hector International Airport is in the middle of a major terminal study with the airport authority favoring a project for expansion to the east. The airport would go from 5 to 9 gates. The terminal expansion is anticipated to start spring of 2024.

The goal is to select an architect by this fall. Once the architect is selected, the Municipal Airport Authority will decide if they want to move forward with a design-bid-build process or a construction management at risk process.  The Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, airlines, and other airport passenger terminal tenants continue to be involved in the study. The public will be invited to view the preferred terminal expansion and modification alternative. The public input meetings will be scheduled later this summer or early fall.

Security Checkpoint Expansion

Three state-of-the-art advanced technology Computed Tomography (CT) checkpoint scanners that provide 3-D imaging have begun installation on July 5 at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.

“Our main concern is always passenger safety” executive director, Shawn Dobberstein said. “With the addition of this technology, we feel we are offering Fly Fargo travelers the best security solution, which also means more convenience and efficiency.”

This new equipment will now be the industry standard at all airports across the US and is similar to what is used to scan checked baggage for explosive devices. It has been “sized” to fit at checkpoints to create such a clear image of a bag’s contents that the system can automatically detect explosives, including liquids, by shooting hundreds of images with an X-ray camera spinning around the conveyor belt to provide TSA officers with the three-dimensional views of the contents of a carry-on bag. Checkpoint CT technology should result in fewer bag checks. Passengers using this machine will be permitted to leave laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags.

ArtWORKS musical performances

The ArtWORKS program at Hector International Airport hosted musical performances by local artists.  Performances ran weekly over the lunch hour from mid-June through mid-July.

The performances included:

• Matt Johnson
• Jeremy Brekke & Michael Marmorstein
• Dan Christianson
• Silver Winds Flute Quartet
• Max Johnk

For more information visit: https://theartspartnership.net/

ArtWORKS Installation

The Arts Partnership installed a new series of art at Hector International Airport on June 14. The ArtWORKS program, dedicated to placing art in the public realm, is in its fourth year at Hector International Airport. The exhibition features a series of abstract paintings by Carol Schlossman that reflect her love of our regional vistas.

The paintings in this series were inspired by Schlossman’s deep regard for our regional landscapes. North Dakota’s raw prairie horizons and Minnesota lake country’s denser, more vertical water-integrated landscapes influence her abstracted brush strokes. She approaches her paintings with formal and conceptual sensitivity, and with shapes, forms and colors that are accessible, sensory experiences.

For more information visit: https://theartspartnership.net/

Q2 Boarding Statistics

Hector International Airport’s passenger traffic continues to significantly improve.

April 2022

Hector International Airport’s airline passenger traffic in April showed an increase when compared to the same month in 2021.  In April 2022, the passenger enplanements were 33,736.  This is an increase of 24% when compared to the April 2021 passenger enplanements of 27,119.

The total passenger count for the month was 68,772, which is up 20% over the same period last year. There were 470 air carrier departures with an average of 84 seats per flight in April and an average of 2,292 total daily passengers.

May 2022

Hector International Airport’s airline passenger traffic in May showed an increase when compared to the same month in 2021.  In May 2022, the passenger enplanements were 35,607.  This is an increase of 21% when compared to the May 2021 passenger enplanements of 29,503.

The total passenger count for the month was 72,992, which is up 25% over the same period last year. There were 514 air carrier departures with an average of 83 seats per flight in May and an average of 2,355 total daily passengers.

June 2022

Hector International Airport’s airline passenger traffic in June showed a very slight decrease when compared to the same month in 2021.  In June 2022, the passenger enplanements were 36,552.  This is a decrease of -0.4% when compared to the June 2021 passenger enplanements of 36,715.

The total passenger count for the month was 74,889, which is down -0.7% over the same period last year. There were 539 air carrier departures with an average of 82 seats per flight in June and an average of 2,497 total daily passengers.