Aviation View Magazine | Volume 1, Issue 4

42 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 The airport has also installed a state-of-the- art ramp light system. This upgrade operates with LED lights and lowers usage of the lights if there isn’t an aircraft on the ground. When sensors detect a plane, they power up for 15 minutes and drop the levels when the airplane has moved on. This helps to achieve less light pollution, reduces usage costs, and is greener for the environment. Management at the airport is also looking at green lighting a possible drone project that would help check perimeters, equivalent roads, and access gates. Overall, it is an exciting time to be in the aviation industry. One thing that is certain is the fact that COVID-19 has adjusted the outlook of many working pilots and airport employees on their futures in the industry. Smith admits, “A lot of pilots that were furloughed with legacy carriers have not returned to work and have found employment in the corporate world, which means regional pilots are now getting snatched up by these carriers. So, we’re busy trying to retain our pilots. Not to mention finding mechanics and gate agents.” This being said, the industry is stabilizing, and McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport is bouncing back stronger than ever. speeds up to 1 gigabit per second to private residences. The airport received several new assets including new routers and computers. Another tech upgrade has been new security systems. This has been critical for expansion plans, as Boutique Airlines interlines with American and United Airlines, who require the airport to have a TSA presence. “We’re working with the TSA and updating our security systems in regard to cameras, motion sensors, and access control, but without the upgrades from the 1 Gig plan we’d not be able to accommodate their needs,” says Smith. PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS n West Tennessee Healthcare https://www.wth.org/ Access to Care Close to Home West Tennessee Healthcare is trusted with the health and well-being of more than half a million people living across 9,000 square miles of the region. It’s a trust built over more than 70 years by thousands of compassionate physicians, nurses and caregivers. n Jackson Energy Authority www.jaxenergy.com