Unique Aviation: Airport Fights Mother Nature with CASPER
Seeding fog? No, that doesn't mean planting. CASPER? Not the friendly ghost. Combined, however, a creative response from an airport to a natural phenomenon that limits the airport's ability to serve its customers.
Rogue Valley-Medford International Airport (MFR) is a commercial service airport located in Jackson County, Oregon. With over 630,000 annual passengers, It is served by four commercial airlines while three fixed base operators provide general aviation services. Due to its geographic location, portions of the Rogue Valley experience temperature inversions during the winter which produce signifcant fog and can last for weeks (see wikipedia). Visibility is reduced and as a result aircraft operations at the Airport can be severely impacted. Rather than accept this limitation and its economic impact on the surrounding region, the Airport staff has developed a fog-reducing system known as CASPER, “cable attached system providing effective release”. This system, created in the airport operations shop, disperses dry ice particles over fog, which in turn bind to the fog particles causing them to freeze and dissipate. The seeding is completed using a remote-controlled vehicle pulling a helium balloon and replaces an older system that required using an aircraft to seed the fog. Safety testing has been completed, and the FAA has certified the use of CASPER.
Saving time and fuel, reducing risks and eliminating an impediment to successful aircraft operations. A huge win-win for this Airport and the region it serves. What unique system or process being used in airport operations have you heard about?
