Release #05.037
September 6, 2005

Michigan’s Cherry Capital Airport Named ALPA Airport of the Year

WASHINGTON -- The Cherry Capital Airport was recently named the 2005 Airport of the Year by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA). The Traverse City, Michigan airport was recognized for its outstanding snow removal program and for working together with airline pilots to create the safest ground and air operations possible. 

“Cherry Capital Airport has led the nation in winter airport operations by maintaining close contact with pilots during inclement weather and identifying and removing ice, sleet and snow from the runways as quickly as possible,” said Capt. Mitchell Serber, ALPA’s Airport Ground Environment Group chairman. “We hope other airports will follow the example set by Cherry Capital and work together with pilots to make certain that aviation remains the safest mode of transportation.”

Cherry Capital’s newly revamped winter operations plan and snow removal program will provide a safer winter environment for airline operations. The plan was the result of collaboration with ALPA’s airport liaison representatives and members of the Northwest Airlines pilots’ Central Air Safety Committee. 

The award was presented during ALPA’s Air Safety Forum held in Washington, D.C. Mr. Stephen Cassens, airport operations manager, and Dr. Steven Beeker, chairman of the Cherry Capital Airport Commission, accepted the award.

Representing more than 64,000 pilots at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union. Visit the ALPA website at: http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: John Mazor or Linda Shotwell, 703-481-4440