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Category: <span>Blue Grass Airport</span>

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Blue Grass Airport Executive Director Eric Frankl Receives Federal Aviation Administration Award

LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 28, 2011 — Eric J. Frankl, A.A.E., Executive Director of Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, has been selected as the 2010 Air Carrier Airport Manager of the Year by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region. The award was presented at the annual FAA Southern Region Airports Communications Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on January 27, 2011.

“Eric Frankl has been very instrumental in the remarkable accomplishments at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport,” said Winsome A. Lenfert, Manager, Airports Division, FAA Southern Region. “Frankl’s tireless leadership has transformed Blue Grass Airport into a model facility. He is an inspiration to airport managers throughout the Southern Region.”

In his position at Blue Grass Airport, Frankl and his team have overseen more than $66 million worth of airport improvement projects to ensure a safe and efficient airport for the traveling public. Projects included renovation of the airport terminal interior and exterior, building a new crosswind general aviation runway, unveiling a new airport entrance reflective of the Bluegrass region, and taxiway, ramp and electrical vault improvements.

Under Frankl’s leadership, Blue Grass Airport has seen a 19.3 percent passenger growth rate in 2010. This double-digit increase is attributed to the welcoming of AirTran Airways in February 2010 as well as new Allegiant Air service to Punta Gorda/Southwest Florida, American Eagle service to Chicago, Delta Air Lines service to Minneapolis and US Airways service to New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

In October 2010, as the airport hosted the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Frankl led the airport through one of the busiest months in its history when it experienced a 39 percent growth in passenger enplanements over the previous year. Held every four years, attendance for the Games exceeded 500,000 spectators and included representation from 58 countries.

“We are proud of the accomplishments Eric Frankl and his staff have undertaken since his tenure at Blue Grass Airport,” said Richard Hopgood, Chairman of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board. “He has made tremendous efforts in building relationships within the aviation industry and local community, and he has led us through one of the busiest construction seasons in the airport’s history. We are pleased he is receiving this distinguished recognition and appreciate the excellent relationship he has built with the FAA.”

Since 2008, the FAA has provided Blue Grass Airport with 15 grants totaling $26 million in Airport Improvement Program funds for various airport projects including the new general aviation runway. The Southern Region is the FAA’s largest, encompassing eight southeastern states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In addition to this award, Blue Grass Airport was recognized with the FAA Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award earlier in the week at the FAA Southern Region 2011 Airport Safety and Certification Conference. Blue Grass Airport received this honor for construction of its new general aviation runway and for the development of an airport operations department.
Eric Frankl was confirmed as Executive Director of Blue Grass Airport in October 2009. In addition to his work for Blue Grass Airport, Frankl previously served as Director of Airports for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (Ohio), Executive Director for the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois and Director of Operations at Fort Wayne International Airport in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Frankl received his professional accreditation from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) in 1996, and he served as President of the AAAE Great Lakes Chapter in 2004/2005.

Blue Grass Airport, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is served by seven major airlines providing convenient non-stop service to 15 major hub cities and connecting service to hundreds of destinations worldwide.


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Blue Grass Airport Awarded Federal Aviation Administration Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award

LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 26, 2011 — Blue Grass Airport has been presented with the Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Awarded at the FAA Southern Region 2011 Airport Safety and Certification Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on January 24, the airport received this honor for construction of its new general aviation runway and associated taxiways and for the development of an airport operations department.

The FAA developed this award to promote safety among the FAA Southern Region certificated airports and to recognize actions and efforts involving an airport that deserves praise for its demonstrated effect on the advancement of safety.

“It is a tremendous honor for our airport to receive such a distinguished award,” said Eric Frankl, executive director at Blue Grass Airport. “I am proud of our operations and public safety staff as well as our maintenance staff for all of their hard work in making a number of changes over the past year. Providing a safe airfield environment for our airlines and passengers is our first priority.”

In August 2010, the airport hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new general aviation runway, Runway 9-27. This 4,000 foot runway is used by private and corporate general aviation aircraft and enhances safety during crosswind conditions. General aviation activity accounts for approximately 65% of the total operations at Blue Grass Airport.

In addition to the new runway, Blue Grass Airport has created a strong operations team over the past year that coordinates all safety and operational activities with external agencies. This includes working with the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, airlines, general aviation, tenants and other organizations.

“We are thankful for the partnership we have with the FAA, and we will continue to work together to ensure we are providing a safe and convenient airport,” Frankl added.

Blue Grass Airport, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is served by seven major airlines providing convenient non-stop service to 15 major hub cities and connecting service to hundreds of destinations worldwide.

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