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A Long Look Inside Jobs For A Snow Broom
"2017 was a very good year for Sawyer," said Airport Manager Du- Ever hear of a snow broom? As
ane DuRay in a far-ranging interview with Marquette Mining Journal airports find new ways to keep
reporter Ryan Stieg. Passenger numbers were 14 percent higher than northern runways open during the
in the previous year, and passed the 100,000 mark for the first time in winter months, the snow broom is
seven years. becoming a popular answer. Sawyer
He pointed out that the return of service to is seeking bids for such a device via
Minneapolis-St. Paul, the gateway to western a grant through the Federal Aviation
cities, was a very popular move for the flying Administration and the Airport Im-
public. "We've seen additions in our flight provement Program. This relatively new option for airports to
schedule primarily due to passenger demands clear ice and snow right down to the pavement will help avoid
for flights through Sawyer," DuRay said. He automatic shutdowns of flights. A high-speed snow broom will
is pleased that American is adding a Saturday mean faster, cleaner runway clearing.
round-trip with Chicago O'Hare during May, and anticipates more Sawyer hopes to have the broom in service next winter.
news from American this summer.
Sawyer is in the process of moving up to a Category III airport with Testing The Big Stuff
its higher security level needed due to American Airlines bringing in Two equipment suppliers were busy testing at Sawyer during
larger aircraft. Most of the work has already been done. the recent snow season. Oshkosh Corporation ran snow removal
"Business runs at a breakneck speed in today's economy," DuRay machines through their paces and Wausau Equipment did the
said, "and when we see an increase in passenger departures, we know same with their snow removal products. The two firms leased
that the health and well-being of the Marquette area is strong. We are hangar and commercial space.
a conduit in bringing economies and business to this region." The One test involved driving through an
economic impact of airport activities and businesses is enormous. 800-foot long snow windrow to mea-
Sawyer has made major strides since moving from Negaunee Town- sure volume-per-hour rates.
ship in 1999, following the 1995 closure of the Air Force base. "They loved our 'pure' snow," said an
airport official. "There was no hidden
A Salute To Argonics junk, no hydrants, no mailboxes –just a
Among the Mining Journal reviews of various Sawyer businesses big open area, with no danger of hitting
was a tribute to Argonics as one of the coun- anything with a 150-foot throw."
try’s largest producers of wear-resistant
polyurethane products. Argonics works with What A Place!
many customers in the U.S. and in 33 coun- Here's why Sawyer Airport is an ideal testing site:
tries. In its 25th anniversary year, the firm en- • Uncrowded skies
joys a long-term lease on the Sawyer campus,
with everything under one roof. They continue to set production • Clean, fresh air
records as a successful manufacturer of high quality products. • Spacious test areas
• Experienced staff