ACPA and the Kentucky Concrete Association (KCA) met with Kentucky Department of Aviation Commissioner Mark Carter to promote concrete overlays as a rehabilitation strategy for Kentucky’s general aviation airports. ACPA’s Chief Engineer, Gary Mitchell, attended the meeting with KCA’s Executive Director, Brett Ruffing, and KCA’s Director of Education and Marking, Greg Smith, to explain the sustainability and resiliency benefits of long-life concrete overlays. The trio also met with Todd Bloch, American Engineers, Inc.’s Director of Aviation and former Department of Aviation Commissioner, along with AEI’s Director of Aviation Engineering, Dwight Clayton, to discuss potential projects. AEI is the consultant for several airports across the state.

“Commissioner Carter and AEI both understand the FAA’s push to use more sustainable designs – a goal which concrete overlays help achieve, given their long-life performance. Both are open to these types of rehab strategies moving forward,” Mitchell stated.

The group also met with Mark Day, Director of Development and Facilities at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, as well as Seth Cutter, Director of Communications and Government Affairs at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), which houses the DSL and Amazon distribution hubs.

“The relationships Brett and Greg have built around the State are outstanding, and they have already promoted several new concrete facilities at Kentucky Airports, including the Gallatin County Airport, which has a new facility currently under construction,” Mitchell added. While at CVG, the group toured the new Amazon Phase I South Area Development location, a $1.5 billion facility that spans over 600 acres of concrete pavement.