A large crowd of employees at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) gathered Aug. 1 on the mezzanine level of Terminal 1-Lindbergh for the annual “Night to Unite” event.

The gathering is designed to strengthen police-community partnerships, generate support for crime-fighting programs and educate employees about crime awareness. 

Airport Emergency Management, Airport Fire and Airport Police joined together again this year to bring Night to Unite to airport employees and the public. 

This year’s visitors had an opportunity to meet police dogs from the Airport Police Department and see contraband found by Customs and Border Protection.

“It’s an educational and fun event for everyone involved, a chance to meet your co-workers and community members, and we had a great turnout again this year,” said Kristi Rollwagen, MSP’s manager of emergency programs. 

Fifteen airport businesses and Metropolitan Airports Commission departments participated in the event. In addition to the Airport Police and Fire Departments, participating groups included Wings Financial Credit Union; Customs and Border Protection; Navigating MSP; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Animal Ambassadors; the Transportation Security Administration; the Emergency Communications Center; Risk/Safety; Airport Watch; Caribou; Marsden; Delta DGS, and Schindler. 

Night to Unite is sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, AAA of Minnesota/Iowa and local law enforcement communities.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport’s Terminal 2-Humphrey is seeing strong passenger traffic in 2017, building on new nonstop destinations and recent facility improvements.

In the first half of 2017, passenger numbers and aircraft operations are each up approximately 10 percent over 2016.

Pictured: The new curbside check-in facility at Terminal 2.

“Terminal 2 is continuing to make improvements for our growing base of travelers,” said Scott Skramstad, manager of Terminal 2 operations. “The newly installed artwork, the curbside check-ins and the recent gate expansion all are signs of our commitment to travelers.”

A gate expansion at Terminal 2 was completed in October 2016, adding 44,000 square feet of space. 

Terminal 2 now serves 48 non-stop destinations. As passenger numbers increase, the terminal is also being served by larger planes. Operations in the first half of 2017 by 737-800s are up 14 percent and operations by 767s are up 56 percent.

If Terminal 2 was a stand-alone airport, it would now be the 61st busiest airport in North America. 

This winter, Sun Country Airlines plans to add new nonstop service to Tucson and Aruba. Starting in March, 2018, Southwest Airlines plans to add seasonal nonstop flights to Las Vegas. 

Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Senior Attorney Cameron M. Boyd has been promoted to general counsel for the organization effective Oct. 2, 2017. Boyd replaces the current general counsel, Tom Anderson, who is retiring after more than 40 years of service to the MAC.

 “Aviation is a highly regulated industry, and airport operators must navigate complex federal, state and local laws and regulations while also entering into business agreements that generate the revenue needed to operate and maintain strong airports,” said Brian Ryks, CEO and executive director for the MAC. “As a member of the MAC’s legal team for more than a dozen years, Cameron Boyd has considerable knowledge and experience of the legal issues impacting the organization. I am confident he will do a great job in this key leadership position.”

As general counsel, Boyd will provide legal counsel to the MAC board of commissioners and guide the organization on a wide range of legal matters, including regulatory compliance, operational and policy issues, legislation, court decisions, real estate transactions, contracts and grant agreements, litigation, and prosecution of non-felony criminal charges stemming from arrests made by airport police. He will oversee the organization’s eight-employee legal department as well as contracts with outside counsel.

“I’m exceptionally honored to represent the Commission in this new capacity,” Boyd said. “MSP and the MAC’s reliever airports are critical public assets that affect the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Minnesotans and Midwesterners on a daily basis. The MAC has a great legal team, and I’m confident we will continue to provide top quality legal services to the Commission as it strives to fulfill its mission.”

Boyd began working for the MAC as a legal intern in June 2000. He went on to serve as a law clerk and attorney at Lindquist & Vennum, P.L.L.P. before returning to the MAC as an attorney in July 2004. He has risen in the ranks since then, with promotions in 2011 and 2014.

While at the MAC, Boyd has overseen a wide range of legal matters, including those related to airport food, retail and passenger service concessions, labor issues, litigation, real estate leasing and airline agreements, and numerous other contracts. Notable projects include legal work related to a new hotel under construction and a major solar power installation, both at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.  

Raised in Minneapolis, Boyd attended Minneapolis Southwest High School and received a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and law from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1999 before earning his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2002.

He lives in southwest Minneapolis with his wife and two children. 

Special Olympics Minnesota is again offering the opportunity to participate in a plane pull at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport next month, as it raises money for its programs in the state.

The plane pull features teams of eight people working together to pull a Delta Air Lines jet 25 feet across the tarmac in the shortest amount of time.

Each team must raise a minimum  of $1,000 in pledges. When you register, you'll create your own event web page where you can collect pledges online.

The event is being held on Saturday, Sept. 9 starting at 9 a.m. at a hangar located at 7109 Longfellow Ave., on the west side of the airfield along Cedar Avenue.

In recent years the event has drawn hundreds of people, including participants and spectators. Food trucks will be on site again this year and there are activities for kids too, including a miniature version of a plane built by Pat Joyce, a MAC carpenter, which can be pulled around the hangar.

Find out more about the event or register your team here.

The plane pull is hosted by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Delta Air Lines, HMS Host, and Endeavor Air and benefits programs that serve more than 8,200 Special Olympics Minnesota Athletes. 

As the weather starts to turn toward cooler temperatures, the Metropolitan Airports Commission is seeking seasonal workers to help with snow and ice removal, as well as other duties.

Seasonal employees perform field maintenance work in all areas of the airport, including road repairs, fencing, signage, trash collection and general cleanup of air operational areas and public areas of the airport.

The work may include operating trucks, sweepers, tractors, mowers, snow plows, snow blowers, sanders, liquid chemical application vehicles, concrete saws, jack-hammers and related equipment.

A full job description and application information can be found here.

The seasonal positions are anticipated to last about five months. Those hired are eligible to receive medical, dental, vacation and other benefits. The hourly rate is expected to be $19.43 based on 2016 contract rates. The anticipated hours are 10:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, with possible overtime during snow events.