Over the past few months, those of you following the MDT's Twitter stream may have seen the hashtag #MDT324 in use. What appears to be a nonsensical collection of letters and numbers actually represented an event planned to bring several of our more active twitter followers to MDT for an opportunity to meet one another in person. In total 5 "tweeps" flew or drove in from across the country for an evening "tweetup" with the airport tweeter. Each tweep has graciously agreed to share their experience in a wrap up blog series.
Julie Vessigault's post is the fourth of the wrap up series on #MDT324. Maybe we'll be seeing you at the 2012 event!
I live in Sacramento, California. Harrisburg International Airport's March 24th tweet-up was right on my way, on my upcoming trip to Lakeland, Florida- that is, timing-wise. I needed a good road trip. Greyhound dropped me off in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the morning. I simply walked down to the corner of Market Street where I caught city bus route #7 to the airport. In fifteen minutes, the driver dropped me off on the airport side of the street and pointed out a tunnel and stairway that led to the road to the airport. (While some city bus route 7s deliver you to the front door, some route 7s do not). The walk from the tunnel wasn't bad at all- about 15 minutes to the terminal door. (I was tugging a roll-aboard.)
As a pedestrian approaching the terminal a less standard way, I entered the closest doorway which put me in the baggage claim area. The cleanliness and design of the terminal impressed me, and the Welcome to Harrisburg International Airport sign greeted me as I continued toward my destination.
My destination was the Observation Area on the third floor, accessible to the public. I have to hand it to the folks at MDT, that was a great move for a modern airport terminal, and kudos to the architect who designed it so well. I enjoyed a close up view of airline operations, a C-130 and 727 performing touch 'n goes, and general aviation operations out of AvFlight with the Susquehanna River in the background...
...Which explains the "Old terminal", now vacated. As I walked the perimeter fence of the airport to check out the General Aviation FBO, Avflight, I passed the "Old Terminal". Its architecture caught my eye. From my point of view, it looked like it was designed to look like a ship on the shore of the Susquehanna River. A surreal feeling swept over me as I pondered the decades of memories and history associated with the building. I was grateful to see it. I offered a moment of silence as I imagined what its glory days may have been like.
I took a few minutes to compare the old on my right and the new on my left and felt a feeling of satisfaction that the splendor of the new building complimented and honored the legacy of the old.
With this new perspective in mind, I returned to the new terminal and proceeded to explore its first and second floors. As I walked into the Varsity Grill I instantly noted and seriously appreciated that I COULD SEE THROUGH WALLS!!! Not literally of course- where there would normally be a solid wall between the public area of the terminal and the gate area of the terminal, the whole wall was a window. Not only could I enjoy the view of the gate area, the wall between the gate area and the aircraft on the tarmac was also a window. I could see all the way to the runway! Stephanie Gehman later explained to me this was done to maximize the natural light.
Once all of the #MDT324 tweet-up participants arrived, and we received our special event T-shirts, Stephanie escorted us to the basement where we were introduced to the baggage handling system. It was fascinating to learn how this machine was able to sort through the baggage and convey it to the right waiting aircraft.
Stephanie then took us out the the aircraft ramp where we met with ramp workers and observed first hand airport operations on the ramp. We also were able to observe an incoming flight land on the runway.
Thanks to our hosts for their hospitality, the delicious dinner and pleasant company at Bricco in downtown Harrisburg.
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