Airport Life: Family Experiences

This post is a continuation of Harrisburg International Airport's mini-series in blogging: Airport Life. This series explores the airport community from business and leisure travelers to airport staff.


Saying goodbye is often the hardest part about a trip to the airport. For Bill Leachman of Adams County, Pa., this became all too real as he and his three-year-old son William as they arrived at Harrisburg International Airport on April 1, 2011. An emotional occasion, Bill’s wife Tracie is a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Heading down to Fort Gordon, Ga., Tracie and her family will be separated for five months, while she is participating in military operations.

William Leachman and his wife Tracie, of the PA National Gaurd

Upon arrival at Harrisburg International Airport, the family prepared to say goodbye just outside of security. As they reached the ticket counter, however, the family was met with a surprise that Bill interpreted as an April Fool’s Day joke. Seeing that Tracie is a part of the military, the Delta Air Lines service representative asked Bill if he would like to see his wife off at the Delta gate instead of pre-security, a privilege that most airlines offer to military personnel and their families.


Elated by the news, Bill and his son William were able to with Tracie before boarding the plane to her connection in Atlanta. With an unusually cold April day, Tracie’s flight was delayed for deicing. What could come as a frustration delay to some, turned out to be a nice treat for the family as they got to steal a little bit more time together.
With daughters Katrina and Trinity at home, Bill and William were able to return home with a meaningful memory to help the family cope with the distance: something that “meant the world” to Bill.


As a self-proclaimed fan of the customer-service-oriented HIA experience, Bill (@help_nonprofits) and his three children gave us a chance to get to know his family a little better by attending our SpringUp tweet up at MDT on April 9. Flying wooden airplanes while waiting for real airplanes to take off and land on the observation deck, the passion that Bill and his family hold for people, for flying, and for family shined through.

Two of Bill's children playing with wooden airplanes at MDT!

In the coming months we wish Bill, his wife Tracie, and their three wonderful children the best of luck during a difficult time. And above all we look forward to Tracie’s return to the south central Pennsylvania region.

Tweeting up with fellow #avgeeks - #MDT324

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.


Amanda's post is the final of the wrap up series on #MDT324. Maybe we'll be seeing you at the 2012 event!

To be honest, before #MDT324, I thought Twitter was pretty stupid. I only started to tweet because my "cool travel friends" were doing it. I jokingly told Stephanie that MDT should host a behind-the-scenes-tour of the airport, and she tweeted back, asking if I would fly to MDT. I said "sure, why not,?" but I didn't expect it to actually happen!

Imagine my surprise when suddenly we had an event date. And then there was a list of people, like myself, who were going to fly across the country to see the inner-workings of an amazing airport? Suddenly Twitter wasn't so stupid, it was something that was connecting me to fellow aviation geeks!

I flew into the airport early to get a sense of the place. I checked myself into the airport-managed Susquehanna Club, which is a great place for frequent travelers such as myself to kick back and relax before a flight. I also grabbed some lunch at Subway. I was impressed with the dining choices at MDT, certainly a lot more than at my home airport of Omaha. Also, everyone at MDT was genuinely friendly. Flying as much as I do- you really notice when airport staff goes above and beyond. I'm happy to say everyone I met at MDT was friendly!

Finally, the moment arrived when the "tweeps" would actually "tweetup." I didn't really know what to expect, but, as soon as I met everyone, I knew we were kindred spirits. As we explored the airport together, seeing places that I have only dreamed of seeing in the past (hello, baggage handling system!), I suddenly realized that Twitter wasn't so dumb.

I want to thank Stephanie for the amazing and informational tour, and to my fellow "tweeps for life"- Chris, Laura, Mike, Julie and Hans. If nothing else, you guys will always be my twitter friends, right?..

My Trip to Harrisburg International Airport: #MDT324

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.

Airport Life: Business Travel

This post is a continuation of Harrisburg International Airport's mini-series in blogging: Airport Life. This series explores the airport community from business and leisure travelers to airport staff.

Aside from those who physically work at an airport, business travelers spend much of their time frequenting the sky and the gateways that lead to it. This week we caught up with Bill Forster the executive vice president of Maine Pointe, LLC and Gary Bupp a national instructor for Tyco Electronics.

With frequent flyer miles being the common thread that weaves these two businessmen together, both Forster and Bupp spend a considerable amount of time away from home. For example, every Sunday Forster leaves his home in south central Pennsylvania. Traveling throughout the week to many different locations across the U.S., he doesn’t return until Friday night to spend the weekends with his family. A military man, serving in the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Air Force Reserves, Forster has spent much of his time in and out of airports.

After serving in the armed services, Forster became a field consultant for Chick-fil-A, opening several hundred stores in malls across America. In fact, to-date Forster has traveled globally for various jobs since 1982. Currently Forster works as the executive vice president of Maine Pointe, a position he has held for the last six and a half years.

Leaving home just a little less than Forster, Bupp usually travels for two weeks every month, where he is gone for three to four days at a time. Roving internationally with a focus on the United States and Canada, Bupp has worked as a national trainer with Tyco Electronics for 27 years. In this hands-on role, Bupp is able to work with a network of employees worldwide on emerging technologies.

While both find life as a regular traveler trying at times with various weather and general delays rampant and missed time with family, both Forster and Bupp admit that they still enjoy traveling. Some of Bupp’s favorite locations include California, Colorado, Canada, and Florida,where he is able to spend time with his son. And while it may seem with the amount of time spent traveling that these men must have visited the entire globe, there are places they still need to cross off their maps. For instance, Forster has traveled to every state except Hawaii.

Both living in the south central Pennsylvania region, Forster and Bupp have racked up enough frequent flyer miles to land themselves in the Susquehanna Club before they leave for their destinations. Visiting various reward lounges like Delta, U.S. Air, and United Airlines, they both agree that Harrisburg International Airport’s customer-based club is a nice, quiet substitute to airline-exclusive clubs.

The Susquehanna Club

While life up in the air can often be tiresome, both businessmen take pride in the services they are able to offer. While Forster jokingly described traveling as an “evil means to an end,” both Forster and Bupp assert it is the new people and new experiences that always keep airport life enjoyable.

I’m an HIA #Superfan for life! - #MDT324

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.



Chris Stotz's post is the third of the wrap up series on #MDT324. Maybe we'll be seeing you at the 2012 event!

Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) is my hometown airport. I was born and raised in central Pennsylvania, graduated from Penn State in 1998, and lived in Harrisburg until I moved to Fort Lauderdale in late 2002. I remember the original Harrisburg Airport, the newer terminal in the 1980s, and I’m thrilled with the new facility. Until I moved out of the area in 2002, I was flying in and out of HIA all the time. I think the progress of HIA over the years, and what it has become today, really reflects how special and unique central Pennsylvania is. I’m so proud of what HIA has become, and it was exciting to be a part of a special event showing off HIA known by Twitter followers as #MDT324.

#MDT324 was a gathering of HIA Twitter followers from all over the United States. Stephanie Gehman, Marketing Manager for HIA, has developed an impressive online presence for the airport on websites like Facebook and Twitter. She coordinated the event with the HIA fans, and provided a special “VIP” behind-the-scenes tour of the airport. For me, it was a very special event because this state-of-the-art airport, with bright and shiny concourses, busy gates, and great vendors like Starbucks and Subway, is the kind of airport I’ve always imagined for Harrisburg and the surrounding area. It’s nice when you can return to the place you grew up and lived as a younger adult and see things going well, especially in this current economic climate. It was a great feeling to see people from around the country be impressed with what I think is the perfect airport.

In the last few years I’ve been especially lucky to be able to enjoy direct, nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Harrisburg on AirTran Airways. This makes it very easy and affordable to fly home and visit family and friends, with a flight time of about two hours. Lucky for me, there are many options and carriers going in and out of HIA, so getting home to central Pennsylvania will never be difficult no matter where I am. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again…there’s no place like home!

I really am proud to call HIA my hometown airport, and appreciate the opportunity to connect with HIA on Facebook and Twitter and make lasting friendships with other fans of what has become an airport that many cities would envy. Thank you to everyone involved with the #MDT324 event, and the friendly and hard working staff at HIA, especially Stephanie, for making this fly-in possible, and making HIA a pleasant and “hip” airport!

Confessions of an Outsider: #MDT324

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.

Laura Morgan's post is the second of the wrap up series on #MDT324.  Maybe we'll be seeing you at the 2012 event!

By day I’m a copyeditor, living in the world of books. By night, well, if you know me on Twitter, you know I’m a wife (@heyhusband). And if you know my husband, @Mike_J_Morgan, you know he likes planes. A lot. As we drive down I-35, our conversation frequently comes to an abrupt Mike-just-saw-an-airplane stop. And then, quick! Opentheglovebox! He’s got to get out his ATC receiver to listen to the pilots of aforementioned celestial metal beast.


It’s obvious why Mike went to #MDT324, but why me? I can’t tell you the difference between a 737 and a 747, nor do I really care as long, as they get me where I’m going as quickly as possible. I guess I went to the Tweetup because I wanted to meet these other humans who have weird obsessions with aviation.

I could tell you about the airport, and I would have good things to say (it’s got a great atmosphere and awesome rocking chairs), but I’m no expert on the technical side. There was a runway, some gates, and a nifty massage nook. It was an airport; it was what I expected.

Sort of.

Harrisburg International has a pulse, a heart. As Stephanie, a vital member of a team that gives MDT this life, guided us through the bowels and out on to the extremities, we encountered other people who were excited about their work and were glad to see that we were touring their domain. We immediately could tell that everyone who works at MDT is dedicated because even the places the majority of patrons never see were immaculate.

And then there were the Tweeps. Those humans with weird obsessions. Those people with passion. My new friends who also happen to like airplanes and MDT. I still don’t understand why they like planes so much, but I know exactly why they like flying in and out of MDT. I also know they’re people just like me who are dedicated to planes and terminals in much the same way I’m dedicated to hardbacks and libraries. We had a wonderful evening getting to know one another, and I’m heartily looking forward to our next Tweetup.

How MDT Brings People Together - #MDT324

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. 

Mike Morgan is our first wrap up post today. Enjoy and maybe we'll see you at #MDT324 2012!

When you travel to an airport, you don't think, "Yes, I'll be back here next year, at this exact time." But if you were one of the lucky few who attended #MDT324 at Harrisburg International Airport, that was your thought.

On March 24th, 2011, Myself, @heyhusband (my wife Laura), @juliewillfly, @chris_stoltz, and @travlinsalesgal (Amanda) were hosted by Stephanie Gehman, Marketing Manager at Harrisburg International Airport, and her husband, Hans, for an evening of airports, airplanes, good food, and great friends.

We journeyed from all across the country. Laura and I traveled from Oklahoma City. Julie rode the Greyhound bus from Sacramento. Chris flew from Fort Lauderdale, and Amanda flew in from Omaha. We all had one thing in common, we love travel. We met at the airport at 5 o'clock to begin our exciting evening.

Checking out the baggage system.

Stephanie took us on a tour of the airport. It started with a look at the baggage system. Having seen the system before, it was neat to watch others see it for the first time. If you haven't read my review of MDT (view it at http://bit.ly/HIAReview), you may not know about the baggage system. The system was designed to take a lot of hand work out of baggage handling. As a bag travels down conveyors, it is scanned and shipped to the correct airline. It's an amazing system, and was the first of its kind. You'll now find these systems in airports all around the world.


@JulieWillFly on the MDT ramp

After that Stephanie guided us to ramp where we got to watch a few arrivals and departures. It was a unique experience for many. Amanda and Julie were both very excited to just be wondering around on the ramp. I realize that for some people, like my wife, being on the ramp is boring, but for true #avgeeks, the ramp is a place of magic. I mean, where else can you just walk right up to a 747? Please note that there were no 747's on the ramp at MDT, but any ramp is still magical.

To finish up, Stephanie showed us the terminal, and then it was off to eat!

The magic of any tweetup really happens when everyone is sitting around a dinner table. Our conversation started with banter about which airline was best, or why Boeing really is better than Airbus (please note, this is the author's opinion, not MDT's). But it didn't take long before we all began to chat about our histories, and our lives. We found that we have a lot more in common that just being #avgeek's. This is the kind of connection that can't be found on Twitter or Facebook. This is real life.

As the evening ended, we parted ways. Julie headed on to the Sun-N-Fun fly-in. Laura and I headed to Erie. Amanda went to visit a friend. Chris went stayed in Harrisburg to spend some time with his family. And Stephanie and Hans headed home.



Look a plane!

 The relationships I had online became real. And it's only because Harrisburg International Airport could bring us together. I want to thank Stephanie and the entire airport for allowing us to come visit. And I want you all to know that Julie, Chris, Amanda, Stephanie, and Hans are amazing people to know. And, of course, a special thanks to my wife for joining us. She is a special person for putting up with my love for airplanes.


We hope to have #MDT324 become a yearly event, and I want to invite you to join us next year! This is a great opportunity to meet people from around the country who love the aviation industry as much as you!

Fish and Crabs and Shrimp; oh my!

Get hooked!  No, no, we're not talking about the sea shore!  But, we are delighted to announce that Phillips Seafood will be the latest in the restaurant mix available at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT).  In the next few days, the current Varsity Grill be permanently shutting its doors and re-opening as Phillips in mid-April, 2011.  Ticketed passengers arriving at or departing from MDT will be able to access the new restaurant beyond the security checkpoint.

So, still stuck on the fish, crabs and shrimp?  Check out the Phillips Seafood menu for the full array of delectable options to choose!


What will you be dining on during your first trip to the Midstate's newest Phillips?

Airport Life: The Customer Information Team

This post is a continuation of Harrisburg International Airport's mini-series in blogging: Airport Life. This series explores the airport community from business and leisure travelers to airport staff.

Carol Watkins,  Susquehanna Club attendant

“I enjoy helping people,” she said with a smile.

Carol Watkins, attendant at the Harrisburg International Airport’s Susquehanna Club, wants to be the guiding hand that aids you in the airport experience. With a pay-it-forward attitude, Carol filled the shoes of an HIA passenger not too long ago.

 On a trip with her husband through the airport, Carol stopped at the information desk to get some advice about her flight. As they left, her husband expressed that an airport customer service representative was exactly the type of job that would be perfect for her. As fate would have it, just a few weeks later Carol came across an advertisement for a position at the airport.


If you can’t find Carol at the information desk on the public side of the terminal, you’ll find her in her living room away from home: The Susquehanna Club, Harrisburg International Airports frequent flyer lounge. The club offers frequent travelers from all airlines a quiet place to work or relax before a flight. Acting as the gatekeeper to the club’s amenities, Carol ensures that club members are able to grab a complimentary beverage, use the free Wi-Fi, or even conduct a business meeting in the conference room.

 One of Carol’s favorite parts of her job is getting to know the frequent flyers that pass through the Susquehanna Club. And, with the intimate feel of the club, Carol is able to get to know a lot of the regulars before they jet off from MDT.


Above all, Carol enjoys the satisfaction she gets from being able to help others, because in the end it’s just what she loves to do.


Airport staff and airlines work hard to ensure customer satisfaction. As airport staff work to help the public, do you think the services provided at airports meets customer demands? If so what are some good examples you’ve found in your travels?

And if remembering the exact date of her first day isn’t a testament to her wealth of knowledge, Carol works hard to ensure that she can help you answer whatever question you may have as you travel through our hub.
Before becoming an on-staff airport guru, Carol brought smiles to a different industry: dentistry. For 20 years, she worked as a receptionist in a local dental office. Moving on to MDT, Carol’s first day with the airport was May 16, 2007.

Airport Life: Pilot Introduction

Harrisburg International Airport would like to introduce our next mini-series in blogging: Airport Life. This series will explore the airport community from business and leisure travelers to airport staff.

Tom Bouck, Airline Pilot

And with that, let us introduce to you retired Continental Airlines pilot and Vietnam veteran Tom Bouck. From a young age Tom knew he wanted to become a pilot. Watching airplanes fly in and out of Schenectady County Airport in upstate New York, with his grandfather, he dreamed of one day joining these aviators in the sky as he watched from the ground.


Fast-forwarding to his stint in the Marines, Tom trained as an air traffic controller. Guiding aircrafts in and out of Marine bases, he came one step closer to realizing his dreams.


After serving for our country, he studied to obtain his private and commercial pilots licenses in Arizona. But with a combination of a competitive job market and a decreased need for pilots in the 1970’s, Tom began working for the FAA as an air traffic controller.


However, in 1981 when the air traffic control strike hit airfields nationwide, Tom soon moved away from this position. With a large amount of flight hours under his belt already, Tom refocused and switched gears back to piloting and became a flight instructor.


He began his commercial piloting career with Fresno West Air in California and moved to Command Airways based out of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. for two years. In January of 1988, Tom switched to Continental Airlines, one of Harrisburg International Airport’s airline partners, where he stayed until retirement.


Tom’s first assignment with Continental was in Denver, C.O. Shortly after, he taught flight instruction on an Airbus A300 out of Los Angeles for three years. Continental then based Tom out of Hawaii. From here he flew mainly through the South Pacific, where he was able to explore such places as Australia, New Zealand, and Guam.


After two and a half years in Hawaii, Tom headed back to the mainland where he primarily flew out of Newark Airport in Newark, N.J. Some of his favorite European destinations include Madrid, Rome and Munich.


As Tom hit the age for retirement, he made his last trip as a pilot for Continental, which he chose to fly from Newark to Las Vegas, N.V. This flight was extremely special for many reasons. Tom’s wife Nanette rode proudly onboard the jet, which was only the second time she flew with Tom. When was the first you might be thinking? The two met when Tom piloted a sight-seeing tour from Pheonix, A.Z. to the Grand Canon of which Nanette was on board.


Tom’s father was also onboard the plane. The last flight signified new life for Tom and his wife, as they had recently purchased a house in Las Vegas where they currently live in the lap of retirement. Loved ones from around the country met Tom and Nanette at their new home that day to celebrate his accomplishments.


Flying has always conjured a sense of freedom for Tom. Enjoying many aspects of the job from the challenges he faced in the skies, and strategic decision making and safety planning, to being able to pilot his own journey across the globe, aviation allowed him to fulfill a life long passion.


While Tom’s period as a pilot came to an end in 2005, just five years later Continental Airlines announced a new era in business operations. Merging with United Airlines to form United Continental Holdings, Inc., these two airlines will now, together operate approximately 5,800 flights a day in 371 airports including Harrisburg International Airport.

In keeping with our Airport Life series, how do you think this will affect the future of commercial aviation namely the employees and passengers they currently serve?