BSU Aviation / New Bedford Regional Airport

Airport Manager's Office

Spring semester 2010 BSU Aviation was given an internship opportunity at New Bedford Regional Airport.

This involved one of our students (Michael Sim 10') working with the Airport Manager, Mr. Ed DeWitt. It was a great experience for Mike and BSU Aviation is very thankfully to everyone involved.

Here is what Mr. DeWitt had to say about Mike Sim and the internship experience...

As an intern at New Bedford Regional Airport, Mike got exposure to a wide range of airport management challenges.  As part of his internship, he worked with the Airport Commission Marketing Committee to update the airport logo and develop a path to updating the airport's marketing plan.  Mike found this project paralleled the marketing course he was taking at BSU.  As part of the project, Mike made several public meeting presentations to the Airport Commission and the airport community. 

When it snowed Mike got to see and observe snow removal operations from the cab of snow plows and snow blowers.  He learned the differences in snow removal at airports from highways and some of the unique challenges of protecting runway and taxiway lights; keeping the airport open and setting removal priorities with limited resources.  As the weather moved from winter to spring, Mike got involved in planning and carrying out the airport's vegetation management plan.  As part of his internship, Mike designed a training program for the airport maintenance staff on the use of an inclinometer to determine whether a tree or other obstacle penetrated the airspace. 

As part of the internship Mike attended an FAA workshop on airport financial and real estate compliance.  During the conference the regional director of airports for the FAA sat down with him and gave him her personal view of the direction of airports in the 21^st century.  Mike considered this the highlight of the internship. 

As part of the module program used by the airport, all interns get some first-hand experience with airport layout plans, financial management, wildlife control, safety, security, fuel system inspection  and business development.