Construction Oversight
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded Saab Sensis Corporation (SSC) a multi-year contract to install runway status lights at airports across the country. They've subcontracted with larger firms in the past to provide construction oversight, but with their latest projects—at John F. Kennedy International (JFK), San Francisco International (SFO), and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)—they chose to work with Garver.
"They didn't necessarily need a large corporation to do their job," said Garver Project Manager Brad Butler. "They needed someone they could trust."
The lighting systems feature in-pavement red lights placed at strategic runway and taxiway intersections, and each light has an individual light controller (ILC) that acts as a switch to turn the light on and off. The ILC is connected to a computer that receives signals from the ground surface radar to forecast if two aircraft or vehicles could occupy the same space. If so, the red lights are turned on, which signals to an operator to stop, preventing a collision and potentially saving hundreds of lives.
As the firm responsible for construction oversight and coordination on these design build projects, it is Garver's responsibility to supervise the construction subcontractor, provide inspection, and coordinate all activities with airport operations on behalf of SSC and the FAA.
"We're involved in all aspects of the constructions—from the installations of equipment buildings to the fiber optic communications. We inspect the entire airfield lighting system," Butler said. "It's our attention to detail that ensures the project is completed correctly."
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