By Lonna Whiting, writer, Alder Airfield Services A pilot flying one of her regular routes prepares her descent onto a runway she’s navigated hundreds, maybe thousands of times before. She expects all to be clear. After all, she’s landed in that very spot time and again without incident. Then one day, the runway appears normal… Read more »
Written for Alder by Airport Operations Consultant Samuel Allen, C.M., ACE, this special blog series focuses on hazardous behavioral attitudes that deter safety on the AOA. From overly confident macho men and women to the flaggers who seem to have no fear, Sam defines the most common characteristics of hazardous attitudes in aviation construction work.… Read more »
By Samuel Allen, C.M., ACE Airport Operations Manager Airport construction takes place in one of the most unforgiving and fluid work environments imaginable. Crews operate heavy equipment near active taxiways and runways, often at night, under tight airfield closure windows, and within carefully sequenced construction phasing plans. In this setting, impulsivity becomes a hazardous attitude… Read more »
By Samuel Allen, C.M., ACE Airport Operations Manager Construction sites are inherently hazardous situations, but physical risks are only part of the safety equation. Mindset plays an equally important role. In aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifies five “hazardous attitudes” that impair judgment and increase risk: anti-authority, impulsivity, invulnerability, macho, and resignation. Although developed… Read more »
As 2025 came to a close, and as we’ve ventured into these first weeks of 2026, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the year behind us, the people who made it meaningful, and the direction Alder Airfield Services is heading in 2026. This year took us from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to San Antonio… Read more »
On a recent Saturday morning in September, the sun was shining, the air carried a toasty Texas warmth that always encourages me to take more time for reflection … and more coffee. Like my morning brew, my gratitude has felt especially bold, rich (and a little sweet) these days. Not long ago we were celebrating my graduation from Denver International… Read more »
As a mental health clinician in Northern California, I often visited children in their schools. We often dealt with some tough stuff, but we had a lot of fun, too. One of my favorite memories of the classroom is when the kids held a fundraiser where they sold bracelets they had made. One had a… Read more »
“Kids, let’s talk about the real importance of a good night’s sleep.” For whatever reason, that’s how I imagine comedian Bob Saget would open this blog if he were writing it. And honestly, he wouldn’t be wrong, because a little bit of good rest is something I really think we all need. Maybe a little… Read more »
While pilots, air traffic controllers and airline personnel are visible faces of the aviation industry, there is another critical layer beneath them: the construction and maintenance workers who build and sustain airport infrastructure. This group includes people we hire at Alder, including day laborers, skilled tradespeople, as well as part-time and full-time operators, inspectors and… Read more »
Mental health might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about airfield safety or flagging operations, but maybe it should be. For too long, workers in the trades have been expected to “tough it out” no matter what they’re dealing with personally. But it’s what’s going on inside a person’s… Read more »