email : Webview : PDX People Weekly Update: May 24, 2021

Berlee Langu Ramps Up Expectations for a Safe Passenger Experience

Travelers trust PDX People to make sure they – and their belongings – make it to their destination safely. Focused directly on that goal is Berlee Langu with McGee Air Service.

As his manager noted, “Berlee has an outstanding work ethic when it comes to our passengers here at PDX! He has provided years of service outside on the ramp. Without his keen eye and dedication to the safety of both his peers and our passengers, I can tell our operation would not be what it is today.”

Great customer service takes many forms, and Berlee’s commitment to teamwork and keeping an eye on safety are how he consistently creates a positive passenger experience.

The PDX People Customer Service awards recognize airport employees who truly stand out as extraordinary. Missed the last virtual awards ceremony? View the event recording or read about past winners on the PDX employee website.

You can also nominate an employee who embodies the PDX People values and serves as a shining example of great customer service – submit a nomination now.

Recognize a PDX Employee

What's New with PDX Next: Upcoming Events, Ongoing Openings and Closures

We mentioned last week that we're hosting a "demo of the demo" (or demonstration of the demolition). It's set for Wednesday, May 26, starting at 2:30 p.m. and lasting about 15-30 minutes. The event is designed to help airport operations, airlines, properties and other partners experience the upcoming impacts and create awareness around what's to come. Since space is limited in the ticket lobby, you can briefly look and listen, but please don't linger.

As you may have noticed, openings and closings of restrooms and walkways are ongoing during this time. On Friday, May 28, the all-user restroom on Concourse C re-opens.

Next week, temporary walls around the Concourse D walkway will come down as walkway removal is complete. You'll see the same process take place next month on Concourse C. If you're assisting passengers on their way to Concourse D gates, pass along a heads up that their route has some changes. There may be a few more steps now, but when the new main terminal is complete, it’ll be a short stroll through a bright, open space.

Want the inside scoop on construction at PDX? Jen Reynolds with the Port of Portland along with Pat Bifone and Caitlin Powell of Hoffman-Skanska will share the latest construction updates and answer your questions about PDX Next in just 30 minutes. The next update is set for Tuesday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m. Add this event to your Outlook calendar or use this link to access the meeting live on May 25.

We're also keeping you in the know on what's new with PDX Next on the PDX employee website – check out the most recent update for a look at what other changes are ahead. Have questions or suggestions about construction? Email hello@pdxnext.com.

Work in Progress: Building the Wooden Roof in Pieces

Since we shared the first look at designs for the airport’s new main terminal, we've paid a lot of attention to the Pacific Northwest-inspired details visible in the early renderings. But what you might not have seen are the many challenges construction workers have been solving behind the scenes. One such problem: How do you bend the wood into place to get the sleek curves just right?

We're fabricating full-scale roof mockups, which give you an early look into the building process. A member of the Hoffman-Skanska team snapped these pictures – taken in a workshop, not at the airport – to show us the fabrication of the mockup.

While you’re only seeing a few elements of the much-larger project here, this sneak peek gives you a sense of how the full roof will come together as a series of “building blocks,” assembled around the region and then brought to the airport to slide into place.

PDX, Cathay Pacific Partner to Bring COVID-19 Test Supplies to India

Last Thursday, a Cathay Pacific Airways Cargo carrying 300,000 BinaxNOW rapid COVID-19 test kits took off from PDX, en route to Mumbai, India. The tests will be delivered to the Desai Foundation, an organization that serves rural communities with health and livelihood programs focused on women and children.

This is the second time during the pandemic that Cathay Pacific adjusted its air cargo operations to get COVID-19 supplies to a region that needs them – at no cost to the Port of Portland or the State of Oregon. Last May, Cathay Pacific partnered with the Port and the state to bring 1 million 3-ply surgical masks into Oregon at a time when they were in short supply for frontline healthcare workers. Read the full story here.

Stuck at the Airport: What's Up at PDX

Harriet Baskas, a writer for USA Today and aviation aficionado, recently took her first post-pandemic road trip straight to PDX.

She stopped by to get an "in-progress” view and learn more about what it will take to make PDX Next come together. Don't miss her article with behind-the-scenes photos of what was once Clocktower Plaza!

Portland Airport Fire and Rescue Lands in Dallas for Re-Certification Training

For the last three weeks, members of the Portland Airport Fire and Rescue team have been rotating through another airport – Dallas Fort Worth International – for annual re-certification, which must take place at an “E Index” facility. All firefighters in a “combat” or line position must complete this training, which is required by the FAA.

As can be seen in the photos, the experience includes live fire training as well as an opportunity to hone strategies and tactics in case of a large frame aircraft crash. While we all hope this never happens at PDX, we can sleep a little more soundly knowing the Portland Airport Fire and Rescue team is prepared in case of emergency.

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