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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region presented the Greenville Downtown Airport the 2002 General Aviation Airport Safety Award at the FAA�s Southern Region Airports Communications Conference in Atlanta.The award is presented to a general aviation airport in the Southeast that makes outstanding efforts to increase flight safety. The Greenville Downtown Airport accomplished this through many safety-enhancing projects. It is one of the first general aviation airports in the nation to install an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS). EMAS rapidly and safely decelerates aircraft that have overrun the active runway by utilizing energy absorbing material. The Airport also upgraded several lighting systems, installed a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system (a visual approach tool for arriving aircraft) and increased the size of taxiway and runway hold lines. These projects have greatly contributed to increased flight safety at the airport. Rusty Chapman, Manager, Airports Division, FAA Southern Region, said, �The staff of the Greenville Downtown Airport is distinguished in its commitment to continually increasing flight safety. They accomplished a significant number of safety upgrades while still successfully operating the state�s busiest general aviation airport.� The Greenvillle Downtown Ariport repaved its main runways in the fall of 2002. Additional improvements being completed in the first quarter of 2003 include the grooving of the runways, the installation of distance-to-go signs on both runways and installation of EMAS (Engineered Material Arresting System) off the departure end of Runway 1. Last year the airport safely accommodated 73,391 takeoffs and landings and had more than 230 locally based aircraft. Located in the heart of the business district, GMU is convenient to all of Greenville's downtown destinations. These destinations include the Bi-Lo Center, the Peace Center, and the vibrant downtown area, all of which are only a five-minute drive away. Shopping malls, hotels, and restaurants are also located just a few blocks from the Downtown Greenville Airport. (Photo provided by the Greenville Downtown Airport.)
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