Airside Operations is one of the most important roles within George Bush Intercontinental Airport. This dynamic and vigilant group of men and women oversees the airfield, ramps, safety and security of the airport. They’ve been doing it for over 53 years, just as long as Bush Airport has been in operation. Just like the airport is improving and growing, so is Airside Ops.

The General Services Facility, GSF, at Bush Airport is a state-of-the-art 50,000-sq.- ft. multipurpose building that supports airport operations for Houston Airports. The latest group to successfully relocate its personnel and related equipment to the GSF was Bush Airport’s Airside Operations. Their relocation to the second floor of the GSF presented a unique challenge since their duties are critical to the safe operation of the airfield and cannot be interrupted at any moment, as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“The relocation of Airside Operations was a momentous effort,” said Cassie Boone, Airside Operations Director. “Back-up communication and coordination plans were in place in case an aircraft emergency or operational critical event had occurred during the move. We had support from the IT and Supply Chain Management teams, as well as from the Houston Fire Department Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighters, the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower and United Airlines. We appreciate the support provided by all stakeholders to complete this complex logistical move.”

The move to the brand-new facility comes with additional perks for the Airside Ops team. The GSF includes features previously unavailable to the group, including a dedicated training room with flat panel presentation technology, an armory to support wildlife management efforts, multi-purpose conference rooms and a secured document storage facility. There are also additional briefing, meeting/conference, storage and support facilities.

The modern facilities are also the new headquarters for the Emergency Operations Center or EOC. Located on the first floor of the building, the EOC has increased its footprint and added sophisticated features for the emergency management team, including state-of-the-art briefing rooms and training spaces.

“This new facility strengthens the capability of our teams,” said Frank Ciaccio, Houston Airports Division Manager for Safety and Emergency Management. “Having an ultra-modern emergency operations center that houses all our security partners and that is close to the airfield gives us a strategic advantage when responding to emergencies.”

Soon, the new Integrated Coordination Center will also be established in the GSF, which will serve as the centralized communications center for Bush Airport. This unit will include airport communication specialists, representatives from TSA, HPD, and other airport partners that are necessary to ensure the safe and proper operation of the airport. The two-story building already houses the airport system’s Fleet Maintenance Services, Houston Airports and City of Houston personnel who perform maintenance to the airports’ fleet assets, including shuttle buses and employee vehicles.