Airport gets a new plow

PENDLETON – The Eastern Oregon Regional Airport has a new plow. While the streets may be icy, the runways are clear, thanks to the purchase made possible by federal funds. City Manager Robb Corbett is impressed.

“What used to take 16 hours to clear the runways took eight with the new snowplow,” Corbett said. “It’s an incredible piece of machinery and it’s going to serve us well into the future.”

Airfield Engineer Wayne Green said the plow is a John Deere 744L front-end loader. It came with a standard utility bucket, but Green also ordered the optional 24-foot ramp bucket, which really increased the productivity when clearing snow. The plow is used to clear the primary runway and taxiway circuit as well as the commercial ramp.

“It’s amazing how efficient you can be when you have the right-sized equipment for the job,” Green wrote.

The cost of the plow was covered by a grant directly to the airport from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is also covering the cost of renovating the terminal.

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