Power of SUNY

BU Student Invention to Increase Safety at Binghamton Airport

Technology invented by 20 Binghamton University students is being used to increase safety at the local airport.

The students created geothermal technology that is being installed underneath the airport runways and will speed the process of melting ice and snow on the ground above. The project is going to be a $1.4 million prototype funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The BU students have been given this opportunity as the result of teaming up with McFarland Johnson, Inc. to create the concept and entering and winning an FAA competition.

Airport officials are enthusiastic about the student creation, saying it could allow them to stay open when other airports cannot. Installation began in Fall 2010 and will be complete by Spring 2011.