For the first time in the history of the awards, the first-place winners for the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives Balchen/Post Awards for outstanding achievement in airport snow and ice control went to one airport operating authority: the Massachusetts Port Authority (MPA). The awards were given for the snow-clearing prowess of crews at Boston Logan International (BOS), Bedford Hanscom Field (BED) and Worcester Regional Airports (ORH), all of which are operated by the MPA.
The win by Logan was the fifth time in 11 years that the airport was recognized for having the nation’s best snow- and ice-control program at a large commercial facility. Hanscom Field in Bedford received 102 inches of snow this past winter and garnered the top spot in the large general aviation airport category. Worcester Regional, the airport serving the snowiest city in America in 2014/15 (with 119.7 inches), received the award for the top small commercial airport. The award is named for pioneering aviators Col. Bernt Balchen and Wiley Post.