Local businesses and organizations are getting ready for the eclipse, including the ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois Airport in Jackson County.
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (WSIL) --- Local businesses and organizations are getting ready for the eclipse, including the ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois Airport in Jackson County.
Airport officials say they are hosting a weekend of fun activities for more than 500 visitors.
¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois Airport Manager Alyssa Connell says they are finalizing plans to move and store more than 200 aircraft this weekend.
"Safety is a part of everything we do, and of the airport operations, So we're trying to figure out the different contingencies," Connell said.
Connell says they are shutting down a runway to park the airplanes.
Airport staff, including ground crews and air traffic control, ran exercises to help prepare for the large traffic volume.
"All the way from the pilot's landing to how he or she is going to be coming into the airport, land safely and how we park them," Connell said.
Todd Jahnke works in maintenance and operations at the airport. He says they will have a lot of volunteers from SIU's Aviation program.
"And then we have a crew of shuttling teams. They're just going to be running around on golf carts, picking everybody up, and bringing them to our terminal. Filling them in on all of our events. And Just getting them registered through us," Jahnki said.
Amanda Schroeder with Flightline says they will have people from all over the county, including some returners from the 2017 eclipse.
"We get to treat them and outside pilots to a concert on Sunday evening, which I'm really excited about," Schroeder said.
Airport officials say they have a maximum capacity for the number of airplanes.
