Used daily in aviation and air traffic control, the NATO Phonetic Alphabet (formally known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet) is the global standard for clearly communicating letters over radio. Beyond aviation, it is used by law enforcement, maritime operations, the military, and emergency services worldwide, anywhere clarity can make the difference between routine and risk. What many don’t realize is that the alphabet wasn’t created all at once. It was t

HNL Runway 8L Widening, Phase 2 project has received a National Recognition Award in the 2026 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards

Many of today’s airports began as simple grass fields, with no pavement, markings, or lighting. Those early runways were built for aircraft that were far lighter and slower than the planes we see today. In 1928, Ford Airfield in Dearborn, Michigan constructed one of the first concrete runways in the U.S., adapting roadway construction methods for aviation use. Since then, airfield design has evolved dramatically. Today, runway geometry and markings are driven by an airport’s