Portland International Jetport unveils new rescue truck, gate upgrades and parking/battery plan

Portland International Jetport Director Paul Bradbury told the Sustainability and Transportation Committee Wednesday that the airport has placed a new Oshkosh Stryker ARFF (aircraft rescue and firefighting) vehicle into service and is advancing multiple terminal, parking and resiliency projects.

Bradbury said the new ARFF truck entered service on April 21. The vehicle replaces a 25‑year‑old unit, has a high‑reach extendable turret (HRET) with a penetrating nozzle for fighting internal aircraft fires, and allows the airport to switch to fluorine‑free firefighting foam approved by federal authorities. The truck’s total project cost was $1,175,000; $928,000 of the vehicle’s base cost was paid through the FAA Airport Improvement Program with the airport reporting 90 percent of that portion funded by FAA grants.

The airport is nearing completion of terminal work serving Gates 11, 12 and 14. Bradbury described a $21.6 million project that replaces open boarding ramps with long fixed bridges and passenger boarding bridges; funding sources include $10.4 million from the Airport Terminal Program, $8.4 million in FAA grants, $740,000 in state funds and $2.1 million from Jetport unrestricted funds. He said the gate complex will open with a ribbon cutting planned for July 30 at 11 a.m.

Bradbury also showed renderings and construction photos…