Ever since the Wright Brothers’ historic flight over a century ago, aviation has significantly shortened the distance between people and civilizations, opening the door to new possibilities and transforming the way we live. For the past 70 years, CMT has been delivering value to the airport infrastructure that supports this vital form of transportation.
When CMT was founded in 1946, aviation was booming throughout the country. Our founders, just back from serving in World War II, started their new firm in Springfield, Illinois where they helped design the capital city’s new modern commercial airport, christened in 1947. Building on that experience, CMT grew its base of Illinois airport clients, developing an impressive resume of projects including airfield improvements, lighting, landside development and buildings. By the 1970s, we had established a formal aviation unit that was working downstate and in the Chicago area. Today, CMT serves over 70 civilian airports, including some of the largest in the country. We’re proud that most of these airports are long-term clients.
With airfield pavements being one of the most valuable assets for airports, CMT became a pioneer in the application of emerging technologies in pavement management and rehabilitation beginning in the 1970s. Partnering with the University of Illinois, we helped to transform theories into practical applications that deliver new innovative processes for expanding pavement life. This leadership and innovation did not go unnoticed by the FAA. In 1982, the agency awarded CMT a contract to facilitate a Pavement Management System (PMS) at Washington Dulles International, Washington National and Atlantic City International airports, all of which were owned by the FAA at the time. Fast forward to today, CMT continues to serve the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority as a top-tier consultant for pavement management and rehabilitation services.
Since the mid-1980s, CMT has developed an impressive resume of work at military facilities nationwide. While we are one of the top providers of airfield planning and engineering services in the nation, our expertise is sometimes called for in unique locations outside the continental US – like when our team went to Antarctica to facilitate a plan for consolidating multiple ice runways into single airfield complex. Since the early 1990s, CMT has also been a resource for the development and enhancement of military guidance criteria. We served as the prime author and facilitator of the Joint Military Airfield and Heliport Planning and Design Manual that consolidated the criteria of the Air Force, Army and Navy into one document. CMT continues to facilitate ongoing updates to such criteria and serve the United States Corps of Engineers (USCOE) and Air Force as a preferred provider.
In the mid-1980s our aviation unit began offering planning services to our clients. From facilitating comprehensive master plans to highly specialized airfield optimization studies for challenging airfields like Chicago Midway and Milwaukee Mitchell, we continue to deliver a brand of highly practical and customized planning services to meet client needs. CMT’s planning team successfully led the Environmental Impact Statement for the $8.5 billion O’Hare Modernization Program that enabled the undertaking of the massive airfield transformation currently underway at the country’s third busiest airport.
Today, CMT continues to grow its aviation services to address the full life-cycle of infrastructure, including GIS and asset management capabilities. Our staff continues to provide industry leadership on emerging issues by authoring articles, giving presentations and serving on committees.
In 2013, CMT was awarded the Corporate Cup by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) based on our contributions and improvements we have made to the airport industry, along with our service to the AAAE. Bruce Carter, who served as chair of the association’s executive committee at the time, said that “CMT stands out as a player even among larger airport firms in the country. Their distinct success has largely resulted from maintaining healthy, long-term partnerships with airport clients of all sizes and governances.”
Building on this proud 70-year history in aviation, CMT continues to expand its reach and capabilities through a dedicated team of highly-focused aviation professionals. We set our course built on the pillars of insight, performance and client investment that has helped achieve success for our people and the airports we serve.