MORRISTOWN MUNICIPAL TAKES NO NONSENSE

APPROACH TO GENERAL AVIATION AND SAFETY

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – On a hill above this forested enclave not far from Manhattan sits a fort that takes
no prisoners.
It is fitting that the name of that historic garrison is Fort Nonsense, for it serves as a reminder to the
people running Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU)
about their no-nonsense commitment to business aviation
and ground safety.
Serving several tenant-corporate flight departments
from Fortune 500 consumer, business-to-business, telecom
and healthcare brands, Morristown Municipal has carved
out a strategic niche in the busy aviation world of the New
York-New Jersey region.
That should come as no surprise to historians of Morris-
town, for the town has long served as a strategic station for
business and country alike – with a heritage that dates back
to George Washington’s Continental Army.
Its prime location near New York, Philadelphia and New England enticed Washington in 1777 to es-
tablish his headquarters at Jacob Arnold’s Tavern in the town square. And famous locals like Alfred Vail
and Samuel Morse, inventors of the telegraph, reinforced the notion of Morristown as a resourceful place
populated by skilled residents and capable industry.
Today, Morristown’s location remains a strategic draw, as business travelers avoid congestion and
seek the convenience the municipal airport offers, according to Bob Bogan, Deputy Executive Director for
MMU.
“Our objective at MMU is to provide a safe, efficient and hassle-free aviation experience,” explains
Bogan. “We’re close to dozens of nearby New Jersey-based corporate headquarters, plus it’s a relatively
easy run into Manhattan.”
Two fixed base operators serve the airport and its busy corporate clients, Signature Flight Support and
FTC FBO, LLC. This year, both started fueling planes with Phillips® 66-branded Jet A when Morristown
Municipal’s operator, DM AIRPORTS, LTD., signed a long-term deal with Ascent Aviation Group, the
largest Phillips 66-branded aviation fuel distributor. The airport had been using Exxon for 20 years.
Morristown is taking advantage of the change to Phillips 66 Aviation by renovating and modernizing
its fuel farm – one of several construction projects underway at MMU. In the past year, three taxiways
were repaved, while new LED lights were installed. Another two taxiways are slated to be rejuvenated
this spring.
“Of course, when you get 16 inches of snow in one month like we did recently, renovation and mainte-
nance is a daily effort,” says Peter Gilchrist, MMU’s Airport Operations Manager.
Ground safety is a critical component of the airport’s services, says Gil-
christ, which offers 24-7 on-site aircraft rescue coverage. The Morris-
town Aircraft Rescue Service plays a vigorous role, holding regular
Emergency Communications drills, disaster drills and realistic firefighting
simulations. Those efforts tie well to a Phillips 66 brand long noted for
helping FBOs enhance their safety procedures, Gilchrist says.
While Morristown’s location is an advantage, the airport’s huge corpo-
rate flight tenants and their visitors also enjoy on-site United States Cus-
toms services, in addition to the unique offerings from the airport’s two
FBOs. Signature Flight Support is noted for its pilot-pampering facilities
and large plane hangars, while FTC is known for its extensive jet charter
and aviation consulting capabilities, offered through its EmreAir Solu-
tions subsidiary.
For a town that has gone from a military stronghold to a bastion of
business, Morristown Municipal Airport has become perhaps its most
strategic offering, helping to keep companies and their large workforces
headquartered in New Jersey.
Fire rescue simulation at MMU The bar is set high in this place ringed by historically important sites –
from Fort Nonsense at Morristown National Historic Park to Ford Mansion, Jockey Hollow and the pre-
served Speedwell Iron Works. But it’s a bar that MMU intends to set higher.