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Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Media Guide
The goal of public relations staff at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is
to provide all local, state and regional media with accurate and timely information. This
media guide was designed with that goal in mind and should serve as a roadmap for
obtaining clear, consistent information and procedures from the public relations staff at
BZN.
This guide will aid the media in finding the appropriate contacts for various informational
needs, and demonstrates our promise to be open and available in all of our media
communications.
General Airport Information
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, operated by the Gallatin Airport Authority,
serves as a year-round gateway to Yellowstone National Park. BZN also serves the
recreation areas of Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin and the Bridger Bowl Ski Area as well
as the business centers of Bozeman, Belgrade and Livingston and higher education at
Montana State University. Over 500 people are employed by the 28 entities with offices at
the airport.
BZN is served by five airline brands, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier
Airlines and United Airlines with non-stop service to Atlanta*, Chicago, Denver, Las
Vegas, Los Angeles*, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark/New York*, Phoenix-Mesa, Portland*,
Salt Lake City, San Francisco*, and Seattle/Tacoma. * Denotes seasonal service.
BZN is located in the Gallatin Valley in Belgrade, near Interstate-90, eight miles west of
Bozeman.
In 2013, the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport:
Served more than 880,000 passengers
Facilitated the transportation of 1.4 million pounds of cargo
Supported 75,000 total aircraft operations
The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport has a cargo building that supports the
operations of FedEx. Arlin’s Aircraft Service and Yellowstone Jetcenter by Signature
Flight Service operate as full-service fixed base operators. Summit Aviation and Gallatin
Flying Service provide flying lessons. Also located on the BZN airfield are Central
Copters and Rocky Mountain Rotors, which offer helicopter flight training, services and
tours. Summit Air Ambulance is also located at the airport.
Media Access
The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport terminal is a public building and members
of the media are allowed in all public areas without an escort. As a courtesy, please call
ahead to coordinate a visit to BZN when covering a story. This will allow for airport
operations staff, law enforcement personnel, and Transportation Security Administration
supervisors to be made aware of the presence of reporters and camera crews. Media
escorts into the secured areas are possible when deemed appropriate and arrangements
are made in advance. Every effort will be made to be flexible in accommodating the
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media at the airport. Since safety is always a primary concern, we ask for the media’s
understanding of and cooperation of with all rules and operational concerns.
TSA officials have specifically requested that no pictures or video be taken of security
screens in the terminal checkpoints. In addition, they request that no pictures or video be
taken of secondary screening procedures. Compliance with this request has a direct
impact on safety and security at BZN.
The media is allowed in all public areas of the terminal (parking areas, terminal lobbies,
etc.) with the exception of leased space (restaurants, rental car counters, gift shops, etc.),
secured areas (past security checkpoints), or anywhere that could block or interfere with
airport operations such as entrances and exits.
Media access to leased areas should be coordinated with the lessee. In the event that a
tenant requests media coverage, we ask that the tenant and/or media notify BZN
administration prior to reporting, as a general courtesy. All media personnel must identify
themselves to anyone they interview.
Media must be escorted at all times anywhere in the secure area and on the airfield.
Inquiries and Interview Requests
Inquiries and interview requests should be directed to Airport Director Brian Sprenger at
406-388-6632 x102 or brian.sprenger@bozemanairport.com.
Media Parking
No parking is allowed at terminal curbside. Vehicles parked there are subject to being
ticketed or towed. Members of the media are welcome to park in the short or long term
parking lots.
Working media may obtain a validation stamp from the Airport Office. Live truck parking is
allowed at the northernmost space in the long-term parking lot. Other locations may also
be approved by airport officials.
News Releases
News releases will be distributed via email unless another form of communication is
requested. To be added to the news release email list contact Brian Sprenger at
406-
388-6632 x102 or brian.sprenger@bozemanairport.com.
Emergency Procedures
In the event of an emergency, such as an aircraft incident/accident, the National
Transportation Safety Board and the airline will release information only after an
investigation is conducted. Speculation about accident details prior to the investigation
and the release of that information is inappropriate.
Information regarding the communications between the air traffic control tower and
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aircraft pilots is released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), not the Airport
administration.
The passenger manifest is released by the airline, and any deaths resulting from an
aircraft crash are announced by a coroner or designated law enforcement official, not the
Airport Administration.
The Airport Administration responds to an emergency first by quickly sending airport
safety personnel to the scene, coordinating with local law enforcement, fire and rescue
teams, communicating with the airline’s emergency response team, setting up a media
staging area and issuing informational updates.
News Releases – During Emergency
News releases and or other informational materials will be used to release information in
the event of an emergency. Possible topics include:
The nature of incident/accident
Date and time of incident/accident
Any risks posed based on the nature of the emergency
Steps taken by Airport staff in response to incident/accident
Evacuation instructions
Other do’s and don’ts relevant to the incident/accident
Operations at the airport, any closures of runways, etc.
In order to avoid the distortion or spread of rumors, authorized Airport representatives will
only confirm known facts about an aircraft emergency or incident, such as:
The general nature of the problem, as reported by the pilot of the aircraft (e.g.
mechanical issues)
Type of aircraft and number of seats
Aircraft owner (or N number)
Status of the aircraft (such as being towed to a gate)
Flight number
Origin and destination
Gallatin Airport Authority Contacts
Brian Sprenger, A.A.E.
Airport Director
406-388-6632 x102
Scott Humphrey, A.A.E.
scott.humphrey@bozemanairport.com
Deputy Airport Director
406-388-6632 x117
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Airline Contacts
Allegiant Air
Brian Davis
brian.davis@allegiantair.com
Director of Communications
702-853-4625
Alaska Airlines
Bobbie Egan
Bobbie[email protected]
Media Relations Manager
206-392-5101
Delta Air Lines
Morgan Durrant
morgan.dur[email protected]
General Manager Corporate Communications
404-715-2554
Frontier Airlines
Kate O’Malley
kateomalle[email protected]
Manager of Corporate Communications
720-374-4279
Skywest Airlines
Wes Horrocks
wes.hor[email protected]
Manager Corporate Communications
435-634-3547
United Airlines
Megan McCarthy
megan.mccarthy@united.com
Media Relations
312-997-8632
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U.S. Government Agencies
Department of Transportation
202-366-1111
Director of Public Affairs
202-366-4570
Federal Aviation Administration
Regional Public Affairs Office, Seattle
425-227-1389 (24 hr)
425-227-2004
Public Affairs Office, Washington D.C.
202-267-3883
202-267-3333 (24 hr)
National Transportation Safety Board
Public Affairs Office, Washington D.C.
202-314-6100
TSA Public Affairs
Washington D.C.
571-227-2829
TSA Regional Public Affairs
Tina Burke, Public Relations Manager
503-889-3055
Airport Terminology
ARFF Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting
ATC Air Traffic Control (FAA)
ATCT Air Traffic Control Tower (FAA)
Concourse Post-security portion of the terminal building where aircraft arrive and
depart/passenger gate areas
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FBO Fixed Base Operator
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board
Taxiway Paved surfaces between the ramp and the runway
Tenant Airlines or concessionaires; companies that do business on airport
property
Terminal Pre-screening portion of the building where ticket counters and baggage
claim are located
TSA Transportation Security Administration
