2020 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Andrew J Wolanik, A.C.E.
Andrew J Wolanik began his career at Chicago Executive Airport as a summer intern, then spent five years as a charter dispatcher at the airport. Now, he serves as the airport operations & maintenance supervisor.
A career in aviation was in some ways a given, for as Wolanik described, flight is practically a part of his DNA.
“I would be lying to you if I didn’t say flying is my passion. I like to say that I began flying in the womb. My dad’s first official passenger when he became a pilot was my mom when she was pregnant, so I think that qualifies,” said Wolanik.
As the operations and maintenance supervisor, Wolanik has ensured proactive measures such as field inspections, NOTAMs and airport updates.
“I love that everything that we do on in and around the airfield produces a physical result that helps improvement safety and/or infrastructure of the airport. I feel that every physical change whether it be some simple as replacing a faded sign to having a taxiway constructed provides gratification like completing a DIY project for your home,” Wolanik said.
Specifically, Wolanik has been instrumental in the development of the airport’s aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) operations. He has assisted the local municipal fire departments responsible for servicing Chicago Executive with airfield driver training and ATCT coordination, as well as development and improvement of emergency operations plans. Wolanik has also promoted fire-rescue and FBO collaboration to further develop and promote preparation for emergency operations.
Wolanik also worked to create living training guidelines and procedures to help the airport respond to a variety of situations, and the airport won the Balchen Post Award in 2018-2019 for General Aviation Airports – representing the trust that the airport has earned from its users and tenants.
One of the things Wolanik enjoys most about working in the aviation industry is the passion that those who dedicate their careers to it share.
“The people that are so passionate about what they do is what makes this industry. I don’t think a lot of people who dedicate their education and themselves and to 24/7 industry are doing it just to make a living. I absolutely love working with people that enjoy what they do,” he said.
And Wolanik shares that passion with the airport employees of the future by being a mentor to interns and working with local high school and university aviation programs to bring their students into the airport.
