An airport is a 24/7 operation, 365 days a year, and that includes maintaining the airfield.

Runways, which take a beating every day, demand constant attention. At Pittsburgh International Airport, airfield maintenance crews include a staff of more than 70 including union personnel, administration and management.

Summer work is planned well ahead, working collaboratively with Operations, Engineering and Facility Maintenance. Painting the runways, repairing pavement, cleaning drainage areas and earth preparation around the taxiways and runways are just some of the tasks. Crews also must keep the grass at a certain height in the summer for wildlife concerns.

For the average traveler, field maintenance is something you usually don’t see, unless you catch a glimpse of someone from a window seat on an airplane.

Here’s an inside look at summer maintenance on the airfield.