Date: July 27, 2011
The Wichita Mid-Continent Airport terminal building has experienced a major cooling system failure, leaving the system operating at approximately 50% capacity.
Maintenance crews and contractors have been working around-the-clock to mitigate effects and repair the system, which malfunctioned late Friday evening when one of two chiller motors stopped operating. The other chiller is operating but not sufficiently cooling the terminal.
A temporary chilling system will soon be installed while maintenance crews search for a rebuilt chiller; the chillers were installed in 1981.
Temperatures in the building, depending on time of day and location, are ranging from high 70’s to high 80’s. Airport staff has brought in 23 fans and three dehumidifiers in an effort to make the terminal more comfortable.
The airport’s food and beverage concessionaire, HMS Host, and Sarah’s Ice Cream Shop, are selling bottled water at half price at all locations in the terminal to accommodate its customers.
