Commissioners' Committee News


2008 Airport Board Members and Commissioners’ Annual Conference Date and Location Finalized

 

January 2008 - The 2008 Commissioners Conference will be held at a luxurious resort in Scottsdale, AZ from Sunday (May 18th) to Tuesday (May 20th).  Also, we will use the same program format (Sunday: Steering Group/Welcome Reception; Monday: Keynote Speaker and Evening Event; Tuesday: Half Day of Speakers and End of Conference) as we used in Atlanta in 2007.  We look forward to a great Conference and will be sure to keep you updated as this event and its agenda takes shape. Once an agenda is finalized, it can be found in the Commissioners’ section of the website. 

 

Details on the Hotel are as Follows:

 

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch

7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85258


T: 480 444 1234

F: 480 483 5550

 
Visit the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch website.

The room rate is $209.00 per night single/double plus taxes.

 

2007 Airport Board Members and Commissioners’ Conference Review

July 2007- More than 100 Commissioners, board members and aviation professionals attended the Committee’s Annual Conference, which was held in Atlanta. The event was a rousing success as it featured an impressive agenda and such prominent speakers as: Joe Leonard (CEO of Air Tran Airways), Kirk Shaffer (Associate Administrator for Airports, FAA), Rick Day (Vice President, FAA Air Traffic Organization), Doug Blissit (Vice President of Public Affairs, Delta Airlines), and Edward Faberman (Executive Director, Air Carrier Association).  Many topics that are vital to airports were discussed such as: aviation security, enhancing air service, effective long range airport planning, NextGen/FAA update, the status of the airline and airport industries, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs, concessions, and effective media relations strategies.

 

In addition, attendees were provided with a comprehensive Government Affairs update which included the status of FAA Reauthorization, Employee Screening legislation and Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations. Furthermore, attendees learned how board, commission and authority members can send an effective message to Congress to ensure that airport interests are included in aviation-related legislation.

 

Furthermore, the Commissioners’ Executive Committee met to determine the winners of its Spring Scholarship.  In all, 3 winners were selected and thus received $2,500 each towards their continued airport-related educational pursuits.  For the year, the Commissioners’ Committee awarded 5 scholarships totaling $12,500.

 

ACI-NA Commissioners Award Scholarships to Outstanding Aviation Students and Honor Rep. Bennie Thompson

 

March 27, 2007 - During the 2007 ACI-NA Commissioners’ Leadership Reception, Steve Mitchell, chair of ACI-NA's Commissioners’ Committee, announced that two students are to receive scholarships of $2,500 each for their outstanding academic achievement and leadership characteristics. Fred McCosby attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Kaitlyn Hunter is a student at John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, University of North Dakota. Each is working towards a career in airport management or airport operations.

 

Also during the reception, commissioners, airport executives and congressional staff honored Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) with the 2007 Commissioners’ Congressional Leadership Award for his ongoing support of the aviation industry. Rep. Thompson chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. He has been a member of Congress for eight terms and is in his third term on the Homeland Security Committee.

 

Photo Highlights

ACI-NA President Greg Principato, Chairman of the Board Rick Piccolo, Commissioners Committee Chairman Steve Mitchell and Immediate Past-Chairman of the Commissioners Committee Sylvia Stewart present House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson with the 2007 Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award for his ongoing support of the aviation industry.


House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson engages the audience at the Commissioners Reception.


House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson with the Jackson, Mississippi Municipal Airport Authority delegation.


Immediate Past-Chairman of the Commissioners Committee Sylvia Stewart with current Chairman Steve Mitchell.


Three sponsors of the 2007 Commissioners Reception: Earle F. Jones, Dirk Vanderleest and Joe Ambrefe.


 

Sponsors of the 2007 Commissioners Leadership Reception Whose Proceeds Benefit the ACI-NA Commissioners Scholarship Fund


Benefactor Level


Contributor Level


Partner Level


Sponsor Level


Individual Contributors to the Scholarship Fund


Attendees Discuss Legislative Matters at Spring Conference


March 25, 2007 - At the Spring Washington Conference Meeting in Washington, D.C., Scott Weaver directed members to copies provided of ACI-NA's submitted testimony to the recent Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on FAA Reauthorization.

 

A summary of what he discussed is as follows:

 

  1. ACI-NA Government Affairs Staff has conducted over 40 meetings with Congressional Members and staff of the T and I and CST Subcommittees on Aviation. More meetings are currently being scheduled, and we plan to have all Member offices visited very soon. Generally, the meetings have gone very well, with a lot of AIP support. Meanwhile, the PFC increase is going to be a "heavier lift," especially with airlines such as Northwest, Continental, and Southwest opposing it.
  2. In order to educate the staffs, as they are starting to write a bill, ACI-NA is setting up briefings with them on ACI-NA issues. Last week, ACI-NA met with Senate Majority and Minority staff and next week will do the same thing in the House. Once the bills are introduced, ACI-NA will conduct Committee-wide briefings so that the Members and staff are fully up to speed on all issues.
  3. ACI-NA is testifying on 3/28 in the House to address the PFC issue, as well as AIP, environmental and programs of importance to small airports (Small Community Air Service Development Program). Testimony was also submitted to the Senate for the March 8 FAA reauthorization hearing.
  4. ACI-NA Government Affairs staff has met with all other aviation trade associations to discuss FAA Reauthorization. ACI-NA has explored ideas, tried to build alliances, and build relationships to further ACI-NA's efforts.
  5. ACI-NA has made presentations to the National League of Cities, National Conference of Mayors, and Airport Minority Advisory Council. These groups have been supportive thus far, and we should expect that trend to continue. In addition, ACI-NA has been speaking to/hope to set up meetings with: the National Governor's Association, the Transportation Construction Coalition, the National Association of Counties, and also get the financial services sector involved in a possible alliance.
  6. ACI-NA is working on a couple of letter ideas to House and Senate Members on the PFC increase ACI-NA has met with the House Homeland Security Committee staff to provide information on airport security programs. ACI-NA has also been working on a number of security issues including employee screening (Lowey bill) and funding for in-line EDS (9/11 Conference Letter).
  7. ACI-NA has been to a couple of important fundraisers for Oberstar, Rockefeller, Buchanan, and Mica. ACI-NA is also taking steps to try to grow the PAC and better utilize PAC dollars (NABPAC).
  8. Both the House and Senate are in the beginning stages of drafting a bill. Both chambers hope to have something drafted and introduced by the end of April/early May so that pre-Memorial Day markups can occur. It appears that the House will produce at least a $6 PFC, although there will be restrictions on eligibility. The Senate, from where things stand today, is likely to come in under $6.
  9. Thus, ACI-NA urges the Commissioners to help in ACI-NA's lobbying efforts by contacting their legislator(s) to tell them how important these issues are to them and the communities. Since the bills are being drafted soon, it is important to make a strong push now so that the provisions we want in the bills are included upon introduction.

 

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