@irports update -- Dec. 16, 2009

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	Dec. 16, 2009



			This Week In Summary ACI-NA Praises Inclusion of $500M for AIP in New Jobs Bill» DOT Highlights Economic Benefits of AMT Exemption on Airport Bonds» All I Want for Christmas…Is An Extension to the EPA Comment Deadline» Deadlines Nears for Second ACI-NA Compensation and Benefits Survey» Two Named to World Business Partners Board» U.S., Japan Conclude Open Skies Agreement» Alaska Airlines' Loses Challenge to Passenger Security Fees» ACI Offers Holiday Discounts on Training Programs» In The News Rain Shortens 787 First Flight, Fails to Dampen Optimism» Airlines Seek to Boost Market for Biofuels» FAA Sponsors Deeper Look at Airport Safety» Detroit's Energy and Earth-Friendly Efforts May Save $900,000 a Year»


			Hot Topics
			ACI-NA Praises Inclusion of $500M for AIP in New Jobs Bill ACI-NA President Greg Principato praised the House for inclusion of $500 million for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) in the $75 billion jobs bill announced Tuesday by House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). ACI-NA lobbied the Administration and key members of the House for the inclusion of funding for AIP as part of the second jobs bill. “The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has held a series of hearings on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which included $1.1 billion for airports. At these hearings, time and time again, airports were singled out for praise for their efficient and expeditious use of this funding on 355 projects. Airports have proven they are not only job creators, but serve as economic engines for their local communities as well,” Principato said. “We are pleased that as an industry, we have been recognized once again as an integral piece of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, and we look forward to putting more Americans to work, while at the same time making needed safety, security and congestion relief improvements at airports across the country.” DOT Highlights Economic Benefits of AMT Exemption on Airport Bonds Posted Dec. 14 in Centerlines Blog by Annie Russo At a Dec. 10 House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the DOT’s John Porcari highlighted the benefits the AMT exemption on private activity bonds has had on the economy, saying the provision “is helping us leverage our funding to get the most out of Recovery Act resources.” The fact that Deputy Secretary Porcari talked about the AMT exemption during his testimony is great news for airports. It continues to beat the drum on this important provision and the bill and speaks to the need to permanently extend and expand the AMT exemption. The FAA recently issued data on the economic impact the AMT exemption has had on the airport industry, which also supports the cause for permanent exemption: As of Dec. 11, $5.4 billion in AMT exempt airport private activity bonds had been sold since the beginning of 2009. Another $700 million in Build America Bonds, a new program included in the ARRA, have been sold by airports. Between the two provisions, airports have saved a total of $600 million – funding that can go toward airport infrastructure projects as well as debt reduction. As we head into the final year of the two-year AMT exemption, it’s important that we, as an industry, continue to tell the Hill and Administration about the exemption’s positive economic benefits. It is also as imperative that the Administration continue to tell Capitol Hill about the economic impact of the AMT exemption, which will certainly help provide the political backing we need to not only exempt private activity bonds issued after 2010 from the AMT but also to allow for greater refinancing options of debt issued prior to 2003. Contact ACI-NA’s Annie Russo for more information» All I Want for Christmas…Is An Extension to the EPA Comment Deadline Posted Dec. 15 on Centerlines Blog by Jessica Steinhilber As it considers the first set of guidelines to limit the runoff of deicing solutions into the stormwater, the EPA announced that its original comment deadline of Dec. 28 has been extended 60 days to Feb. 26. While I personally appreciate this extension because it means I can take a few days off to enjoy the holidays with my family and friends, it is even more important because it affords a greater opportunity for me to put together more comprehensive comments that fully assess the potential impacts of this seemingly simply rule on our complex aviation system. ACI-NA has been engaged with EPA on this issue for several years, striving to help the Agency understand the technical, operational, and financial intricacies of the aviation industry and its deicing management systems. We have also been quick to point out that, unlike my Christmas shopping habits, airports have not been waiting until the last minute to address the environmental impacts of deicing. Across the country, airports have expended millions of dollars developing systems that reduce pollutant discharges while meeting the needs of passengers to travel safely and efficiently this, and every, winter holiday season. View the Federal Register notice» View Jessica’s complete blog entry» Contact ACI-NA’s Jessica Steinhilber for more information» Deadlines Nears for Second ACI-NA Compensation and Benefits Survey It’s not too late to become a participant in ACI-NA’s 2009 Compensation Survey – but the deadline is getting close. Western Management Group, which is conducting the survey on ACI-NA’s behalf, reports that over 70 airport authorities have submitted their data to date, but the “no-exceptions” deadline is Dec. 31. Last year’s inaugural edition of the survey was the first comprehensive study of its kind in the airport industry, collecting complete and detailed compensation and benefits information on more than 3,100 employees in 63 mission-critical jobs in 81 airport authorities across the U.S. This year’s survey has been expanded to include 11 additional job descriptions, as well as expanded questions on benefits coverage. As salaries will most likely remain flat in 2010, the focus of this year’s survey will be on the benefit side of the survey. The value of the updated survey will be in providing airports with the information to ensure that its benefits are in line with the industry average. The 2009 survey results are scheduled to be released mid-January 2010. Data access fees for participating ACI-NA members begin at just $500 while the cost for non-participants can range as high as $10,000. Contact WMG’s Survey Manager Toni McGrath at 408-399-4900, ext. 229, for more information» Two Named to World Business Partners Board ACI-NA’s two newest members to the ACI World Business Partners Board are Jo Lary, president, Pavement Consultants Inc., and Randy Pope, associate vice president, Burns & McDonnell. Lary will serve a two-year term and Pope will serve a three-year term. Both terms begin Jan. 1. The pair will join current ACI-NA representative Ron Steinert, principal, Gensler, who will be in the final year of his three-year term. Contact ACI’s Maud Bachelet for more information» U.S., Japan Conclude Open Skies Agreement After five rounds of negotiations, the U.S. and Japan concluded an Open Skies agreement. ACI-NA staff participated on the U.S. delegation. The agreement will not be implemented until the two sides sign the Memorandum of Understanding reached last week. Japan has made clear that it will not sign the agreement until after its airlines and their partners receive acceptable approval of their anticipated applications for antitrust immunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The two sides are looking to sign the memo by next October, when the fourth runway at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport opens. The new agreement would: Remove the current restrictions on routes, code sharing, pricing and on the number of airlines, frequencies, and charters permitted. Provide each side with four daily slot pairs at Haneda. Allow U.S. carriers under a transition regime to participate in potential capacity increases at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, with three daily pairs of slots for each 20,000 slot increment. Now, all eyes shift to alliance developments. All Nippon Airways, Continental Airlines and United Airlines are expected to seek antitrust immunity very soon as part of the Star Alliance. Japan Airlines still has to decide whether to join American Airlines in the oneworld alliance or Delta Air Lines in the SkyTeam alliance. View the DOT press release» View the Department of State website» Contact ACI-NA’s Diane Peterson for more information» Alaska Airlines' Loses Challenge to Passenger Security Fees Alaska Airlines lost a court challenge and must pay the TSA more than $1 million in unpaid 9/11 passenger security fees. The United States Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., refused to consider the airline’s appeal. During a federal audit covering the period from Feb. 1, 2002, to April 30, 2006, TSA examined 12 select flights and found 1,413 instances in which the fee should have been remitted to the agency. From this sampling, TSA extrapolated that Alaska Airlines had an error rate of 0.85 percent and owed $1,070,726 in passenger fees. The airline challenged TSA’s audit on several grounds, including the agency’s use of non-random judgmental sampling which resulted in an allegedly higher error rate over the entire 51 months under review. The court found the airline’s technical objection to the use of sampling method unfounded. View court’s opinion» Contact ACI-NA’s Monica Hargrove Kemp for more information» ACI Offers Holiday Discounts on Training Programs ACI Online Learning Centre is running a year-end holiday sale on its training programs that are open to both airports and individual airport employees. Those enrolling in a course by Dec. 31 will receive a 25 percent discount on the fee. The course modules can be accessed any number of times over a 12-month period from the enrolment date. The ACI Online Learning Centre offers over 50 self-paced online training modules in areas including: Safety Management Systems Security Screening Concession Management Project Management Leadership and Management Human Resources Personal Development Contact the OLC Manager Eddie Ragauskas for more information» ^ Back to top



			Industry News Briefs
			Rain Shortens 787 First Flight, Fails to Dampen Optimism Seattle Times, Dec. 16, By Dominic Gates The graceful arc of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's upwardly swept wings wowed the large crowd of Boeing employees and spectators at Paine Field in Everett on Tuesday and underscored that this was no conventional airliner. View the complete article» Airlines Seek to Boost Market for Biofuels Associated Press, Dec. 15, By Joan Lowy Fifteen airlines and air cargo carriers said Tuesday they've signed memorandums of understandings that could lead to the purchase of hundreds of millions of gallons of fuel made from either coal or camelina, a weed that's a cousin to canola. View the complete article» FAA Sponsors Deeper Look at Airport Safety Airports, Dec. 15, By James Ott FAA is looking for airports to participate in a safety management systems implementation study aimed at examining how airports put together safety risk and safety assurance programs. (paid subscription required) View the complete article» Detroit's Energy and Earth-Friendly Efforts May Save $900,000 a Year Detroit Free-Press, Dec. 15, By Katherine Yung For Detroit Metro Airport, 2010 is shaping up to be a green year. Michigan's busiest airport and Delta Air Lines' second-largest hub will be embarking on a number of initiatives designed to reduce its energy use and help the environment. View the complete article» ^ Back to top



			Events On Approach
			Insurance & Risk Management Conference Jan. 13-15 Omni San Diego Hotel Hotel Cut-off: Dec. 21 Air Service & Data Planning Seminar: Agenda Updated Jan. 24-26 and Media Relations & Crisis Communications Seminar Jan. 27-29. The Westin Casuarina, Las Vegas Hotel Cut-off: Jan. 1 2010 Insurance & Risk Management: Hotel Cut-Off & Early Bird Registration Ends Next Monday The 2010 Insurance and Risk Management Conference will be held Jan. 13-15 at the Omni San Diego in San Diego. Join airport risk managers and insurance professionals for an in-depth program focused on critical risk management, insurance, and employee safety issues facing the industry. The cut-off date to receive the early-bird registration discount and the special ACI-NA group rate of $219 at the Omni San Diego Hotel is Dec. 21. In order to make your room reservation, please call the hotel directly at (800) THE-OMNI. View the agenda. Register online before the early-bird cut-off date and save $35. More details: Housing, sponsorships, and more» 2010 Air Service & Data Planning Seminar: Early-Bird Registration Date Extended Join ACI-NA Jan. 24-26 at The Westin Casuarina in Las Vegas for the Air Service & Data Planning Seminar. Former airline planners, experienced airport air service recruiters and consultants will help airports prepare for JumpStart 2010. The seminar will include more learning and participant involvement opportunities than in the past. This two-day seminar will feature advance data classes, airport case studies, peer airport discussion groups, and roundtable discussions. SkyWest’s Mike Thompson will discuss the carrier’s route selection process in its new at-risk venture with AirTran. The cut-off date to receive the special group rate of $139 at The Westin Casuarina is Jan 1 while the deadline for the early-bird registration discount has been extended to Jan. 6. In order to make your room reservation, please call the hotel directly at (702) 836-5900. Register online before the early-bird cut-off date and save $35. More details: Housing, agenda, sponsorships, and more» 2010 Media Relations & Crisis Communications Seminar: Early-Bird Registration Date Extended The Media Relations & Crisis Communications Seminar, also at The Westin Casuarina in Las Vegas, will be on Jan. 27-29. This seminar brings together media relations and communications professionals to discuss the latest media trends and tools for effective crisis communication. Participants will learn about exciting innovations in technology, and gain valuable on-camera media training. Additionally, seminar attendees will have the opportunity to network with peers and share valuable tips on best practices for media relations. Session Highlight: Managing Communications During and Aircraft Disaster Kick off the day with a unique presentation from the National Transportation Safety Board. Attendees will learn about the NTSB investigation process and how they work with the media when disaster strikes. Attendees will learn how to stay in their lane when communicating during a crisis. This session will be moderated by Marc Henderson, Media Relations Manager, Security, Operations and Communications Division, Miami-Dade Aviation Department and presentations will be given by Peter Knudson, Public Affairs Officer, NTSB and Tara Hamilton, Public Affairs Manager, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. To see more session highlights, click here to view the current agenda. The cut-off date to receive the special group rate of $139 at The Westin Casuarina is Jan 1 while the deadline for the early-bird registration discount has been extended to Jan. 6. In order to make your room reservation, please call the hotel directly at (702) 836-5900. Register online before the early-bird cut-off date and save $35. 2010 Air Cargo Conference: Registration Now Open The 2010 Air Cargo Conference will be held March 9-11 at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. Airport directors, airport CFOs, airport cargo managers, cargo airlines, freight forwarders and air cargo industry experts will examine the current air cargo commercial and policy landscape, discuss the business of air cargo, and share strategies to enhance air cargo revenue. Register online and save $35. The cut-off date to receive the special group rate of $209 at The Fairmont is Feb. 15. In order to make your room reservation, please call the hotel directly at (206) 621-1700, ext. 3131 or toll-free at (800) 441-1414. More details: Housing, sponsorships, and more» See upcoming ACI-NA Events» ^ Back to top



			Committee Update
			Human Resources Committee When the ACI-NA Human Resources’ Steering Group met in Austin, Peter Gargiulo, director, strategy management with Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, facilitated a two-day strategic planning session to assist the steering group in planning for the future of the Human Resources Committee. The group agreed to look at developing several new working groups in the areas of Talent Acquisition, Deployment, and Management Best Practices; Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration Best Practices; Aviation Industry Training Standards; and a World Human Resources Forum. An update will be provided after the February Winter Board of Directors meeting. Contact ACI-NA’s Nancy Zimini for more information» Learn more about ACI-NA Committees and Programs» ^ Back to top



			Member Spotlight
			Stimulus Watch: Allegheny County Airport Authority Pennsylvania was the first state to receive economic recovery funds from the American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act. On March 12, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Pittsburgh International Airport would receive $10 million as part of the recovery package and $2 million would go to the Allegheny County Airport. Actual grant awards, based on competitive bidding costs, were $9.8 million and $1.5 million respectively. Aside from the construction jobs, according to an economic impact study, the funds created an estimated 16 secondary jobs at the Allegheny County Airport. Pittsburgh International Airport The $9.8 million stimulus project at the Pittsburgh International Airport will rehabilitate runway 14-32, one of the four runways used by commercial flights that brings 8.7 million passengers a year through the airport. These funds will be utilized to rehabilitate airfield pavement, make grading improvements and update pavement markings, airfield signage and lighting systems. Runway 14-32 is a critical part of the airport’s operations as it is the primary nighttime arrival runway, and is the airport’s preferential runway for noise abatement procedures. Allegheny County Airport At the Allegheny County Airport, the $1.5 million of stimulus funding were used to renovate and reconfigure parts of four taxiways and aircraft apron areas, and will allow for the future construction of aircraft maintenance hangars and their associated ramp space. Moreover, the reconfiguration associated with this project will allow the airport to construct the necessary infrastructure that is so critical for future aviation/airport industry demands, while also correcting an antiquated physical layout. ^ Back to top



			aci-na.org
			Our Blogs ACI-NA President Greg Principato in his recent blog posting took the airline industry to task for opposing raising the PFC ceiling by $2.50 when they just pocketed nearly $2 billion nickel-and-diming their passengers with extra fees in the third quarter. View this Airport Check-in posting» As the TSA attempts to recover from the gaff of posting an early version of its airport security manual on the Internet, Principato urges the agency to again consult with airports when crafting new security procedures. View this Airport Check-in posting» ACI-NA’s Chris Oswald writes in a recent posting “We’ve had a tremendous four days here at the ACI-NA/ACC/FAA Airport Planning Redefined Course and NEPA Workshop. Our events here were attended by more than 120 airport professionals from around the country.” View this Centerlines Blog posting» ACI-NA’s Matt Griffin provided in his posting an early report on the seminars in Kansas City. View this Centerlines Blog posting» ^ Back to top



			Info Desk
			Ancillary Fees Pump Up Airlines' Operating Margins in 3rd Quarter As the U.S. airlines reported collecting more than $2 billion in ancillary fees in the period of July to September, Delta Air Lines led the way with $447.5 million or $24 in fees income per passenger, according to a Bureau of Transportation Statistics report released on Dec. 14. BTS reported the ancillary fee income, which includes baggage fees, was up 36.4 percent in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the same period of 2008. View the complete release and data tables» ^ Back to top



	In This Issue • Hot Topics» • Industry News Briefs» • Events On Approach» • Committee Update» • Member Spotlight» • aci-na.org» • Info Desk»


	Insurance & Risk Management Conference Jan. 13-15 Air Service & Data Planning Seminar Jan. 24-26 Media Relations & Crisis Communications Seminar Jan. 27-29.



	@irports update is sent each week to ACI-NA members and partners. If you wish to add a name(s) from your organization to the ACI-NA database, please e-mail ACI-NA's Joe Weidlich.



	About ACI-NA Airports Council International-North America is the "Voice of Airports" representing local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. ACI-NA Associate members represent a wide variety of businesses that provide products and services to the aviation and airport industry.



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	Jobs & RFPs Don't forget the ACI-NA Web site when you are trying to fill a staff position. As a member benefit, airports and associate members can post free job announcements. In addition, member airports can post their RFPs and other contract solicitations on the ACI-NA Web site. Contact ACI-NA's webmaster for more information»



	ACI-NA 2009-10 Board of Directors Executive Committee G. Hardy Acree Chairman Director of Airports Sacramento County Airport System Sacramento, Calif. Frank R. Miller First Vice Chair Aviation Director San Antonio Aviation Department San Antonio, Texas Thella Bowens Second Vice Chair President/CEO San Diego County Regional Airport Authority San Diego, Calif. Thomas J. Kinton, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer CEO & Executive Director Massachusetts Port Authority Boston, Mass. John D. Clark, III Immediate Past Chairman CEO Indianapolis Airport Authority Indianapolis, Ind. Barry Rempel Ex-Officio President & CEO Winnipeg Airports Authority Winnipeg, Manitoba Directors Iftikar Ahmad Director of Aviation Dayton Department of Aviation Dayton, Ohio Kim Day Manager of Aviation Denver Department of Aviation Denver, Colo. David. N. Edwards, Jr. Executive Director Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Greer, S.C. Robert A. Hazel Partner Oliver Wyman Reston, Va. David Jennings Commissioner Charleston County Aviation Authority Charleston, S.C. Bradley S. Livingston Airport Director Dane County Regional Airport Madison, Wis. Richard McConnell Airport Director Boise Airport Boise, Idaho Reginald K. Milley President and CEO Edmonton Regional Airports Authority Edmonton, Alberta Brad Penrod Executive Director/CEO Allegheny County Airport Authority Pittsburgh, Pa.. Raul Regalado President & CEO Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Nashville, Tenn. Mark Reis Managing Director Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Seattle, Wash. William Restall President & CEO Saskatoon Airport Authority Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Maureen Riley Executive Director Salt Lake City Department of Airports Salt Lake City, Utah Brian Searles Director of Aviation Burlington International Airport Burlington, Vt. Elsie Rast-Stuart Commissioner Columbia Metropolitan Airport Columbia, S.C.. William Vanecek Director of Aviation Buffalo Niagara International Airport Buffalo, N.Y. Mark VanLoh Director of Aviation Kansas City Aviation Department Kansas City, Mo. ACI-NA President Greg Principato 2009 World Business Partners/ Associates Board of Directors Executive Committee Robert A. Hazel Chair Partner Oliver Wyman Reston, Va. Laddie E. Irion Vice Chair Vice President/Director, Air Transportation URS Tampa, Fla. Immediate Past Chair Vacant Randall H. Walker ACI-NA Board Liaison Director of Aviation Clark County Department of Aviation Las Vegas, Nev. Directors Donald G. Andrews Vice President – Aviation Reynolds, Smith and Hills Houston, Texas Steven T. Baldwin Senior Vice President The Louis Berger Group Albany, N.Y. Leslie K. Cappetta President and CEO SSP America Lansdowne, Va. Armen DerHohannesian General Manager Armen DerHohannesian & Associates Hampton, N.H. Bruce Feuer Vice President, Business Development The Paradies Shops Atlanta, Ga. Kurt Krummenacker Assistant Vice President/Analyst Moody's Investors Service New York, N.Y. Deborah T. Meehan Chief Operating Officer SH&E Cambridge, Mass. David Naleway National Sales Manager, Aviation Jacobs Cypress, Calif. Mark A. Perryman President Landrum & Brown, Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio Randy D. Pope Associate Vice President, Aviation & Facilities Group Burns & McDonnell Kansas City, Mo.



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