@irports update -- Nov. 18, 2009

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	Nov. 18, 2009



			This Week In Summary DOT Convenes Aviation Forum; LaHood Announces Federal Advisory Committee» Associates Board Elects 2010 Leadership» Opinions, Ideas Needed for Centerlines» U.S. and EU Continued Second Stage Negotiations» U.S., Others Sign IATA's Policy Principles on Liberalization» TSA Strengthening Security Standards for Repair Stations» ACI Offers Holiday Discounts on Training Programs» In The News Los Angeles Airport Bond Sale May Approach $1 Billion on Tender» An Air-Traffic Upgrade to Improve Travel by Plane» Worried About Losing Tax Revenue, Congress to Investigate Airlines' Fees » FAA is Taking a Look in Mirror»


			Hot Topics
			DOT Convenes Aviation Forum; LaHood Announces Federal Advisory Committee On Nov. 12, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood brought together airports, airlines, labor unions, general aviation, manufacturers, financial analysts, consumer groups and academia at the “Future of U.S. Aviation Forum.” Rosie Andolino, commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation; Mark Reis, managing director, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; and Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director, Los Angeles World Airports; participated in panel discussions on the state of the industry, events shaping the future and areas for future work. Andolino emphasized the importance of airports, noting their importance in generating economic commerce and jobs. She also stated that this is the right time to invest in infrastructure as passenger traffic is beginning to recover. Reis noted that airports have been affected by the economic downturn and that many have been forced to lay off employees. He urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to focus on more pragmatic solutions to funding the aviation system, rather than continuing the industry infighting that had occurred in the past. He used the passenger facility charge (PFC) as an example, noting that while the PFC increase is opposed by airlines, the use of the PFC to fund infrastructure improvements has saved airlines millions of dollars in reduced debt service costs. Lindsey stated that industry cannot continue to “hang on to an old paradigm,”but must identify our priorities and marshal the resources to make necessary improvements to the air transportation. At the conclusion of the forum, LaHood announced the formation of a federal advisory committee to study competition and the ability of the aviation industry to address evolving transportation needs. He requested that forum participants provide DOT input on the committee’s scope of work. ACI-NA will be providing input to DOT, including the importance of funding for airport infrastructure. Contact ACI-NA’s Debby McElroy for more information» Associates Board Elects 2010 Leadership ACI-NA on Nov. 16 announced the election of 2010 officers for its World Business Partner/Associates Board of Directors. Laddie E. Irion, vice president and director of air transportation at URS Corporation, was elected to serve as Chair of the 2010 ACI-NA WBP/Associates Board of Directors. Steven T. Baldwin, senior vice president of The Louis Berger Group, was elected to serve as Vice Chair. Both the chair and the vice chair are elected for one-year terms. The mission of ACI-NA’s WBP/Associates Board of Directors is to provide ACI-NA and its airport members expertise on airport operations and development; commercial activities; safety, security and quality customer service through the exchange of information; and business opportunities. Contact ACI-NA’s Amy Peters for more information» Opinions, Ideas Needed for Centerlines Planning is now under way for the March edition of Centerlines. Associate members interested in writing the Associates Corner column should submit their essay topics by Dec. 3. A panel of the World Business Partner/Associates Board of Directors will review the submitted topics and then select the writer. The essay writer will have until Jan. 6 to submit a 600-word essay. Today is the deadline for airports to submit their story ideas for the March edition. The March edition’s cover story will focus on the new twists, turns, and options that are the new trends in airport parking. Associate members involved in planning, building or equipping airports with cutting-edge parking facilities are urged to submit their suggestions about specific projects. Contact ACI-NA’s Tom Smith for more information» U.S. and EU Continued Second Stage Negotiations Delegations representing the United States and European Union met Nov. 9-11 in Brussels for their fifth round of the second stage negotiations. ACI-NA staff participated in the consultations. The two sides made progress on issues such as security, regulatory cooperation and the role of the Joint Committee. Further work remains on issues, such as market access, environmental cooperation, environmental constraints, investment and social dimension of the agreement. They highlighted the goal of reaching a second stage agreement in 2010 as set out in the current U.S./EU Agreement and as noted in the U.S./EU Summit on Nov. 3. The next round of consultations will be held during the week of Jan.11 in Washington, D.C. View U.S./EU Joint Statement» Contact ACI-NA’s Diane Peterson for more information» U.S., Others Sign IATA's Policy Principles on Liberalization The International Air Transport Association (IATA) held its second Agenda for Freedom Summit in Montebello, Canada, on Nov. 15-16. IATA maintains that airlines are not looking for subsidies, but rather for liberalization or elimination of government restrictions so that airlines would have the commercial freedom already enjoyed by other industries. At the conclusion of the summit, seven countries --- United States, Chile, Malaysia, Panama, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates --- signed the Statement of Policy Principles. The European Commission also endorsed the principles. Together, these entities account for 60 percent of the world aviation. IATA expects more states to join in the future. The president of the ICAO Council, Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, witnessed the signing. The policy principles are not legally binding, but rather a statement of a government’s intent. The main principles address: Freedom to access capital markets: States should not exercise their rights to deny access to an airline which is not owned and controlled by its nationals. The states also agreed to consider a multilateral agreement to waive these restrictions. Freedom to do business: States should waive restrictions on the number of airlines and on operations and negotiate agreements without such restrictions. Freedom to price services. States should waive restrictions on airlines’ freedom to price their services and negotiate agreements replacing such restrictions with double disapproval pricing or other liberal provisions. View IATA press release» View InterVISTAS Study on Impact of Liberalisation on Select Countries» Contact ACI-NA’s Diane Peterson for more information» TSA Strengthening Security Standards for Repair Stations The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Nov. 16 announced its intent to strengthen the Aircraft Repair Station Security program by establishing security requirements for maintenance and repair work conducted on aircraft and aircraft components at domestic and foreign repair stations certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The increased security protections proposed are designed to build on the extensive certification and safety requirements for repair stations instituted by the FAA. Aircraft repair stations vary widely in size, type of repair work performed, number of employees and proximity to an airport. The proposal requires FAA-certificated foreign and domestic repair stations to adopt and carry out a standard TSA security program to safeguard the security of a repair station, the repair work conducted, and all aircraft and aircraft components at the station. However, those repair stations that are in compliance with certain measures under airport security programs would be exempt from some of the new requirements. In another notice from the TSA, the agency said it is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget renew existing information collection systems for passenger aircraft carrying cargo and all-cargo aircraft so that the TSA may conduct security threat assessments for individuals with unescorted access to cargo. Contact ACI-NA’s Christopher R. Bidwell 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
			Los Angeles Airport Bond Sale May Approach $1 Billion on Tender Bloomberg, Nov. 18, By Jeremy Cooke Los Angeles International Airport may sell as much as $1 billion in tax-exempt bonds this week in the latest offering to seek savings from U.S. tax-rule changes enacted in February. View the complete article» An Air-Traffic Upgrade to Improve Travel by Plane The New York Times, Nov. 16, By Guy Gugliotta A.D.S.-B. is a linchpin of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen, the aviation agency's master plan for fixing the shortcomings of 21st-century air travel. View the complete article» Worried About Losing Tax Revenue, Congress to Investigate Airlines' Fees The New York Times, Nov. 13, By Micheline Maynard When airlines charge extra fees, are they really just another fare increase in disguise? Congress has been furrowing its collective brow at the practice. View the complete article» FAA is Taking a Look in Mirror Star Tribune, Nov. 13, By Suzanne Ziegler With a Northwest plane out of contact, procedures weren't followed as controllers changed shifts. That led to a delay of the military being notified. View the complete article» ^ Back to top



			Events On Approach
			International Aviation Issues Seminar Dec. 3-4 The Fairfax Embassy Row, Washington Hotel Cut-off: Nov. 20 Airport Planning Redefined Course Dec. 7-9 and NEPA Practitioners Workshop Dec. 9-10 Westin Crown Center, Kansas City Hotel Cut-off: Nov. 25 International Aviation Issues Seminar: Hotel Cut-off Now Nov. 20 Join ACI-NA at the annual International Aviation Issues Seminar Dec. 3-4 at The Fairfax Embassy Row in Washington, DC. This annual seminar brings together top airport and airline management, government officials and consultants, to explore the latest developments in international air travel and trade, government air transport policies and negotiations and facilitation policies/procedures which impact airports' ability to retain and secure new international air service The ACI-NA Holiday Reception will be Dec. 3 at the Fairfax. All of the seminar sessions will be held at The Fairfax at Embassy Row. The cut-off date to receive the special group rate of $234 is Nov. 20. In order to make your room reservation, please call the hotel directly at (202) 293-2100. More details: Housing, sponsorships, and more� ACI-NA/ACC/FAA Airport Planning Redefined Course and ACI-NA/ACC/FAA NEPA Practitioners Workshop: Cut-off Date Extended ACI-NA, ACC, and the FAA will host this first Airport Planning Redefined Course at The Westin Crown Center in Kansas City from Dec. 7-9. The course will go beyond the Master Plan advisory circular to provide insights that will enable professionals involved in planning airport improvements to be more effective and better prepared in today's environment. On the final day of the Planning Course there will be a half day joint session with attendees of the annual NEPA Practitioners Workshop scheduled for Dec. 9-10. This workshop will use detailed presentations along with interactive and collegial activities to educate you on key tenants of the NEPA process. Expect interactive discussion and workshop projects. All of the seminar sessions will be held at The Westin Crown Center. The cut-off date to receive the special ACI-NA group rate of $125 is Nov. 25. In order to make your room reservation, please call the hotel directly at (888) 627-8538. More details: Airport Planning Course: Housing, sponsorships, and more� More details: NEPA Workshop: Housing, sponsorships, and more� 2010 Insurance & Risk Management Conference 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. All of the seminar sessions will be held at Omni San Diego Hotel. The cut-off date to receive the special ACI-NA group rate of $219 is Dec. 21. In order to make your room reservation, please call the hotel directly at (800) THE-OMNI. View the agenda. Register online and save $35 More details: Housing, sponsorships, and more� See upcoming ACI-NA Events» ^ Back to top



			Committee Update
			NEPA Working Group The ACI-NA Air Cargo Committee is committed to advancing the industry's understanding and knowledge of air cargo economics and practices. Its focus is to assist airport operators in the management of existing air cargo resources, maximization of potential air cargo opportunities and the enhancement of air cargo revenues, in addition to providing a forum to discuss cargo-related security issues and developing concerns in the air cargo industry. The Air Cargo Committee is focused on building relationships with other industry groups, such as The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other ACI-NA committees as well as government entities such as the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security, in an effort to create a stronger air cargo community and establish a broader and more global perspective regarding the concerns facing the air cargo industry today. The Air Cargo Committee is in the midst of planning the upcoming 2010 Air Cargo Conference to be held in Seattle on March 9-11. This conference is the premiere event for participants to examine the current air cargo commercial and policy landscape, discuss the business of air cargo, and share strategies to enhance air cargo revenue. The planning group has already begun working on the agenda and will soon be sending the details to the ACI-NA membership. The Air Cargo Committee continues its outreach efforts through its monthly Webinar sessions. These Webinars feature a variety of industry insiders who speak on the important issues affecting air cargo. Contact ACI-NA’s Miranda Horan for more information» Learn more about ACI-NA Committees and Programs» ^ Back to top



			People on the Move
			Norma Essary Norma Essary, Vice President of Risk Management at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, was selected by her industry peers as recipient of the Texas 2009 Risk Manager of the Year. The award is provided through the Public Risk Management Association. Essary is also the Second Vice Chair for the ACI-NA Insurance and Risk Management Committee. ^ Back to top



			aci-na.org
			Our Blogs While USA Today wrote about airport concession numbers, ACI-NA’s Debby McElroy posted a commentary explaining that 2009’s numbers will be down from 2008 since airlines have cut back on their flights. See Centerlines Blog entry» Reporting from the Concessions Conference in Indianapolis, ACI-NA’s Sheila Owens reports on the debate – free or fee WiFi. See Centerlines Blog entry» In another report from Indianapolis, Owens reports that the business of NASCAR and the business of airports are united by a single purpose of providing the best customer experience for its stakeholders. See Centerlines Blog entry» New Research Posted Approaches to Integrating Airport Development and Federal Environmental Review Processes: Airport Cooperative Research Program explores practices that airport sponsors and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) planners and environmental specialists have used to integrate airport planning efforts and the FAA’s environmental review processes. Posted: 11/17/09. Airport Passenger-Related Processing Rates Guidebook: Airport Cooperative Research Program provides guidance on how to collect accurate passenger-related processing data for evaluating facility requirements to promote efficient and cost-effective airport terminal design. Posted: 11/17/09. ^ Back to top



			Info Desk
			September's Airline Employment at Lowest Level Since 1993 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.4 percent fewer workers in September 2009 than in September 2008, the 15th consecutive decrease in full-time equivalent employee levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported. BTS reported on Nov. 17 that the September total of 380,014 for the scheduled passenger carriers was 17,380 below September 2008 and the lowest total for any month since 1993. All the network airlines decreased employment from September 2008 to September 2009 as did several low-cost carriers, including Southwest Airlines. View the complete press release and data tables» ^ Back to top



	In This Issue • Hot Topics» • Industry News Briefs» • Events On Approach» • Committee Update» • People on the Move» • aci-na.org» • Info Desk»


	ACI-NA International Aviation Issues Dec. 3-4 Washington Airport Planning Redefined Dec. 7-9 Kansas City NEPA Practioniers Workshop Dec. 9-11 Kansas City



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	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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	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 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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