Monday October 1
Quick Links
Peters Calls for Action on FAA Reauthorization
The inefficiencies and inconveniencies of today’s congested airports will cost the U.S. economy $9 billion this year or twice the Airport Improvement Program appropriation. If nothing changes, the economy will lose $40 billion a year by 2033.
U.S. Transportation Security Mary E. Peters urged Congress to “revolutionize” the nation’s air traffic control system and the funding for airports. A short-term fix will not prevent this continued drag on the economy, Peters said in addressing the opening session of ACI-NA’s 16th Annual Conference & Exhibition in Kansas City.
“Today, people are as likely to look forward to taking a trip on a plane as they are a trip to the dentist. I don’t blame them,” Peters said. “Chances are the dentist will be a more pleasant experience.”
Legislation funding the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the airport’s trust fund expired on Sunday, the end of the federal fiscal year. Congress last week passed an extension of the status quo through Nov. 17.
“I am very disappointed that Congress has not taken any meaningful actions to address our growing aviation delay crisis and is resorting to a temporary extension,” she said. “The status quo is not going to solve the congestion problem.”
“The current system allows too many aviation funding decisions to be dictated by politics, not market signals,” Peters said.
“While ACI-NA and its members have long advocated fundamental changes to keep this fast-growing demand from overwhelming our airports and airspace, it took this summer’s gridlock to get people in Washington talking about what is wrong with aviation.”
In endorsing final FAA reauthorization, Peters endorsed a new air traffic control system based on satellites, dubbed Next Generation. She endorsed higher caps on passenger facility charges. And, she called for greater private investment in airports.
Peters in her call for reform did not mention the controversial user fee, which was first suggested by the administration and supported by the Senate. The House sided with general aviation and did not include this fee, which is favored by the airlines.
Last week, President Bush asked Peters to come up with a plan by year’s end to reduce congestion in the New York airspace. Peters said that she has asked ACI-NA to join this rulemaking process, which could reduce hourly takeoffs from New York airports. The group is to be “bold” by looking for “market-oriented” devices to reduce congestion and more efficiently allocate landing slots.
If the passengers can be encouraged to fly these off-peak hours, “we can make a tremendous contribution to solving congestion.”
In his welcoming remarks, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, a Republication who represents that district containing Kansas City International Airport and sits on the aviation subcommittee, called for Congress to go further than the current legislation by funding FAA operations out of the general fund and not the airport trust fund. If the trust fund can be restored to its original purposed – funding the Airport Improvement Program – instead of general operations then there would be more dollars available for runway and terminal projects.
The Airport of 2025: A Balancing Act
Managers will navigate a myriad of design and technology solutions to improve customer service and the bottom-line
The jury is out on what exactly will comprise the airport of 2025, but as airport managers choose among many solutions for optimizing passenger flow and making check-in, screening and boarding more efficient and more transparent, one thing’s for sure: the passenger of 2025 will have a markedly different experience from that of the passenger of today. And as the presenters demonstrated at a concurrent session on the airport of the future at ACI-NA’s 16th annual conference, held in Kansas City, technology will be a big part of the picture, as managers balance security and cost concerns against their continual commitment to customer service.
Stannis Smith, senior vice president, building, Stantec Architecture, brought a holistic design perspective to his analysis, predicting that the airport of the future would be accessible, intermodal, sustainable, future-proof and fun. His future terminal experience is simpler, even “seamless.” His airport is more connected to its surroundings. It’s more environmentally efficient. It’s designed with expansion in mind. And it’s fun: future design brands the airport with a unique sense of place, conveyed via strategic and appropriate use of materials, colors and tenant design guidelines.
John Murphy, AIA, principal-aviation, Corgan Associates, argued that design and technology would work together to streamline the passenger experience. In his future airport, security concerns fuel progress toward faster screening. Screening areas increase in size, and cargo screening becomes the norm. RFID becomes ubiquitous in the baggage and boarding processes.
Dynamic video adds interest and information to the customer experience. Self-service extends to baggage checking. Meanwhile, airports are growing, more regulated and more reliant on regional carriers. True greenfield construction opportunities are increasingly on the wane, but airport design and renovation is nevertheless responsive to higher environmental expectations via LEED and other benchmarks.
Kevin Peterson, senior products manager, airport and desktop Services, SITA, looked at future airports from a communications technology perspective. Check-in moves out of the terminal, toward the passenger, with 40-50 percent of passengers checking in via the internet and another 20-30 percent via kiosk. Terminals evolve toward a common-use infrastructure, with virtual rather than physical branding of the airline space. Passengers tag their own bags and even pay for off-site baggage processing. Data-mining, physical screening enhancements and registered traveler programs give airports much more control over who comes and goes. RFID offers full track and trace capability, leading to one-on-one marketing and increased non-aeronautical revenue. And because increasing terminal efficiency makes the system more sensitive, the airports emphasize disruption management via software-based institutional collaboration and knowledge sharing.
When they were asked where human beings fit into plans for the airport of the future, the panelists responded in two ways. They were sympathetic to the concern that the customer might get lost in a maze of technology and grow ever more alienated by the airport experience. But they also promised that as systems design and technology solutions grew more sophisticated, they would also become less obtrusive, releasing passengers from the task of problem-solving as they moved from the terminal to the planes. Only time will tell.
Employee Screening – Should More Be Done?
House Resolution 1413 and the potential implications of 100 percent employee screening were the focus of an afternoon session at ACI-NA’s 16th Annual Conference and Exhibition in Kansas City featuring a panel of industry experts from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Canadian Airports Council (CAC), Air Transport Association (ATA), Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), and the United States Commercial Aviation Partnership (USCAP).
TSA Transportation Sector Management Deputy Policy Analyst Marie Di Rocco said more can always be done in regard to security, but it is imperative to find a sensible way to address what is to be done. As the bill currently stands, Di Rocco maintains that HR 1413 does not allow the flexibility airports nor the TSA need, and fears the measure will likely cause longer wait times and congestion within airports.
“TSA is committed to working with Congress on this, but we want to do this in a way that does not impede the operations at airport,” Di Rocco said in reference to H.R. 1413’s proposal to screen all employees at six of seven airports chosen to participate in a pilot program.
Di Rocco said the TSA advocates five methods to enhance security: employee training; behavior recognition; deployment of technology; directed physical screening; and use of biometrics.
CAC’s Fred Jones shared the way Canadian airports have chosen to approach employee screening with the implementation of Restricted Area Identification Cards (RAIC). Led by CATSA and supported by Canadian airports and employees, the cooperative effort accomplishes two objectives: access across Canada’s airports system at predetermined access points through the use of iris-scan, fingerprint technology and real time validation without the use of hard copy black lists.
Canada is now embarking on a Stage 2 process that includes security beyond the air terminal building to extend outside airport perimeters.
Air Transport Association’s Managing Director of Security Chris Bidwell said HR 1413 as currently written presents many concerns to airlines.
"We can ill-afford delayed passengers and baggage right now,” Bidwell said, noting ATA’s opposition to 100 percent employee screening mandate. “Is insider threat a concern? Yes. But is 100 percent a reality? No.”
Bidwell mentioned that steel-toed boots utilized by ramp agents and mechanics, among other tools of the trade, would serve as significant operational challenges. Orlando’s Brigitte Goersch said the airport voluntarily implemented an employee screening program in March 2007. Vehicle entry checkpoints are currently costing the airport $1.5 million annually for labor costs.
Goersch said after initial growing pains, the employee screening program has been very successful for the airport thus far, though she is quick to note that she does not believe it is the answer for “every single airport.”
Robert Peterson, technical fellow with The Boeing Co. and USCAP, said, “we do not believe 100 percent employee screening is the answer. If we do, we will be predictable, and predictability is not the answer.”
He said USCAP’s estimated assessment of employee screening costs under HR 1413 would be $116 million to $275 million for a six month pilot. Extrapolated as previously written for a nationwide 100 percent screening program, those costs could escalate to $4.7 billion to $6.5 billion.
Press Conference
ACI-NA Leaders Urge 2007 Reauthorization, Congestion Management Solutions
During the Monday press briefing at the ACI-NA16th Annual Conference and Exhibition, ACI-NA leaders told reporters that airports will be doing everything possible to urge Congress to pass the FAA reauthorization bill this year.
Passing FAA reauthorization bill in 2007 will ensure that the industry will have the financial tools necessary to fund capital improvements to meet increasing passenger traffic, encourage price and service competition and improve safety and security, 2007 ACI-NA Chairman Rick Piccolo said.
ACI-NA members and staff worked hard to ensure a $7.00 Passenger Facility Charge in H.R. 2881, the House FAA reauthorization bill. “To date, we have been very successful at getting many of the provisions we wanted in the House bill and a number in the Senate bill,” Piccolo said. “ACI-NA’s reauthorization efforts focused on something that many in the aviation industry seemed to have overlooked in their lobbying efforts – passengers,” he added.
In addition to discussing ACI-NA’s efforts on FAA reauthorization, Piccolo said that airports are already meeting with their airline partners to discuss solutions. According to Piccolo, ACI-NA’s Board of Directors on Saturday discussed airport industry recommendations that will help reduce congestion. These include:
- Meeting the demand on the airport side by getting a PFC increase and sufficient AIP funding to develop new airside, ground access and terminal infrastructure;
- Managing airport congestion so airports have a variety of market-based and administrative tools to allocate scarce capacity where demand exceeds available capacity;
- Measuring delays accurately so the number of reportable carriers for passenger delay information includes all scheduled service. We hope to persuade DOT to reform its collection process and provide a comprehensive industry database.
- Modifying the bumping policy by supporting DOT efforts to update compensation levels from $200 to $400, depending on time of arrival. The airlines don’t want to update this policy that hasn’t been adjusted for 29 years.
- Publicizing airport development projects that improve airside operations, expand terminal capacity, manage surface congestion and care for displaced passengers.
Piccolo also pointed to continuing facilitation challenges experienced at airports and ACI-NA’s efforts to improve the process. “ We have insufficient staff from CBP and DHS at many airports; there is a diversion of user fee revenue to other modes; and an unclear process for departing passengers after failure of the U.S. VISIT pilot kiosk exit process,” Piccolo said.
“DHS is also looking at expanding beyond the 10 pilots for fingerprinting; and we’re facing full enforcement of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requiring passports for entry from Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Finally, CBP asks for more and more rent-free space from airports.”
Regarding security, Piccolo also pledged to clarify airport and federal roles and regulations in a way that they haven’t yet been previously outlined.
Exhibit Hall
There are 125 exhibitors in more than 200 booths in Hall D, the third floor of the Kansas City Convention Center. The hall open daily through Tuesday evening.
The on-site program, which will distributed at the registration desk, contains a list of exhibitors and the Exhibition Hall’s floor plan. The floor plan is also available on-line.
Exhibition Hall Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 2
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Exhibition Hall Open: Buffet luncheon available, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
5 - 7 p.m. – Exhibition Hall Open: Evening reception
Conference Highlights
On Tuesday, the second general session will be devoted to obtaining and then maintaining extraordinary customer service. Executives from Marriott, Avis and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will explain how each organization provides a high-level of customer service. This session gets underway at 9 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom.
There are four concurrent educational sessions scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
- At 1:45 p.m., Mark Reis, the Seattle-Tacoma aviation director, will moderate a session in Room 3501A on Sustainability and the Bottom Line.
- Also at 1:45 p.m., Louisville’s Skip Miller will moderate a presentation in Room 3501E of future aviation systems around the world.
- At 3:15 p.m. in Room 3501A, Jeff Hamiel, the executive director of Minneapolis-St. Paul, will moderate a discussion of the environmental pressures facing the aviation industry.
- In the second 3:15 p.m. session, Ben DeCosta, general manager of Atlanta’s department of aviation, will moderate a discussion in Room 3501E of the media and their portrayal of airports. ABC News’ Lisa Stark and Don Philips, of the International Herald Tribune, will be featured.
On Wednesday, there will be a series of briefings in the Grand Ballroom.
- At 8:30 a.m., the ACI-NA Government Affairs team will provide an update on FAA reauthorization and other pending legislation.
- At 10:30 a.m., a team from the FAA will brief the members on a variety of issues facing the agency – from the agency’s perspective.
- At 3 p.m., a TSA executive will conduct a briefing on current security issues.
On Approach: Tuesday's Events
Tuesday, Oct. 2
- 7 - 8 a.m. – Registration, Lobby
- 7:30 - 9 a.m. – ACI-NA Associates/World Business Partners Business Breakfast, Room 2502A
- 8 - 9 a.m. – Continental Breakfast, Room 2501A
- 9 - 10:30 a.m. – General Session II: Maintaining Extraordinary Customer Service, Grand Ballroom
- 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Exhibition Hall Open: Buffet luncheon available, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- 1:30 - 1:45 p.m. – Afternoon Break, Room 3501 Hallway
- 1:45 - 3 p.m. – Concurrent Educational Sessions:
3. Sustainability and the Bottom Line, Room 3501A
4. A Look at the Future of Aviation Systems Worldwide, Room 3501E - 3 - 3:15 p.m. – Afternoon Break, Room 3501 Hallway
- 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. – Concurrent Educational Sessions:
5. Meeting the Environmental Pressures Facing the Growing Aviation Industry, Room 3501A
6. Two Sides of the Story: Media Portrayal of Airports, Room 3501E - 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. – ACI-NA Airport/Associate Member Official Representatives Reception (by invitation only), Room 2502B
- 5:30 - 7 p.m. – Exhibition Hall Open: Reception on show floor
- 7 - 11 p.m. – Exhibition Hall Move-out
What Other's are Saying
Aviation Week's: Reporter Benet Wilson recounts her first day at the ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition, including a Podcast interview with Catherine Mayer of SITA on airport trends. Link is here,
Today's Aviation Week airport forum question - is 10 years too long to chase after an airline for new service?
Fox News 4KC: "Airline Industry to Discuss Travel Delays At KC Convention"
Fox News 4KC: "US Transportation Secretary Says Airport Systems Have Failed"
Businesswire "ARINC Managed Services Adds Pro-Active Monitoring for Airport Devices On-Site and Off-Site"
Did you Know
Union Station
Kansas City’s Union Station is the second largest working train station in the nation, behind Grand Central Station. The 1914 building was reopened in 1999 after a $200 million renovation thanks to the nation’s first bi-state tax. It features a science center, rail museum, theater district, restaurants and Amtrak service.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art ranks as one of the most comprehensive art museums in the nation including one of the world’s best Asian art collections. The 17-acre lawn is home to four 20-foot sculptures of badminton shuttlecocks seemingly left by giants, as well as the largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures outside of England.
Exhibitor Spotlight
Hurley of America - Airport Maintenance Contractor (Booth 818)
Before many aviation passengers awake each morning, Hurley’s 5,000-member service team is already busy maintaining the airports. From snow removal and passenger services, to airline detailing and waste management, Hurley’s forte is the maintenance of large and heavily-trafficked areas. Headquartered in Boston, with its main offices in Canada, the company was recently awarded a contract at Winnipeg International Airport.
Currently, the Hurley Group maintains five international airports and 60 million travelers a year, as well as providing airline priority passenger services and airplane grooming services to several major airlines.
With over a half-century of experience, Hurley was founded in 1956, and Martin Building Maintenance, founded in 1971 and acquired in 1992, are now serving a wide ranging portfolio of North American customers. Focus segments include: office towers, shopping centers, retail stores, industrial facilities, airports, educational and health care facilities.
In 2005, Hurley began its Green Cleaning Program by expanding its ISO9001:2000 registration to include a divisional ISO14001 registration – an industry service provider first. The Environmental Management System certification provides continual environmental improvement, cost savings through waste minimization and pollution prevention and defines how it manages its own and the client’s impact on the environment.
In all service contracts, standard practices are put into place for a healthier and more environmentally friendly work environment. These include certain chemical choices, the use of paper products and plastic bags with a high degree of recycled content, the use of more efficient equipment and the ability to increase the efficiency of waste management programs.
Things to do in KC
ACI-NA has one remaining organized tour of the area:
- Tuesday: A Look Back ~ Liberty Memorial & the Hallmark Visitor’s Center; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For spouses and other family members not attending the conference, two extensive activity calendars are available at www.visitkc.com and www.kansascity.com.
Guest Tours
Tuesday: A Look Back ~ Liberty Memorial & The Hallmark Visitor’s Center
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
$82 per person, Includes lunch
This tour takes guests to the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to World War I. Following the end of the First World War in 1918, the citizens of Kansas City were inspired to build a memorial in honor of those who had served in defense of liberty and our country. Local citizens raised $2.5 million dollars to design and construct the Liberty Memorial, which was formally opened in 1926. On October 28th, 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law legislation that formally designates Liberty Memorial as “America’s National World War I Museum.” This designation firmly establishes the Liberty Memorial Museum as “The Resource for World War I” in the United States.
The Museum features a world-class collection of historical objects and provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about the stories of WWI through the eyes of those who lived it. Standing watch over the Liberty Memorial are four carvings high atop the 217-ft. Memorial Tower, the Guardian Spirits that represent the high ideals of honor, courage, patriotism, and sacrifice. The tower elevator takes visitors up to the observation deck for a dramatic view of the Kansas City skyline.
Next it’s off to the Hallmark Visitor’s Center. Get an inside look at Hallmark’s story – from humble beginnings in 1910 with founder "Mr. J.C." Hall, to the creation of the world-famous Hallmark greeting cards and Keepsake Ornaments. Interactive displays and fascinating exhibits make the tour fun for everyone.
Block Party Info
The 16th Annual Conference and Exhibition will close Wednesday in true Kansas City style with lots of jazz and barbeque. The Kansas City Aviation Department will host a block party in the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. This is the place where jazz masters such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, and hundreds of others defined the sounds of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. The American Jazz Museum and The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum are part of this complex and both will be open as part of the block party festivities.
Dinner, entertainment and fireworks are sponsored by KCAD. Desserts are sponsored by Boston Logan International Airport.
Grand Marquis, Angela Hagenbach and The Alaadeen Trio will supply live entertainment on three stages.
2007 Sponsors
