Wednesday October 3
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Chairman’s Honors Luncheon Caps 2007 Conference
The 2007 Chairman’s Honors Luncheon was a terrific addition to this year’s Annual Conference. Over 300 attendees made this year’s luncheon better than ever, recognizing the winners of ACI-NA contests, outgoing members of the board of directors and committee chairs, and 10-year associates.
ACI-NA’s highest award of honor, the William E. Downes Jr. Memorial Award, was presented to Robert S. Michael, the retired general manager for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. Prior to his 14-year stint in Louisville, Michael was a long-serving aviation director in Denver.
John Korenic, chairman of the Marketing and Communications Steering Group, introduced a dynamic presentation for the Marketing and Communications Contest winners. Particular recognition was given to this year’s winner of the Peggy G. Hereford Award, Seattle-Tacoma Airport.
ACI-NA President Greg Principato and Board Chairman Rick Piccolo recognized the winners of the Environmental Contest. The 2006 Richard A. Griesbach Award winners were also mentioned. Last year’s overall prize went to Memphis International Airport – Concourse B.
Other highlights of the event included recognition of the outgoing members of the board of directors, committee chairs, and 10-year associates, and the gavel toss from outgoing Board Chairman Piccolo to incoming Chairman Randall “Randy” H. Walker. Walker will begin his term in January. Walker shared an enthusiastic “Look Forward to 2008” with the luncheon attendees.
Bringing the event to a close, the annual conference “hand-off” from Kansas City Director of Aviation Mark VanLoh to the Massachusetts Port Authority’s CEO, Thomas Kinton, was a great preview for next year’s event. During his closing statements, Principato thanked the attendees for a wonderful conference and invited all to attend next year’s annual conference in Boston, Sept. 21-24.
Louisville’s Bob Michael Honored with Downes Award
ACI-NA’s Board of Directors today honored Robert S. Michael with the 2007 William E. Downes, Jr. Memorial Award. The Downes Award is ACI-NA’s most prestigious award and recognizes individuals who sustain a career of outstanding contributions to the aviation industry.
“In his 40-year career in the airport management field, Bob has played an invaluable role in aviation and ACI-NA in particular,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “The programs he developed and the communities of Denver and Louisville will reap the benefits of his contributions for years to come.”
Bob began his career in 1958 at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he spent six years in managerial areas of operations, terminal service, property management, and administration. In 1964, he became the airport manager in Billings, Montana, and four years later, Bob found himself in Milwaukee as the airports director, overseeing both General Mitchell Field and Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport.
Bob’s next position took him to Denver, where he became director of aviation. He managed the implementation of a $150M expansion and capital improvement program, which helped shape Denver into the nation’s sixth busiest airport. In 1984, Bob was appointed general manager for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. He conceived and oversaw the $700M Louisville Airport Improvement Program as well as the Innovative Housing Program for relocating airport neighbors most negatively impacted by noise. He remained in Louisville until he finished his airport management career, retiring in 1998.
Bob also contributed to the industry by serving on several boards and committees. He served as chairman of ACI-NA from 1981 to 1982 and was a member of the ACI World Board of Directors from 1991 to 1997. He was active in the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) from 1970 to 1979, and he was a member of the Transportation Research Board, the Aviation System Capacity Advisory Committee, and Kentuckians for Better Transportation. Bob also served as a board member for Greater Louisville, Inc (Louisville’s Chamber of Commerce), Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Standiford Art Foundation, and Public Radio Partnership.
The William E. Downes, Jr. Memorial Award, first presented in 1978, was conceived shortly after the death of Bill Downes (1975) to honor his memory. Downes was the former commissioner of aviation for the City of Chicago (1959 until his death). Most of the extensive development of Chicago O’Hare International Airport took place while he served as commissioner. Downes served as president of Airport Operators Council International (AOCI) from 1966-67 and also served on AOCI’s International Board, presiding as chairman from 1970-71.
New Officers, Directors Elected
At its business meeting earlier today, ACI-NA members elected its 2008 officers and four new directors. Randall “Randy” H. Walker, director of aviation for Clark County’s Department of Aviation in Nevada, was elected to serve as chairman of the 2008 ACI-NA Board of Directors.
“I am honored to be selected to work with next year’s leadership team. I look forward to facilitating the many challenging issues that lay ahead, including security, the environment, and other issues,” Walker said.
Other 2008 Executive Committee members elected include John D. Clark, III, executive director, Jacksonville Aviation Authority, as first vice chairman; G. Hardy Acree, director of airports, Sacramento County Airport System, as second vice chairman; and Frank R. Miller, airport director, Pensacola Regional Airport, as secretary-treasurer.
In addition, four airport leaders were elected to new, three-year terms on the board. Newly elected directors include: David. N. Edwards, Jr., airport director, Asheville Regional Airport Authority; Mark VanLoh, director of aviation, Kansas City Aviation Department; Morton V. Plumb, Jr., airport director, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport; and Mark Reis, managing director, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In addition, Nuria I. Fernandez, CEO of the Chicago Department of Aviation, was elected to a two-year term to fill a board vacancy.
ACI-NA 2008 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
• Randall “Randy” H. Walker, Chairman - Director of Aviation, Clark County Department of Aviation (Las Vegas)
• John D. Clark, III, First Vice Chairman - Jacksonville Aviation Authority
• G. Hardy Acree, Second Vice Chairman - Sacramento County Airport System
• Frank R. Miller, Secretary-Treasurer - Pensacola Regional Airport
• Fredrick “Rick” J. Piccolo, Immediate Past Chairman - Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority
Directors
• Bruce Carter - Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County
• Ben DeCosta - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• David. N. Edwards, Jr. - Asheville Regional Airport Authority
• Jim M. Ethridge - Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
• Nuria I. Fernandez - Chicago Department of Aviation
• Bradley S. Livingston - Dane County Regional Airport
• William Marrison - Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
• Charles "Skip" Miller - Louisville Regional Airport
• Reginald K. Milley - Edmonton Regional Airports Authority
• Stephen J. Mitchell - Tampa International Airport
• Morton V. Plumb, Jr. - Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
• Mark Reis - Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
• Barry Rempel - Winnipeg Airports Authority
• Lester Robinson - Wayne County Airport Authority
• William R. Vanecek - Buffalo Niagara International Airport
• Mark VanLoh - Kansas City Aviation Department
• Joseph Waller - HMSHost Corp.
• James C. Cherry - Aeroports de Montréal [ex officio]
Second FAA Extension May Be Needed
On the final morning of the 16th Annual Conference & Exhibition in Kansas City, the ACI-NA Government Affairs staff provided an update of pending legislation in Congress as well as glimpse of its 2008 activity.
The critical issue that continues to face the industry is reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Although Congress has extended the FAA authorization until Nov. 16, the likelihood of a six-month extension is high, said Scott Weaver, ACI-NA’s senior director of government affairs.
The House has passed its version of the FAA reauthorization, but the Senate has not. A Senate floor vote is not likely until late October or early November as the issue of user fees still needs to be worked out.
The FAA has taken the position that it will not issue any Airport Improvement Program grants until it has new permanent authorization or at least a six-month temporary one, Weaver said.
The fight to get the Passenger Facility Charge ceiling raised to $7 will be intense in the conference committee. If the airlines lose the fight with general aviation over the user fee, Weaver said the carriers will want a “win” at the expense of the airports in the PFC battle.
In 2008, the Government Affairs staff will focus on several key issues, said Deborah McElroy, executive vice president of policy and external affairs. The issues include:
- Annual appropriation measures for the Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- A study of grant assurances and the restriction on the use of grants.
- Working to educate the presidential candidates and the eventual transition team on airport issues.
- Continuing the Passenger First Commitment with emphasis on:
- Homeland Security practices
- Congestion Management techniques
- Environmental Issues
Questions from the members, included:
Q. Will the cap on limited the Transportation Security Administration to 45,000 screeners be lifted?
A. The cap is now gone, but the number of screeners is dependent upon the annual DHS appropriations.
Q. What is the fate of air cargo screening?
A. While the 9/11 legislation calls for all belly cargo to be screened, it did not specify a method. Instead, DHS and the airlines are able to work this out.
Q. Will there be changes in PFC eligibility rules?
A. While the FAA had included in its own measure to change PFC eligibility and spending rules, neither the House nor the Senate has included these changes in their versions of the bill.
Q. “Will we ever get to the point that the TSA doesn’t treat every passenger as the enemy?”
A. After more than five years, TSA is now being targeted for budget cuts, McElroy noted. The TSA attitude and practices still needs to be adjusted because security practices are still keeping people from flying. It is critical for small airports or on short-haul flights when driving is a viable alternative.
Steve Palmer, a vice president of Van Scoyoc Associates, a political consulting firm retained by ACI-NA, noted that DHS will face a challenge after the presidential election when all top leaders may be replaced. A new administration may have a difficult time filling these positions if the agency continues to be disliked by the public, he said.
Airport Forum: FAA Briefing
Following a presentation by Michael Freilich, FAA National External Program Manager, on the distribution of nearly $3.4 billion annually to socially and economically challenged businesses under disadvantaged business enterprise status, a lively banter ensued with a panel of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport authorities on topics ranging from congestion to runway incursion issues at a morning session at ACI-NA’s 16th Annual Conference and Exhibition in Kansas City.
The first questions addressed to the panel focused on the status of the FAA reauthorization bill currently operating under a seven-week continuing resolution.
FAA Associate Administrator for Airports D. Kirk Shaffer encouraged audience members to continue to pressure Congress on this issue in an effort to avoid a routine of repetitive continuing resolutions.
“Don’t relieve the pressure on Congress,” Shaffer said. “I’m not asking you to lobby, but they have to get this bill done. It is all on them and you have to press them to get this done.”
Dave Bennett, director of FAA’s Office of Airport Safety and Standards, joined Shaffer in recognizing airports for the work being done to avoid runway incursions. He said that the numbers from an “unscrubbed report” met vehicular pedestrian deviation targets and the obvious goal to save lives and avoid property damage. The FAA adopted the International Civil Aviation Organization’s definition for runway incursions Oct. 1.
Benito De Leon of FAA’s Office of Airport Planning and Programming spoke about FAA’s changes in the process of measuring grants. He noted that “a lot of money is coming back to (FAA) a the end of the year,” noting that $50 million in Airport Improvement Program grants haven’t been touched in years.
He said the FAA’s historical access to records has pulled away parts of the onion, but that the agency couldn’t see the pork. De Leon said FAA’s desire is to switch the metric over to better measure the agency’s progress on grants.
Shaffer aired his views on airspace congestion, and noted a recent trip to the Northeast where he opted to ride Amtrak to make sure he would arrive at his destination on time. Using the Los Angeles basin as an example, he called out regional jets flying short-haul routes as a primary reason for clogged airways, and said airlines are going to have to be part of the solution to get a handle on congestion. He also mentioned the FAA has released an airspace redesign for the New York region after 124 meetings in a 10-year period, saying that he is “pretty confident in the work that has been done there.”
Bennett said a tenative plan at Boston’s Logan International Airport to use market-based mechanisms has been approved in concept and is permitted under current rates and charges.
On Approach
Thursday, Oct. 4
- 9 a.m. - Noon – Airport Tour, Buses depart Marriott
Did you know
The Kansas City label
By 1949, 86 factories were manufacturing garments in Kansas City. It was said that one in seven American women wore clothing made in Kansas City.
Kate Spade definitely has any eye for fashion. The Kansas City native is considered one of the top handbag designers in the world. In 1999, BusinessWeek named Spade one of its top entrepreneurs.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibition Hall closed Tuesday evening. An estimated 2,000 attendees viewed 125 exhibitors in the last three days.
Next year, the 17th Annual Conference and Exhibition will be in Boston at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center. ACI-NA will be staging the Sept. 21 -24 event in conjunction with Airports Council International as a worldwide meeting.
What Other's are Saying
Aviation Week: Now Landing - The Towers and Tarmacs Podcast Talks With Kansas City's Mark Van Loh
The Kansas City Star: Airport industry officials recommend raising federal passenger facility charges
The Kansas City Star: Add mishandled luggage to list of passengers’ woes
Airport Business: At the ACI-NA Show in Kansas City…
Things to do in KC
For those staying beyond Wednesday night’s Block Party, the “World Series of BBQ” gets underway on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 7 a.m. at the American Royal Complex. This BBQ festival, at $10 per adult, runs through Sunday, Oct. 7.
For spouses and other family members not attending the conference, two extensive activity calendars are available at www.visitkc.com and www.kansascity.com.
Block Party Info
The 16th Annual Conference and Exhibition will close tonight 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
