@irports update

March 5, 2008


			This Week In Summary Berkley, Shaffer Address Public Safety and Security Conference ACI-NA Coalition Letter Urges Senate to Pass FAA Reauthorization Congress to Focus on FY2009 FAA and DOT Budgets FAA Considers Plans That May Impact Disadvantaged Business Enterprises ACI-NA Urges FAA to Address Shortfalls of ADS-B Plan FAA Issues Correction to AIP Program Guidance Letter on Land Use ACI-NA Jointly Organizing Aviation and the Environment Seminar Member Spotlight Submissions Needed ACI-NA to Assist TSA in Planning Checkpoint Expansion 2008 ACI World/North America Conference & Exhibition In The News Airports Facing Rising Costs, See No Relief Ahead Sending Fliers Up the River to Ease Traffic TSA Tries Airport Security Lanes for Families Mortgage Meltdown Costs Orlando Airport $12 Million


			Hot Topics
			Berkley, Shaffer Address Public Safety and Security Conference In her keynote address on March 3 before the ACI-NA Public Safety and Security Conference in Las Vegas, Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) said that with the presidential election and transition to a new administration, it is unlikely Congress will approve much in the way of major legislation this year. Berkley also noted that the federal budget deficit makes it difficult for Congress to adequately fund various security-related efforts such as upgrading baggage-screening equipment. Berkley said her concern is that the Real ID Act of 2005, which requires states to include certain security features on drivers' licenses, will impact the screening process because states that don't comply with the mandate could see their drivers' licenses rejected as a form of identification for boarding a flight. Berkley is one of 32 co-sponsors of a bill that would repeal the Real ID Act, but so far the legislation is stalled. Kirk Shaffer, the Federal Aviation Administration’s associate administrator for airports, echoed Berkley’s comments, saying that it is reasonable to expect Congress to be stuck in a “holding pattern” until the transition to the new administration in 2009 is complete. Among the safety issues discussed by Shaffer were concerns about increased numbers of vehicle/pedestrian deviations on the airfield and the need for improved driver training to enhance the safety culture at airports. He described improvements to the safety culture as “not about making the numbers but saving lives and airframes.” Shaffer also noted that 71 of 75 Part 139 airports have taken steps to improve runway markings and lighting. Contact ACI-NA’s Lydia Kellogg for more information» ACI-NA Coalition Letter Urges Senate to Pass FAA Reauthorization ACI-NA continues to raise awareness of the universal importance of passing a comprehensive, long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization this year. Last week, ACI-NA led efforts to coordinate an industry-wide coalition letter urging the U.S. Senate to make FAA reauthorization a priority and to pass a reauthorization bill in a timely fashion this year. The coalition letter will be delivered to Senate leadership officials this week. Thirty-three organizations agreed to sign onto the letter, including the National Association of Cities, the National League of Counties, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Association of Airport Executives, National Business Aviation Association, Air Line Pilots Association, Airport Consultants Council, Aerospace Industries Association, Air Carrier Association of America, National Association of State Aviation Officials, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Air Transport Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Cargo Airline Association. While individual goals are diverse, the organizations are unified in recognizing the importance of advancing a multiyear FAA reauthorization legislation. The coalition letter notes that the integrity of our aviation systems and the ability to meet future demands are dependent upon the federal government’s success in meeting its obligations to provide adequate infrastructure. The first step in meeting those obligations is for the Senate to advance a comprehensive and long-term FAA reauthorization bill. Contact ACI-NA’s Paul Eubanks for more information» Congress to Focus on FY2009 FAA and DOT Budgets This week, both the House and Senate will hold important budgetary hearings for both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as the Department of Transportation (DOT). On March 6, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation will hold a hearing on the FAA’s budget. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation will hold a hearing on the DOT’s budget, also on March 6. After the March 6 hearings, ACI-NA will provide members with detailed summaries. Last week, the Senate Commerce Committee reviewed DOT’s budget and a House Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing on the aviation security portion of the Homeland Security budget. View a summary of the Senate hearing» View a summary of the House hearing» Contact ACI-NA’s Paul Eubanks for more information» FAA Considers Plans That May Impact Disadvantaged Business Enterprises ACI-NA participated in two meetings sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Feb. 27 in Baltimore, during which the agency outlined its thoughts on setting disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) goals for airport rental car firms and possible guidance for joint-venture airport concession DBE programs (ACDBE). In the meeting between rental car companies, minority businesses and airport representatives, the FAA disclosed it would seek a national solution rather than an airport-by-airport program. Under its contemplated program, rental car companies would submit national DBE goals to the FAA for review and evaluation. The current requirement is that each individual airport establish DBE participation goals for its rental car companies. The FAA anticipates that a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) will be published early next year. In a second meeting with minority business and airport representatives, FAA representatives discussed a draft joint-venture guidance for ACDBE programs. The guidance will provide direction on the structure, implementation and counting of joint-venture arrangements between DBEs and non-DBEs for meeting an airport’s goal on DBE participation in airport concessions. The FAA expects to complete the guidance by June. Contact ACI-NA’s Monica Hargrove Kemp for more information» ACI-NA Urges FAA to Address Shortfalls of ADS-B Plan On March 3, ACI-NA filed comments with the Department of Transportation urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address certain shortcomings in the notice of proposed rulemaking for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast/out (ADS-B). ACI-NA is concerned that the proposed rule is not clear enough in identifying advantages of the ADS-B system. If the proposal were promulgated in its current form, it does not properly justify the cost of ADS-B/out equipage, treats ADS-B/in equipage as voluntary, fails to describe how certain signal quality limitations will be resolved and optimistically assumes that air carrier aircraft will be equipped with wide area augmentation system (WAAS) capability. It is ACI-NA’s view that in order for further capacity expansion to take place in the national airspace system, the full ADS-B system must be deployed. We noted that in many cases, the proposed rule is too vague. More detail must be provided in order to ensure the most effective tools are put into place. Specifically, we noted that the proposal falls short in outlining the procedures and equipment that will use ADS-B to support instrument approaches to runways separated by fewer than 4,300 feet. We encourage FAA to work with the airports and airlines and identify the industry benefits that will enable the swift equipage of NextGen-required equipment such as ADS-B. View the FAA proposal» View ACI-NA’s comments» Contact ACI-NA’s Dick Marchi for more information» FAA Issues Correction to AIP Program Guidance Letter on Land Use The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a correction to its Airport Improvement Program Guidance Letter 08-02: “Management of Acquired Noise Land: Inventory – Reuse – Disposal.” The original guidance required the 11 airports included in the 2005 Inspector General audit to submit their reuse plans by June 2008. That date has been changed to August 2008. FAA also made an editorial correction to section 6, paragraph C, “Environmental Review.” View the revised filing» Contact ACI-NA’s A.J. Muldoon for more information» ACI-NA Jointly Organizing Aviation and the Environment Seminar ACI-NA and other leading aviation-industry organizations will conduct an industry-wide seminar, "Aviation and the Environment: A Primer for North American Stakeholders," on March 19-20 at the Capitol Hilton Hotel in Washington. The purpose of the seminar is to increase understanding and awareness of aviation environmental issues and to foster collaborative relationships among key aviation stakeholders to further address these issues. Speakers from the Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, airlines, airports, research institutions and policy think tanks will focus on such topics as the current aviation environmental regulatory framework, managing the interrelationships between various environmental parameters, advances in aircraft technology that improve noise and emissions profiles, alternative aviation fuels and market-based measures for improving environmental performance. Participation is limited and open only to members of the sponsoring organizations, including ACI-NA. View the seminar agenda» Contact ACI-NA's Jessica Steinhilber for more information» Member Spotlight Submissions Needed ACI-NA is looking for submissions for the "Member Spotlight" section of @irports update. In addition to the newsletter article, the airports will also be featured on the homepage of ACI-NA's Web site at www.aci-na.org and seen by other member airports, the public and media outlets. Let ACI-NA feature your new and upcoming projects, interesting historical facts and anything else you wish to highlight! Airports should send in their submissions by March 17. Contact ACI-NA's Megan Miller for more information» ACI-NA to Assist TSA in Planning Checkpoint Expansion At the request of the Transportation Security Administration’s Office of Security Technology, ACI-NA is surveying its airport members to help the agency work with airports in planning checkpoint expansion. The TSA wants to have the most up-to-date information available on which airports are planning to build new terminals, expand existing terminals or upgrade existing terminals and the time frame for this development. Contact ACI-NA’S Matt Griffin for more information» 2008 ACI World/North America Conference & Exhibition Housing & Registration Now Open! Save the dates of Sept. 21-24 (pre-conference seminars: Sept. 20-22), as aviation-industry professionals from around the world gather in Boston for the ACI - World/North America Conference & Exhibition. Registration and housing are now open! Making reservations will take just a few simple clicks, as we are pleased to announce that ACI/ACI-NA and TravelTech bring you the official ACI/ACI-NA Travel Desk to offer online housing assistance. Be sure to register and make reservations by Aug. 15 to receive the discounted early-bird rate and special group rate. More details»



			Industry News Briefs
			Airports Facing Rising Costs, See No Relief Ahead Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 4, By Benjamin Spillman Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., told the ACI-NA Public Safety and Security Conference meeting in Las Vegas this week that the industry should not look to Congress and the federal checkbook to solve the nation’s air travel problems. View the full article» Sending Fliers Up the River to Ease Traffic The Wall Street Journal, March 4, By Scott McCartney Stewart Airport, an abandoned Air Force base 60 miles up the Hudson River from New York, is being transformed into the city’s fourth commercial airport. It could be the city’s discount hub, much as Stansted is London’s. View the full article» (paid subscription may be required) TSA Tries Airport Security Lanes for Families USA Today, March 3, By Thomas Frank The TSA on Monday started “family” and “expert” screening lanes at the Denver and Salt Lake City airports as an experiment to see if the segregated service improves screening speeds and customer service. View the full article» Mortgage Meltdown Costs Orlando Airport $12 Million Orlando Business Journal, Feb. 29, By Chris Kauffmann The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority will have to pay an extra $12 million in interest on bonds because its insurer, Financial Guaranty Insurance, has been caught up in the housing industry’s subprime lending mess. View the full article»



			Events On Approach
			UPCOMING HOTEL CUTOFF DATES UPCOMING HOTEL CUTOFF DATES ACI-NA Media Relations Seminar April 3 – 4 Hyatt Regency DFW Airport Dallas Phone: (972) 453-1234 or (800) 233-1234 Hotel cutoff date: March 19 ACI-NA Legal Issues Conference April 15 – 18 and the ACI-NA Human Resources Conference April 17 – 18 Marriott Coral Springs Hotel, Golf Club & Convention Center Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Phone: (954) 753-5598 or (800) 311-8018 Hotel cutoff date: March 24 ACI-NA Airport Economics & Finance Conference and the ACI-NA Business Information Technologies Conference April 28 – 30 Omni Interlocken Resort Denver Phone: (888) 444-OMNI Hotel cutoff date: April 4 Events on Approach One Week Away! Get Your Tickets for the ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Reception Registration is still open for ACI-NA Spring Legislative Conference in Washingtonon March 13-14. And there are still tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Reception on March 13. Separate registration is required for the reception. The ACI-NA 2008 Spring Legislative Conference: Key speakers: House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member John Mica House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairman David Price More details. Registration, hotels on the Web Agenda. Updated agenda now available ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Reception: Purpose: To honor Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) and raise funds for the ACI-NA Commissioners’ Scholarship Program. Location: Capitol Hill-Rayburn Cafeteria, Rayburn House Office Building Keynote speaker: Rep. Jerry Costello More details Tickets and sponsorship information are on the Web. ACI-NA Air Cargo Conference The March 26-27 ACI-NA Air Cargo Conference in Los Angeles is an annual gathering of airport directors, air cargo managers, airport CFOs and property managers, airport terminal developers, financial consultants, air cargo airlines, air cargo aviation consultants and air cargo freight forwarders from the United States and Canada. Key topics: State of the industry and cargo forecast The airlines as airport customers Development of cargo facilities and infrastructure finance Financing and cost recovery of cargo facilities and property development Special event: March 27 – Cargo Committee Meeting More details. Agenda, registration and sponsorship opportunities are on the Web. ACI-NA Legal Issues Conference: View Agenda The Legal Affairs Issues Conference, taking place April 15-18 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., will provide attendees with an understanding of the latest legal trends and issues for airports and the airport industry. Attendees will include attorneys and legal professionals representing airports throughout North America. Key topics: The basics: airport liability insurance Construction coverage Insurance coverage and environmental recovery Updates: legislative, security, environmental Rental cars More details. Agenda, registration and sponsorship opportunities are on the Web. Are You Prepared? 2008 ACI-NA Airport Economic & Finance Conference Join airport executive directors, chief financial officers, finance directors, accounting managers, budget analysts, property managers, commercial managers, disadvantaged business enterprise managers, investment bankers, rating agencies and others at ACI-NA's 2008 Airport Economics and Finance Conference, April 28-30 in Denver. Attendees will delve into a range of issues relevant to airport business operations -- all in one conference. Airport Commerce: Sustaining a Travel Boom in a Bust Economy Key topics: The state of the economy and the industry Regional carriers - successfully managing ever-changing relationships Non-aeronautical revenue - opportunities for diversification Parking - are you maximizing your revenue? The cost of doing business - the pricing dilemma Special Offer: Up to 11 hours of management continuing professional education (CPE) credits More details. Agenda, registration and sponsorship opportunities are on the Web. Spotlight on the Environment: Environmental and Operations & Technical Conference The 2008 ACI-NA Environmental Affairs Committee and the and Operations/Technical Affairs Committee will sponsor a joint conference in Denver on May 4-7 that is widely regarded as the premier industry event for sharing developments in environmental regulation, mitigation, sustainability, airport planning, flight procedures, airport design, new aircraft and other emerging topics. Key topics: Development of airport-specific LEED standard Update on ACRP land use project and revision to FAA model zoning ordinance advisory circular Development of NEPA planning integration best practices document ACI-NA environmental benchmarking survey/environmental strategy/outcome of Winter Board Meeting Noise beyond DNL 65 More details. Agenda, registration and sponsorship opportunities are on the Web.



			Committee Update
			Business Information Technologies Committee The Business Information Technologies Committee examines new and emerging technologies for their applicability to airport systems and examines how existing systems can be improved to better serve both the internal airport system needs as well as the needs of ACI-NA's customers. Some focus areas includes airport information management systems, operations automation systems, private and public communication services, computer networking, intranet and Internet, system design and the application of new technology. In January, the committee held a steering group meeting in San Diego during which two new working groups were created. The Common Bag Drop/Self-Tagging Working Groupwill assess these two new trends within the industry. The second working group, Airport Website Advertising,will be assessing possible revenue streams on airport Web sites. The steering group also heard updates from various worldwide IT initiatives, including the International Air Transport Association’s Common Use Passenger Processing Systems Working Group. The Business Information Technologies Committee is currently working on the agenda for the Business Information Technologies Conference to be held in Denver on April 28-30. Current topic ideas include IT governance and airport provided services for airlines, among others. There will be two joint sessions with the Economics and Finance Conference, which is taking place concurrently. The joint sessions include state-of-the-economy and the industry reports as well as a presentation on strategic investments in information technology. Contact ACI-NA’S Matt Griffin for more information»



			People On The Move




			Member Spotlight
			Miami International Airport Established in 1928, Miami International Airport (MIA) ranks 15th among U.S. airports in passenger traffic and third for international passengers, with 33.7 million total passengers and 15.5 million international passengers in 2007. International traffic accounted for 46 percent of its total passengers, maintaining Miami’s position as one of only two U.S. airports with such high international ratios. Miami currently serves 144 cities in 48 countries with 97 airlines. Miami continues to be the nation’s leading airport in international freight and the fourth best for total cargo, handling all-time highs of 1.8 million tons in international cargo and 2.1 million tons total in 2007. In 2007, the airport opened the new 1.7-million-square-foot South Terminal expansion, which includes a new Concourse J with 15 gates and a renovated Concourse H with 13 gates, 190 new ticket counters, 39 new concession locations opening in 2008 and a new cruise and tour bus station for Port of Miami passengers. A new 3.5-million-square-foot North Terminal expansion for American Airlines and its oneworld partners is scheduled for completion in 2011. The North Terminal will include 50 gates, 242 ticket counters and an automated, rooftop people mover with the capacity to transport 9,000 passengers per hour. Miami International is owned and operated by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department and is governed by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and the Board of County Commissioners. Visit Miami International Airport Web site»



			aci-na.org



			Info Desk
			Airline On-Time Performance in January Better Than December The nation’s largest airlines’ rate of on-time flights this past January was higher than in December but lower than in January 2007, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 20 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 72.4 percent in January, down from January 2007’s 73.1 percent but an improvement over December 2007’s 64.3 percent. View the full press release»


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


ACI-NA/AAAE Spring Conference March 13-14, 2008 Washington, D.C. Air Cargo Conference March 26-27, 2008 Los Angeles ACI-NA Media Relations Seminar April 3 – 4 Dallas @airports 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. Subscribe to Daily Clips ACI-NA offers access to the day's top airport and aviation news via e-mail. E-mail us at onlineservices@aci-na.org to subscribe to this free service for members! People in the News ACI-NA is featuring personnel announcements on our Web site from airport and associate members! Please send us your major hiring and promotion announcements. We can also post a photo with the announcement. Contact ACI-NA's Tom Smith for more information» 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 Will Huthnance for more information» ACI-NA 2008 Board of Directors Executive Committee Randall "Randy" H. Walker, Chairman Director of Aviation Clark County Department of Aviation John D. Clark, III, First Vice Chairman Executive Director/CEO Jacksonville Aviation Authority G. Hardy Acree, Second Vice Chairman Director of Airports SacramentoCountyAirport System Frank R. Miller, Secretary-Treasurer AirportDirector PensacolaRegionalAirport Fredrick "Rick" J. Piccolo, Immediate Past Chair President and CEO Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority James C. Cherry, President and CEO Aéroports de Montréal Directors Bruce Carter Director of Aviation MetropolitanAirport Authority of Rock IslandCounty Benjamin R. DeCosta General Manager Hartsfield-Jackson AtlantaInternationalAirport David. N. Edwards, Jr. Airport Director Asheville Regional Airport Authority Jim M. Ethridge Commissioner Memphis-ShelbyCounty Airport Authority Nuria I. Fernandez CEO ChicagoAirport System Bradley S. Livingston AirportDirector DaneCountyRegionalAirport William F. Marrison President Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Charles "Skip" T. Miller Executive Director of Airports LouisvilleRegional Airport Authority Reginald K. Milley President and CEO Edmonton Regional Airports Authority Stephen J. Mitchell Commissioner Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Morton V. Plumb Jr. Airport Director Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Mark Reis Managing Director Seattle-Tacoma InternationalAirport Barry Rempel President and CEO Winnipeg Airports Authority LesterW.Robinson CEO WayneCountyAirport Authority William R. Vanecek Director of Aviation BuffaloNiagara InternationalAirport Mark VanLoh Director of Aviation Kansas City Aviation Department Joseph W. Waller Vice President, Business Development HMSHost Corporation ACI-NA President Greg Principato 2008 Associates Board of Directors Executive Committee Susan Kurland, Chair Director Depfa First Albany Securities LLC Robert A. Hazel, Vice Chair Director Oliver Wyman Joseph W. Waller, Immediate Past Chair Vice President, Business Development HMSHost Corporation Fredrick J. (Rick) Piccolo, ACI-NA Board Liaison President & CEO SarasotaManateeAirport Authority Directors Donald G. Andrews Vice President -- Aviation Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc. Leslie K. Cappetta President and CEO Creative Host Services, Inc. Joseph DiDomizio COO Hudson Group Shauna Forsythe President Alliance Airport Advertising Angela Gittens Vice President, Airport Business Services HNTB Corporation Laddie E. Irion Vice President/ Director Air Transportation URS Deborah T. Meehan President & COO SH&E, Inc. David Naleway Vice President Parsons Mark A. Perryman President Landrum & Brown, Inc. Randy D. Pope, P.E. Associate Vice President Aviation & Facilities Group Burns & McDonnell

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The Wall Street Journal, March 4, By Scott McCartneyStewart Airport, an abandoned Air Force base 60 miles up the Hudson River from New York, is being transformed into the city’s fourth commercial airport. It could be the city’s discount hub, much as Stansted is London’s.

UPCOMING HOTEL CUTOFF DATES

The Wall Street Journal, March 4, By Scott McCartney
Stewart Airport, an abandoned Air Force base 60 miles up the Hudson River from New York, is being transformed into the city’s fourth commercial airport. It could be the city’s discount hub, much as Stansted is London’s.