Security, taxation and the environment were highlighted as the major issues facing airports by Max Moore-Wilton, ACI World Chair and Chair of the Sydney Airport Corporation Limited.
Max Moore-Wilton set the tone for the Twentieth ACI World Annual General Assembly meeting. More than 400 delegates from 72 countries attended this year’s meeting in Bermuda.
In addition to those three issues cited by Wilton, safety and disaster planning were also important topics discussed at this ACI conference regarding airports.
Charting a Course for the Future of Airports
While airports grapple with many pressing issues today, charting a course for the future was and underlying theme of this year’s conference and ACI Director General, Angela Gittens, called for airports to transition from a “public utility model” to an “entrepreneurial business model” to maximize efficiency, financial vitality, and customer service excellence. Gittens called upon ACI member airports to take a leadership role in charting their course for the future.
Following the conference theme, the keynote presentation was delivered by Michael Rogers, Futurist-in-Residence, for the New York Times and MSNBC. Rogers offered a number of predictions that will impact airports and air travel.
Adopting a Risk-Based Approach to Aviation Security
At their Bermuda meeting the ACI World General Assembly adopted a number of resolutions addressing those major issues facing airports and air travelers today. With the recent cargo security threat top of mind at the conference, ACI resolved to advocate adoption of a “risk-based” approach to cargo screening.
Implementing a Program to Enhance Airport Safety
With so many airports constrained by intersecting runways and limited expansion room, the concern for airport safety will intensify as passenger demand and air traffic increases in the coming years. ACI sees preventing runway incursions and excursions as a major priority. At the Bermuda conference, an entire session was devoted to safety and ACI launched a new initiative to improve passenger safety at airports.
James White, Deputy Director, Airport Safety and Standards at the FAA highlighted FAA initiatives and plans to improve airport safety. White reported a significant decline in serious runway incursions since the FAA implemented a plan to curb incursions and now the FAA is taking aim at reducing excursions.
ACI’s new “APEX in Safety” initiative intends to provide airports with the appropriate information and tools they need to meet international safety standards. The resolution encourages airports to review their processes and implement programs leading to a safety certification. ACI also wants to foster cooperation between airports with an “exchange” program to improve staff training and safety practices.
As part of the new safety initiative, ACI plans to provide ACI staff to support selected ICAO regional offices and help identify safety deficiencies. The ACI safety initiative also intends to develop a set of “key performance indicators” aimed specifically at decreasing runway excursions.
Campaign to Curb Aviation Taxes that Stifle Economic Growth/Activity and Jobs
ACI is extremely concerned about the growing number of “green taxes” levied by different countries, which are detrimental to air traffic and economic activity. ACI believes aviation has been unfairly singled out while other industries are not paying their fair share for their carbon footprint and that much of the revenue collected from these taxes has not been applied to improving the environment.
ACI would like governments to refrain from imposing taxes on aviation on a national or multi-national level for the sole purpose of addressing budgetary issues and recommends that governments recognize “Market Based Measures” within a global framework as the most effective method of addressing the cost of carbon emissions for the aviation industry.
Eliminating the Ban on Liquids, Aerosols and Gels in Carry-On Bags
ACI is extremely concerned about the European Union’s unilateral decision to begin lifting restrictions on carrying liquids, aerosols and gels aboard airplanes in 2011. ACI is worried about the confusion and chaos, that move could precipitate if the rules are not uniformly applied globally.
Urging Airports to Address to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
On the other side of the environment issue, ACI recognizes other stakeholders in the aviation industry have undertaken initiatives to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and now ACI is urging its members to do the same. The initiative, adopted in Bermuda, asks airports to assess current greenhouse gas emissions levels and set goals to reduce emissions in accordance with ACI’s Guidance Manual on Airport Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management.
Additionally, ACI is asking its members to strive to reach the ultimate target of becoming carbon neutral and to assist ACI with the collection and compilation of airport data and case studies of environmental initiatives relating to greenhouse gas management and other environmental issues.
ACI would also like airports to help airlines and other industry partners reduce their emissions by providing fixed electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air to allow aircraft auxiliary power unit shutdown, improve aircraft taxiing efficiencies by providing appropriate airport and taxiway layout, reduce aircraft queuing with options such as slot management and collaborative decision making regarding delayed push-back, and to work with stakeholders to improve landing and take-off fuel burn efficiencies with procedures such as continuous descent operations and continuous climb departures.
Preparing for Disasters
Be prepared and have a plan in place was the prudent advice offered to airports at the session on disaster planning and management. Panelists presented several different approaches for dealing with disasters caused by weather, health issues and terrorism.
ACI Move to Montreal
Finally, in an effort to increase cooperation and bring closer alignment with ICAO, ACI announced it plans to move its headquarters to Montreal. ACI believes being much closer to ICAO will give ACI a greater voice and a greater ability to better represent the interest of its members with ICAO.
For further information on the Airports Council International and their environmental efforts, visit Airports Council International. To read up on previous articles on the Airports Council International, see Paris airports’ CO2 achievements newly Airport Carbon Accredited.
Source: Airports Council International
Editorial Director
