North American Airports Elect New Board Members Austin, Texas&emdash;During its Annual General Membership Business Meeting on Oct. 14, members of Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) elected a new slate of officers and four new members to its Board of Directors.  Their terms are effective immediately. Incoming Chairman is G. Hardy Acree, Director of Airports, Sacramento County Airport System. Serving as First Vice Chairman is Frank Miller, Director of Aviation, City of San Antonio Aviation Department. Thella Bowens, President and CEO of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, will serve as Second Vice Chairman.  Secretary-Treasurer is Thomas Kinton, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Port Authority. New members of the Board of Directors, for a three-year term, include: Class A/B airports: Richard McConnell, Airport Director, Boise Airport Brian Searles, Director of Aviation, Burlington International Airport Class C/D airports: Maureen Riley, Executive Director, Salt Lake City Department of Airports Bradley Penrod, Director and CEO, Allegheny County Airport Authority Bill Vanecek, Director of Aviation, Buffalo Niagara International Airport Other membership announcements made by 2009 Board Chair, John D. Clark, III, Executive Director, Indianapolis Airport Authority, included news of additional Board appointments.  Commissioners' committee representatives to the newly elected Board include Elsie Rast Stuart, Columbia Metropolitan Airport; and David G. Jennings, Chairman, Charleston County Aviation Authority.  Associate Members' Representative to the Board is Robert Hazel, Partner, Oliver Wyman. Chairman Clark also announced the reappointment of Louis Miller, Tampa International Airport; and Frederick Piccolo, Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, and the new appointment of Ben DeCosta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to the ACI World Governing Board.  Patrick Graham, Savannah Airport Commission, and Thella Bowens, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, were appointed as Regional Advisors. About ACI-NA The mission of Airports Council International &endash; North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities.  ACI-NA represents 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.  Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International. ACI-NA SUPPORTS 'HARD DEADLINE' FOR DEPLANING AIRLINE PASSENGERS DELAYED ON TARMAC Washington, D.C. As consumer groups and travel industry organizations convene a Washington forum on air passenger rights, Greg Principato, president of Airports Council International-North America, offers the following industry perspective on passenger rights and protections:  "Airline passengers should have the right to deplane after an extended amount of delay on a runway, and ACI-NA supports a requirement for airlines to develop such  deadlines." "ACI-NA supports airlines working with the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine specific deadlines, and airport operators believe that passengers should have access to this information when making their travel plans. Airlines also should be held accountable for adhering to the pre-determined deadlines." Principato noted that airport operators have been supporting passengers on this issue, urging DOT to require all airlines &endash; regardless of the size of their aircraft &endash;  to develop contingency plans which are incorporated into their contract of carriage.  Also, given the important role of airports during lengthy tarmac delays, ACI-NA strongly supports adoption of a mandate that airlines be required to coordinate their plans with all airports at which they provide scheduled or charter service.     ACI-NA has long been active on airline passenger rights, facilities and finances. In 2008, ACI-NA participated in a DOT national task force of airlines, airports and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop contingency plans to address delays. The Task Force successfully produced a plan that addresses several issues raised by industry and passenger advocates, Principato said. A number of airports already had implemented measures in the Plan.  ACI-NA also filed comments with DOT supporting enhanced protections for passengers, such as increased compensation for delayed or cancelled flights and lost baggage.   About ACI-NA Airports Council International - North America represents 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. More than 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International. Under the terms of U.S. federal legislation, this email may be considered an "advertisement" or "solicitation."   If you do not wish to receive any further emails from ACI-NA, please send a reply email to: communications@aci-na.org with the words "OPT-OUT" in the subject line with the original email in the body.   You may notify us with your decision to opt-out within 30 days of receiving this email.   If you choose to opt out of receiving email from ACI-NA, you will no longer receive ACI-NA e-newsletters, notices of upcoming meetings, sponsorship opportunities, etc.   If you prefer to unsubscribe from certain electronic publications rather than opt-out from email communications entirely, please email such request to communications@aci-na.org.  It may take up to 10 days to process your request.   The postal address for ACI-NA is 1775 K Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, DC  20006. ACI-NA Praises House of Representatives for Putting Passengers First FAA Reauthorization Bill Will Help Airports Plan for the Future WASHINGTON, DC:The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2881, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2007, by a vote of 267 to 151.  The bill includes a modest increase in the passenger facility charge (PFC) user fee cap from $4.50 to $7.00.  PFCs fund important projects, such as the construction of new runways and terminals, which increase airport capacity, reduce delays and promote new competition.  Airports Council International- North America (ACI-NA) and its allies requested the $2.50 per segment increase in the PFC user fee to help airports build new infrastructure to meet the surging demand for air travel. The following statement can be attributed to Gregory Principato, President of Airports Council International - North America: "Airports Council International - North America applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007.  Demand for air travel has stretched the nation's aviation infrastructure to its breaking point, and this bill will help passengers by providing airports the financing tools to build runways and expand terminals.  "Today's vote is an important step for today's frustrated and aggravated air travelers.  The PFC cap increase included in H.R. 2881 will lead directly to decreased delays and increased competition.  PFCs are one fee where the benefits for travelers are clear.  "As they consider this bill, ACI-NA strongly urges the Congressional conferees to consider the needs of passengers first and recognize that PFCs can provide an essential benefit to passengers for decades to come."   AIRPORTS: Coalition Urges Congress to Oppose Lampson-Poe Amendment to H.R. 2881 Trade Groups Tell Congress to Expect More Congestion and Delays WASHINGTON : In letters to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, 12 organizations representing counties, cities, state transportation and aviation officials, airports and the construction industry, urged Congress to oppose an amendment that may be offered on Thursday, September 20, when it is expected that the House will consider H.R. 2881, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2007.  The amendment would lead to increased congestion and delays for travelers by reducing the amount of funds available for critical airport infrastructure projects. "This past summer has been very challenging for air travelers &endash; they've experienced delays and canceled flights, in addition to the airlines charging them extra for everything from food to leg room on airplanes," said Greg Principato, president of the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the leading organization in the coalition. "By allowing a small increase in a locally-based user fee, airports can fund capital improvement programs that reduce delays, enhance safety, promote competition and general economic development in communities throughout the United States." The amendment, likely to be offered by Representatives Nick Lampson (D-TX) and Ted Poe (R-TX), would eliminate a provision in the bill to increase the cap on Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) from $4.50 to $7.00.  PFCs are local fees used by airports to build safety, security and capacity projects, including new runways, taxiways and terminals to meet passenger needs. Led by the Airports Council International- North America, the coalition reminded both Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner that increasing the PFC cap has broad bi-partisan support from leadership on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  In addition to Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) and Ranking Member John Mica (R-FL), many in Congress agree with the Department of Transportation and the FAA that the PFC cap needs to be raised. H.R. 2881 does not mandate that airports increase the PFC at their airport. Increasing or imposing a PFC is a local decision subject to consultation with airlines and the community, as well as rigorous federal scrutiny.  PFCs by law must be used to fund projects that increase airport capacity and promote competition.  Raising the cap on PFCs will help to reduce passenger delays and inconvenience. The coalition includes:  Airports Council International-North America, American Association of Airport Executives, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties,  National Association of State Aviation Officials, Airport Consultants Council, Airport Minority Advisory Council, Associated General Contractors of America, American Association of State Highway and American Society of Transportation Officials, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Road & Transportation Builders Association and American Council of Engineering Companies. View a copy of the letter:   http://www.aci-na.org/docs/Lampson%20Poe%20PFC%20Coalition%20Letter-FINAL.pdf About ACI-NA: The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities.  ACI-NA represents 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.  Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.  Under the terms of U.S. federal legislation, this e-mail may be considered an "advertisement" or "solicitation."   If you do not wish to receive any further emails from ACI-NA, please send an email to: jweidlich@aci-na.aero with the words "OPT-OUT" in the subject line.   You may notify us with your decision to opt-out within 30 days of receiving this email.   If you choose to opt out of receiving e-mail from ACI-NA, you will no longer receive ACI-NA e-newsletters, notices of upcoming meetings, sponsorship opportunities, etc.   If you prefer to unsubscribe from certain electronic publications rather than opt-out from email communications entirely, please email such request to communications@aci-na.aero.   It may take up to 10 days to process your request.   The postal address for ACI-NA is 1775 K Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006.