Airport Conferences Serve Crucial Purpose

* Recent press coverage has focused on Burbank Airport commissioners’ attendance at our annual conference. Every year, thousands of business people all over the world gather at designated sites for work-related conferences, seminars, assemblies and symposiums. Meetings of this nature are integral to business and industry for a variety of reasons; the aviation industry is no exception.

The Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) hosts an annual conference for aviation professionals worldwide. These events bring together senior decision-makers from airports, airlines, the aerospace industry and governments to discuss and shape issues of common interest on the rapidly changing global aviation landscape.

Today the challenges facing airports are unprecedented. Critical issues and programs affecting airports and the national air transportation system are at stake. It is extremely important for the airport community to advocate and protect airport interests, as well as fight harmful initiatives that now threaten airports and airport funding, particularly the Airport Improvement Program.

Airports are responsible for more than $575 billion in economic benefits and 7.6 million jobs for their communities and the nation. Every $1 billion invested in airport infrastructure development creates and sustains approximately 50,000 jobs. Local control over the management development and funding of airports--including local passenger facility charges and tax-exempt bond financing--enable airport operators to serve their communities and the traveling public efficiently and cost-effectively.

The ACI-NA annual conferences provide an essential forum for the development of strategies to achieve domestic and international air service opportunities, healthy competition and aviation growth for air travelers, cargo shippers and U. S. communities, large and small, and a national program of support and funding for safe and efficient airports and the national air transportation system.

Burbank Airport has a long record of regular attendance at this conference, and ACI-NA encourages communities throughout North America to support their local aviation leaders in their participation in aviation seminars, workshops and conferences. The more well-informed your aviation leaders are, the more likely your airports will be strong economic generators for your community and providers of safe, efficient and convenient services and facilities.

GEORGE P. HOWARD

Washington, D. C.

Howard is president of Airports Council International.