The governing board of
the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) concluded its first
meeting this week by selecting the recipients for 24 grants
totaling $7,090,000 in airport research funding from more than 400
projects. ACRP's purpose is to carry out applied research on
problems shared by airport operating agencies but not adequately
addressed by other federal research programs.
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President
Greg Principato, an ex-officio member of the governing board,
congratulated the ACRP board for helping airports realize a
long-term industry goal.
"After many years of planning, we're pleased that this program
is under way. The research will help the industry find practical
solutions to the challenges facing our nation's airports."
The governing board considered 118 projects in the fields of
administration, environment, policy and planning, safety, security,
human resources, design, construction, maintenance, operations and
special projects. Rating criteria included questions concerning
importance of the problem to airport operators; whether the problem
is researchable and timely; whether it will produce significant
benefits; and whether it holds a high probability of success.
The ACRP is managed by the Transportation Research Board (TRB),
a division of the National Research Council which serves as an
independent adviser to the federal government and others on
scientific and technical questions of national importance. TRB
manages applied, contract research programs that develop near-term,
practical solutions to problems facing transportation agencies,
including the National Cooperative Highway Research Program
(NCHRP), and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP).
TRB Executive Director
Robert E. Skinner, Jr., welcomed the 13-member ACRP governing
Board. The board includes a number of airport representatives who
participated in the selection process. Among them are James Crites,
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport; Kevin Dolliole, St. Louis
International Airport; John Duval, Massachusetts Port Authority;
Steve Grossman, Oakland International Airport; Jeff Hamiel,
Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission; Carolyn
Motz, Hagerstown Regional Airport; Richard Tucker, Huntsville
–Madison Country Airport Authority; and Gina Marie Lindsey,
McBee Strategic Consulting and former ACI-NA Chairman. ACI-NA
Senior Vice President Richard Marchi served as acting chairman
during the two-day meeting.
ACI-NA paid for outside legal assistance in negotiation and
development of an interagency agreement necessary to set up the
ACRP. With the help of the Airport Legislative Alliance, Congress
has already provided $13 million for the ACRP. The program was
authorized in Vision 100 and is sponsored by the Federal Aviation
Administration and managed by the National Academies, acting
through the TRB.
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