JFK General Managers & Stakeholder
JFK General Manager Charles Everett conducts GM.
AIRPORT VOICE, FEBRUARY 2021 27
February Meeting
EOC Ops during storm Orlena and airport Milestones top topics
BY JEFF YAPALATER
Nor’easter Orlena, Face
mask mandates, airport maintenance
projects, SIDA cards,
Crime and CDC were topics
covered at the virtual February
meeting.
GM Charles Everett spoke
about the effects of major
Nor’easter Orlena on JFK Airport
and introduced Port department
managers for their
reports, some of who outlined
their milestone goals for 2021.
Manager Airport Operations
John Arancio went into detail
over the duties of the Emergency
Operations Center (EOC)
in weather events and thanked
the airport community for their
collaboration to manage the
circumstances, keep everyone
safe during the event and from
Covid. He said that collaborative
decision making tools to
forecast operational impacts
and develop mitigation tools
from terminal operators and
airlineswould be stored in the
data warehouse for predictive
tools and analysis in the future.
Given some of the snow removal
issues under the challenging
storm, he showed a diagram of
the airport which defines stakeholder
areas of snow removal responsibilities.
But in this storm,
collective snow removal efforts
helped clear the way for those
contractorsoverwhelmedby the
barrage of snow.
Arancio also discussed the
integration of intelligent transportation
devices in the AOC
for real time traffic mitigation
expanding the use of available
data for traffic management and
information.
News from the FAA included
data that shows about 400 flights
a day at JFK which number remains
flat according to Dave
Siewert. He reported that with a
new Level 3 cleaning system, it
will be easier to maintain a hygienic
working environment.
From CBP, Chief Eddy reported
that there are about
6,000 daily inbound travelers
with no reported Covid positive
test arrivals. However he stated
that there appears to be some international
Covid testing scamming
with some people falling
prey to fake tests. In a related
matter, the CDC, which works in
the FISD area, shared that they
are doing random checks on
health forms that are required
to be submitted by all entering
the country indicating a negative
Covid test taken 72 hours
prior to arrival in the U. S. The
CDC is asking airlines to distribute
health forms aboard the
flight so that arriving passengers
do not slow the customs
process down. These forms will
be available in 10 languages for
reader convenience.
For any CDC assistance the
email address is Qpy9@cdc.gov
Also in a related matter are
the face mask requirements in
both all airport facilities and
on all aircraft. The mask mandate
requires face mask wearing
at all times. If there is any issue
with a traveler or worker, it
is advised to call the PAPFD or
TSA when concerning onboardaircraft
infractions.
The Security Department at
Port airports has also issued details
on mandatory face masks
for workers. It is advised that if
a worker is found negligent in
not wearing a mask a BOR may
be issued. If that individual has
another offense, then a suspension
of the SIDA card, or a fine
may be imposed. According the
PAPD, TSA and security, this all
is meant to insure compliance,
not to be a punishment. It is the
responsibility of all worker and
travelers to respect the health
and safety of all in public transportation
areas.
The PAPD reported that
crime is down over 70% from
same time as pre-pandemic.
Homeless people are still an issue
at the airport but the police
are working with Urban Pathways
to removed them from
the airport and provide services
to help these individuals.
The PAPD is giving summons
and making arrests of transportation
hustlers. They are
also make regular emergency
response drills to increase the
safety at the airports with vehicle
checkpoints and random
checks throughout the campus.
Maintenance milestone of
2021 were announced including:
replacement of a second
transformer at the central station;
refurbishment of electrical
substation breakers, repair
catch basins to reduce flooding,
continuing to repave some
streets, refresh pavement crosswalk
markings, and to replace
120 streetlights with LED fixtures
in an ever expanding sustainability
effort on behalf of
the airport.
GM AirTrain Sanchita Banerjee
Jimenez cited milestones
for 2021 including: replacing outdated
underground radio systems,
installing 6 new or overhauled
critical switch machines
to improve customer communications,
integrate NextBus app
onto the digital tablets to improve
communications with customers
on expected wait times
for buses during an AirTrain
interruption and an update on
the 10 ticket vending machines
at Howard Beach to reduc rider
confusion on fares.
Steve Brocchiniof Airport Security
reported on the face mask
requirement and possible penalties
for not following guidance.
He discussed SIDA card application
denials at the airport, the
in person authorized signatory
training, security control directives
for the cargo area, and
improved access control to integrate
with tenant systems.
Kaamco PresidentRoger
Scott invited the stakeholders to
attend the next Kaamco meeting
on March 10 where NYALO will
be a guest speaker to discuss
how and when airlinefees aredecided.
He asked the Port to work
with Kaamco to find ways to reduce
thesefees which GM Everett
agreed to do. Scott asked that
the Port consider having Covid
vaccines at the JFK airport.
To date there has been no word
from downtown Port Authority
on the feasibility of the NYC
HHC Covid test
Facility near JetBlue as a
possible vaccine site. Port said
thatthis is a decision of the NYC
DOH. Regarding fees, Kaamco
is asking all members to submit
their agreement for a renewed
Interline bag agreement.
Not doing so would increase
the charges substantially Scott
said.
Interim Deputy GM Rizzuto
closed out the meeting thanking
everyone for their cooperation
to provide safety and efficiency
during the storm and
looking to work with partners to
achieve the milestones Port has
set forth. She wished the entire
Chinese community a happy
and healthy Year of the Ox.
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