PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER
Victoria Schneps-Yunis
CEO AND CO-PUBLISHER
Joshua Schneps
SCHNEPS MEDIA
AIRPORT VOICE
GENERAL INFORMATION 516-425-4645 EXT 0
This newspaper is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2018 by Brooklyn Courier Life
LLC. The content of this newspaper is protected by Federal copyright law. This newspaper, its advertisements, articles and photographs may not be reproduced, either in whole or part,
without permission in writing from the publisher except brief portions for purposes of review or commentary consistent with the law. Postmaster, send address changes to Brooklyn
Courier Life LLC, One MetroTech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
AIRPORT V 2 OICE, FEBRUARY 2022
PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeffrey Yapalater • V.P. OF ADVERTISING: Ralph D’Onofrio
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Robb Pozarycki • COPY EDITOR: Emily Davenport
ART DIRECTOR: Leah Mitch • WEB DESIGNER: Sylvan Migdal
PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Arthur Arutyunov, Gardy Charles, Earl Ferrer, John Napoli, Mark Ramos, Connie Sulsenti, Jean Walsh
Airport Voice
MEMBER:
FEBRUARY JFK
GM STAKEHOLDERS
MEETING
Kenan Blizzard review, agency updates
JFK GM Charles Everett started the
meeting by thanking the EOC and stakeholders
for their coordinated work in making the
airport safe and operable in the face of Blizzard
Kenan. He had issued a bulletin of airline
cancelations recommendation that many
felt was the right thing to do to minimize disruption
with the uncertain but severe weather
affecting flights, especially international, at
the airport.
FAA: Claude Vieira remarked “ The airport
coordination was as good as could be
given the circumstances with prudent decisions
for scheduling and cancellations. “ This
was a doozie. A storm to remember. This
was everything billed for. The recovery was
food to full ops within a couple of days. For
a change, the forecasts for this storm were
right on the money and the Port Airports
through their Emergency Operations Centers
were prepared.
CBP Officer Greg Eddy reported the international
traffic pretty low due to covid but
he felt we are on the good side of recovery.
There is a lot of activity at the mail center with
continuing renovations and improvements.
PAPD Inspector Bellucci stated that
Crime continues to be on the low side down
30% from pre-pandemic. The department is
“fully engaged” with the homeless and moving
them gently from Jamaica station since
they are gathered there during the winter
weather.
AirTrain The AirTrain survey continues
and the department welcomes everyone’s input.
The fare increases 25cent On March 1
with multiple ride discounts unchanged.
Security They are asking: (1) that all
companies with a high number of new hires
contact the office to make advance arrangements
for badging. (2) All signatories attend
the bi-monthly signatory meetings. (3) All expired
IDs to be returned to the security office.
If the number of lost badges are not
returned then there is a possibility that the
18-month pilot badge expiration may revert
to 12 months as in the past.
Message from Deputy GM Teresa
Rizzuto Rizzuto stated that the EOC is vital
for ongoing emergency information and that
is critical to be part of the process and keep
lines of communication open. Although is
was hard to make the cancellation recommendation
it was necessary die to the anticipated
severity of the blizzard. She shared
the calendar of events with the group. (See a
complete list of airport organizational events
on page 6 in every Airport Voice issue)
Kaamco February
meeting
5G delay main item of interest
5G was the main topic of the
February Kaamco meeting. President
mark Flug invited
Jose Loriente, Regional Director
for Safety and Flight Operations
for IATA to make a presentation
on the 5G issue facing the
nation. Loriente briefed the meeting
on the history of 5G which began
four years ago after the US
awarded bandwidth rights to Verizon
and AT&T. Loriente explained
that these big telecoms and the
FAA recently have been quarrelling
over the potential effects of 5G
signals and airline altimeters. Said
Jose, “They have tried to talk but
not listened to each other nor collaboration
for past 4 years. “ Now
that the service is due to be turned
on, the issue has become a nationwide
concern.
Because Kaamco represents
the interests of all JFK airlines, this
is a major concern since the lack
of aircraft with modern altimeters
could reduce the nmber of flights
and travellers. And a concern got
telecoms because of the $billions
invested in the successful rollout of
this new service.
The FAA believes that the 5G
signal can disrupt the altimeters in
some aircraft and the telecoms dispute
this. Regardless, both Verizon
and AT&T have temporarily delayed
a full roll out of 5G through antenna
around major NY area airports until
some compromise is worked out.
Loriente explained that the FAA
has moved to create buffer zones
to reduce exposure to 5G signals
and is issuing directives, AMOCs,
that allow aircraft with approved altimeters
to fly into areas affected
by the signal. From an IATA point
of view, safety is the main concern
so they are supportive of the FAA’s
position and believe that antennas
need to be correctly oriented,
the proper distance from airfields,
have the proper filtration and software
to minimize the 5H signal
from interfering with planes altimeters
especially at close ground approach
and in bad weather.
President Biden, airlines and
airport organizations support the
need for safety and have asked for
further delays in rolling out the 5G
services. So far the telecoms have
made some concessions but no
one knows how long this will last
since there is no law banning the
switching-on 5G.
Announcements
Kaamco Golf Flug was
pleased to announce that Kaamco
has set Monday June 20 as it date
for its 2022 Golf Outing at the Garden
City Country Club supporting
Angel Flight NE.
Redevelopment Working
groups Flug reported that the
two working groups, landside and
airside, have reconvened and that
Kaamco will participate to insure
The airlines voices re heard.
Interline & Ops Committee
Chair Julie Emond of AF
thanked the Port EOC for
Leading the airport through
Blizzard Kennan. She reported that
the Interline is dong well, and expects
baggage volume to increase
and she will keep member updated
on costs and any contractual matters.
Meetings are every 3td Thursday
of month at 11am.
Cargo Committee Chair
Brian Cooley reminded all to keep
the ramps and airfield areas clear
of FOD. He pointed out that independent
trucking protests have
increased and is keeping an eye
out for any reverberations to JFK
cargo.
Announcements & Save the
Dates
Pastor Dabee reminded everyone
that the Christ for the Church
Chapel Scholarship deadline is
March 15 and will be awarded at
the April 24th Bishop Wright luncheon.
Flug also announced that
the Rotary JFK 5K Run will be held
on April 6; the TWA Hotel offering
$30 membership in the health club.
Masks, on,
and off
Governor Hochul
announced that effective
Thursday, February
10, 2022, the New York
State indoor mask mandate
will end for all businesses
and workplaces.
But the Federal
mask mandate at public
transportation facilities,
including airports,
remains in effect until
March 8, 2022. Word
will be relayed if a revision
to this policy is issued.
Delta Airlines at
JFK, for one, will follow
the Federal guidelines
and require masking. Masks still mandated at PANYNJ airports in NYS