March JFK GM highlights
AIRPORT VOICE, MARCH 2021 19
Optimism, ASQ resumption
JFK GM Charles Everett opened
the meeting with a note of optimism
and caution as airline travel is beginning
to pick up at the airport. With
the resumption of more operations
he expressed caution, flexibility and
vigilance as we move to post pandemic
with continued masking, distancing
and cleaning.
FAA- Dave Siewert of the FAA
was pleased to announce that the
number daily flights is up to the high
500s to low 600’ s which represents a
100 or so more flights daily.
J=His tam is still on an A/B rotation
to minimize any possible contagion.
Safety -On a safety note, Guilio
Minguilio gave a short presentation
on the importance of wearing protective
eyewear when working around
the airport
CBP-Acting CBP Port Director
Sal Ingrassia spoke about the work
the CBP is taking to detect for any
evidence of Ebola from arriving
flights. . A few cases of this wicked
disease had been reported from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Guinea. In response, the JFK
CDC working wit the CBP began collecting
data from arrivals in early
March as soon as the overseas cases
were reported by the World Health
Organization to determine the incidence
of interactions with countries
or people who may have been exposed.
Data is being collected from
Termnals1, 4 and 8 with contact tracing
type of data collection being conducted.
There is no known threat to
the U.S. but the all immigration oriented
and health agencies are monitoring
arrivals of all passengers who
have had any contact with individuals
from those regions.
Ingrassia said that the CBP Post
Office renovations are complete with
new state of the art x-ray machines
for drugs. It is likely that there will
be a ribbon cutting to unveil the new
facility. He also stated the Simplified
Arrival is now in all five terminals.
PAPD-Inspector Bellucci of the
PAPD says that his had informed his
people of the Ebola virus concern
and there is situational awareness.
They are ready to respond to any
need. Crime YTD down 64%. Larceny
down 62%. High number of homeless
in Jamaica Station with Urban
Pathways and deep cleaning. Hustler
more evasive, 23 arrests, stepped up
emergency response drills for terminal
antiterrorism methodology. Vehicle
check points terrorism and reduce
crime.
CDC-In a related health matter,
the Sarah Meehan of the CDC reported
that there has not been any
change to the requirement for international
arriving passengers needing
to have a negative Covid test that
was performed 72 hours before landing
at JFK. Proof of a Covid vaccine
is not acceptable. Testing proof must
be verifiable in written or a digital
format from the laboratory. Digital
passport or wallets are not acceptable
at this time.
TSA- John Essig reported that the
TSA workers would be getting their
Covid vaccines through the Veterans
Administration hospitals. He added
that the TSA is hiring and will be in
full complement to handle the anticipated
summer and holiday surges.
KAAMCO- President Roger Scott
thanked Ariela Ruiz from NYALO for
a good presentation about JFK flight
fees. He mentioned that ratification
was near for the extended Interline
contract but is awaiting a few more
member votes. He mentioned the upcoming
Virtual JFK Rotary Club 5K
Race taking place April 24-May 5th.
Tentative Kaamco Golf is June 17th.
Details to soon follow.
AirTrain-GM Sanchita Banerjee-
Jimenez provided a full year schedule
of the year’s shutdowns. There
are five weekends with some full or
partial shutdowns. April 16-17, May
14-16th, June 12-13, Sept. 10-Sept 12,
Nov 12-Nov 13
Security- Asst. Mgr. Airport Security
Mervin Peter reiterated that
all SIDA cards for furloughed workers
are due back to the security department
with Instructions how to
retrieve them when workers return
to work.
Deputy GM Teresa Rizzuto announced
that the Airport Service
Quality surveys would begin again
saying, “ We are bringing the airport
back and bringing the customer
experience to the top of our
list” through the ASQ working group
meeting March 22.
Rizzuto asked that stakeholders
review the 2020 General Manager’s
bulletins since many notices are all
still relevant and important.
Also announced were The JFK
Rotary 5K Run will be virtual Run
April 24-May 2; the Fairleigh University
Chat is on March 24th; the
Bishop Wright Luncheon and Scholarship
Award will be Virtual on
April, 21; The next GM is April 14th.
Final Goodbye to TWA 800
NTSB dismantles wreckage
The reconstructed wreckage of
Trans World Airlines Flight 800,
which exploded minutes after taking
off from JFK Airport on July
17, 1996, will be decommissioned
and destroyed, according to the
National Transportation Safety
Board.
The NTSB said it will stop using
the reconstruction on July 7, 2021,
just shy of the 25-year anniversary
of the crash. After that, the reconstruction
will be thoroughly documented
over the course of several
months using 3D scanning techniques,
and the data will be archived
for historical purposes.
“To honor this agreement made
with the families of the victims
of TWA Flight 800, the NTSB will
work closely with a federal government
contractor to dismantle
the reconstruction and destroy the
wreckage,”NTSB Managing Director
Sharon Bryson
The Boeing 747 was destroyed,
and the wreckage fell into the waters
of the Atlantic Ocean miles
from JFK Airport. As part of
the investigation, NTSB reconstructed
a 93-foot segment of the
aircraft fuselage, to help understand
what happened to TWA
Flight 800.