FAA conducts JFK safety training
Program seeks to minimize dangers
BY JEFF YAPALATER
JFK Airport Runway
Safety Action Team (RSAT)
mandatory annual meeting
was held at JFK and attended
to a wide range of tech ops, airline
managers, federal agency
partners and airline representatives.
This is a federal
mandated annual meeting
Federal Aviation Administration’s
(FAA) Runway Safety
Program at each federally operated
tower.
The Runway Safety Program
is intended to improve
runway safety by decreasing
the number and severity of
runway incursions, runway
excursions, and other surface
incidents.
The program was moderated
by John Rodriguez who
is responsible for training at
14 ATC towers, overseen by
FAA Dave Siewert, and attended
by Deputy GM Teresa
Rizzuto. Rodriguez said that
airports are where aircraft
are the closest and can be dangerous,
so safety is of utmost
importance. The training is
to help Identify and mitigate
risks based on human errors.
“Safety is the overriding consideration
AIRPORT V 10 OICE, NOVEMBER 2019
for all procedures
at the airport, “ he said
This safety program encompassed
major areas of concern
that make up the overall
safety at the runways from
runways construction, aircraft
maintenance, wildlife
interactions, and to outside
influences such.
Reports were given by the
JFK workers including topics
of air traffic control, runway
construction, human factors,
runway safety, human factors
impacting safety, wildlife
strikes and updates, aircraft
hot brakes scenarios, laser
and drone activity,
and comments from the
ARFF unit by Deputy Fire
Chief Josh Cole who reminded
people that is important to remember
personal safety and
check fire alarm batteries.
Jim Cicardo of JFK Maintenance
spoke about the progress
and near completion of
the runway 13l 31R, taxiway
widening and electrical improvements
and replacements
at JFK. He said that the upgraded
taxiways will allow
for wider lanes for the A380
to move along more of the airport.=
and the wider lanes an
extra space buffer to mitigate
close encounters with other
aircraft or vehicles.
Dr. Harriet Lester spoke
about the human factors
that can negatively impact
personal performance. She
pointed out that fatigue is
most critical to watch for.
Laura Francoeur of the
JFK Wildlife department,
gave an overview of the type
of birds, raptors and other living
creatures whose habitat is
the airport area and can be a
potential hazard to aircraft,
To track and understand the
behavior and movements of
these animals the department
uses sensors affixed to them.
She described the GPS tracking
sensors placed on some of
the areas birds and reptiles
fort department tracking and
later analysis as how best to
manage movement in the busy
airport.
Cap Len Gold share some
Annual FAA Safety TEAM Report. Speakers of the event include: JFK Chief
Wildlife Biokogist Laura Francoeur, JFK ATC Ops Manager Claude Vieira,
Delta Line Safety Captain Len Gold, JFK ATC Front Line Manager Samantha
Karmaniolos, FBI Agent Janet Ambrisco, Port Authority Maintenance
Jim Ciccardo, JFK General Manager Charles Everett, JFK ATC Manager
Dave Siewert, FAA Regional Flight Surgeon Dr. Harriet Lester, FAA Runway
Safety and ACAC Raymond German.
information on the potential
dangers of “hot brakes” . When
aircraft brakes reach a certain
temperature, it is possible
that they can heat up the tires
to create a =n explosion. He described
ways for pilots to ease
on the braking, differentiating
between steam and fire in tires,
and necessity of keeping aircraft
with overly hot tires away
from the ramp area to avoid any
literal flare up and threat to the
passenger terminals.
FBI Agents Janet Ambrisco
and Shawn Russell
shared information on the use
and dangers of laser strikes
( laser lights hitting planes)
and drones in the NY area airspace.
According to the FBI,
there are certain areas identified
by the authorities where a
higher number of lasers seem
to originate. They said that
these unauthorized.
Samantha Karanioloos,
JFK Tower Front Line Manager,
presented a short video
on Runway safety during high
profile events such as visits
from Air Force One. This was
an interesting overview of the
management that the FAA has
during VIP movement and
busy times at the airport.
Port Celebrates diversity
Hispanic Heritage Month at LGA
The Port Authority’s
LaGuardia
Airport celebrated
the rich
history and many
contributions of
women of the Hispanic
community
during Hispanic
Heritage
Month. On October
23, an interactive
Hispanic
Heritage Month
art exhibit featuring
work from 14
community leaders
from Queens
was on display at
the Marine Air
Terminal rotunda
at LaGuardia Airport.
LGA General
Manager Tony
Vero was on hand with many of the
local “Queens Latinas” whose contributions
to the community were
celebrated by large posters of these
women throughout the Marine Air
Terminal. These women included
community activists, lawyer, doctor
, educator and women recognized
for their involvement in the
nearby Hispanic communities. The
Port fosters opportunities to share
Latin American traditions and to
reinforce inclusion through a variety
of workshops, exhibits, and
activities with steadfast commitment
to diversity and inclusion in
hiring.
Southwest Cargo
is now at JFK
Drop off & pick up locally
Southwest Airlines has begin
a new local cargo service at JFK.
Customer, freight forwarders, now
have the convenience to drop off
and pick up at Southwest JFK.“ We
know that JFK is the hub of cargo,
so we have provided a better service
for them”, said Southwest Seth
Keffas. They like our service, convenience
and time savings by using
the local JFK airport.
According to Keffas, Southwest
customers now have the option of
dropping off and picking up cargo
from JFK. Using JFK Cartage as
its local delivery to LGA, customers
can save money and time by using
the JFK drop off for connecting
with all of the same Southwest fast
delivery services.
Keffas says, “Dropping off
at JFK also saves our customer
money by not having to send their
trucks to LaGuardia and facing
traffic slowdowns and congestion.
Using the southern shore JFK drop
off and consolidation point is faster
and more convenient for many our
the Nassau and Suffolk shippers.
Freight forwarders here at JFK
and When you have a truck ready
for JFK customers it saves about
three hours rather than sending a
driver to LGA.”
LGA Vero holds commemoration from Governor Cuomo.
Latina Queens: L to R: Yoselin Genao-Estrella, Executive
Director, Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens, Helen
Arteaga Landaverde, Assistant VP, Queens Network and
Executive Initiatives at Urban Health Plan, Maria E. Pena,
M.D., Mt. Sinai Hospital Queens, Vilma Daza, Manager, Corona
Branch, Queens Borough Public Library, Anahi Viladrich,
PhD., Queens College and CUNY, Nathaly Rubio-Torio,
Executive Director, Voces Latinas, Tony Vero, GM, LaGuardia
Airport, Emanuela Sanchez, MWBE Compliance Specialist,
LaGuardia Redevelopment and Joanne Feltman, Sr. Community
Outreach Specialist, LaGuardia Redevelopment.
Continued to page 19 Continued to page 19