IBA - International Bar Association
IBA - International Bar Association
04/29/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2021 07:26
IBA Annual Conference 2020: Report on Aviation Virtual Tour
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Alan D Reitzfeld
Chair, IBA Aviation Law Committee
Monday 16 November 2020
Session Chair
Alan Reitzfeld North Woodmere, New York, USA; Chair, Aviation Law Committee
Speakers
Tom Bock Port Authority of NY & NJ, Newark, New Jersey, US
Courtney Laidlaw Port Authority of NY & NJ, New York, US
Renner Rachel Port Authority of NY & NJ, Newark, New Jersey, US
Racquel Reinstein Port Authority of NY & NJ, New York, US
Simone Richardson Port Authority of NY & NJ, Newark, New Jersey, US
Richard Schnurr Port Authority of NY & NJ, Newark, New Jersey, US
Raymond Viggiano Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York, US
During the 2020 'Virtually Together' Conference, I had the sincere pleasure of moderating what I believe to be the IBA Aviation Law Committee's first 'Virtual Tour' at an IBA Annual Conference.
In addition to its substantive sessions at IBA Annual Conferences, the Aviation Law Committee usually also includes an offsite tour to a local aviation facility. For example, at the IBA Annual Conference in Vienna, the offsite tour was to an Austrian Airlines facility (where, among other things, the tour attendees experienced a slide down a B737 emergency slide!)
Before the 2020 Annual Conference was changed from an in-person conference in Miami to an online format, the Aviation Law Committee officers were exploring options for an offsite tour of an aviation-related facility in the Miami area that would be informative, educational and very much enjoyable. An aircraft simulator facility, not far from the conference center, was one of the possible tour venues we were considering.
When the Conference was transitioned to an online format, the Committee's offsite tour session no longer had a geographic limitation. With the approval of the other Committee officers, I contacted Racquel Reinstein, an attorney with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ('Port Authority') and asked if the Port Authority would be willing to make a presentation in a Virtual Tour session at the Annual Conference. (The Port Authority operates and/or manages various New York and New Jersey airports, ports, bus stations, bridges, tunnels and trains.) Racquel and her colleagues very kindly arranged for a two-hour virtual tour presentation, highlighting the Terminal One Redevelopment Program at Newark Liberty International Airport ('Newark Airport') in Newark, New Jersey, USA, and also including a tour of Terminal B and explaining various other operations at the airport. The virtual tour consisted of a detailed slide presentation and three pre-recorded videos, followed by a Q&A session with seven representatives of the Port Authority. Simply put, the panelists from the Port Authority gave an absolutely stunning multi-part, audio-visual presentation.
The following is a very brief summary:
Renner Rachel, Supervisor, Landside Operations and Customer Service, explained airport roadways, parking lots and airport access options via taxi, Uber/Lyft, private vehicles, bus and rail. He also discussed the customer experience, social media, the travel assistance volunteer programme and various safety precautions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Racquel Reinstein, the Port Authority attorney who arranged the virtual tour with her colleagues, discussed various legal issues that have arisen at the airport due to Covid-19.
Simone Richardson, Leadership Fellow, provided a photo tour of Newark Airport's Terminal B, highlighting the different technologies and quirks within the passenger and baggage journey.
Richard Schnurr, Senior Program Manager, Newark Liberty International Airport Redevelopment, gave an overview of the Terminal One Redevelopment Programme, including its four main elements of airfield paving, redesigned roadways with new bridges, public parking/consolidated rent-a-car facility and the 33-gate terminal building. He also explained how the new terminal will address current needs, including ample check-in, security, hold room and concession space.
Raymond Viggiano, Supervisor of International Facilities, described what happens behind the scenes before and after an aircraft arrives at a gate and how operations are affected by early and late arrivals.
In the Q&A, among other things: Tom Bock, the Manager of Operations at Newark Airport, discussed what can be learned during recovery from the impact of a worldwide pandemic to enhance the customer experience. In addition, Courtney Laidlaw, an attorney with the Port Authority, addressed benefits of the Design-Build contract that the Port Authority entered into for the construction of Terminal One at Newark Airport.
Many, many thanks to the Port Authority for the excellent presentation.