The Future of Aviation (2022)

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26 Breakout Sessions The discussion panels of the Insight Event addressed the event’s four themes, and specific topics within each theme. The structure is presented below. Breakout Session 1 Workforce of the Future; Airports and Airspace of the Future Facilitators Mohamed Charkas, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Max Li, Sr., MITRE Center for Advanced Aviation System Development and University of Michigan Angel Ramos, AECOM Rikki Scantlan, RS&H The main theme of the breakout discussions was the social impacts of airports, especially workforce development, including • How to retract and retain staff. • How to get children involved in aviation. (Can airports develop more activities for them?) • The need for critical research on bringing jobs to the industry. • The need for airports to acknowledge that they do not know what kinds of careers will be needed in the future. With regard to airport development, the breakout groups discussed the following topics: • The importance of flexibility in design. • How to think about making concessions more flexible (e.g., use of modular and/or mobile units or pods instead of fixed structures; seasonal changes in cuisine). • Partnership between airports and airlines in enhancing the passenger journey. [Passengers do not know that there is a difference in responsibility between airports and airlines, but both need to make the journey frictionless. They need to collaborate not only to provide a great experience but also to identify and address together issues that affect this experience (i.e., the airport collaborative decision-making approach).] • The importance of sustainability and resilience: – Work that needs to happen to achieve net zero by 2050. – How what is happening in the utility sector will be critical. • Lessons learned with COVID-19.

27 Breakout Session 2 Technology, Innovation, and Environment Facilitators Aneil Patel, Airports Council International—North America Brad Rolf, Mead & Hunt Steve Van Beek, Steer Adrian Leung, Steer Brad Rolf reported that the theme of his breakout group was “practice makes better.” Following are some common threads included in the discussion: • 2050 is closer than we think; getting to net zero will be hard. • Airfield facilities: Airports need to address current and future pain points on passenger facilities and landside. • The industry should look at how best practices are captured and shared between airports and how data are shared between airports. Could there be something like the Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance (SAGA) for collecting and sharing airport energy data? Research ideas generated by the group included the following: 1. How should SAF be integrated in planning? What kinds of questions should be asked in looking toward net zero? 2. What are best practices for accommodating flexibility? 3. How are airport data being collected and used? 4. How are airports organizing cost centers? 5. What are the industry roadmaps to net zero? How can existing research be leveraged? 6. As airports move functions away from terminals, what does a decentralized airport look like? Adrian Leung reported the following from his breakout group: • The experience of travel is important with regard not only to intermodal hubs, but to hubs for community activity. • Airports as data hubs is a key idea for potential research and would allow the industry to develop common standards and practices for airports. The discussion focused on how to leverage the data that airlines and TSA collect. Also, what does it mean for airports to be data hubs? • How can the industry enable a culture of innovation and risk? How can it create a regulatory environment and incentives? • How can the industry create a more human-centered environment?

28 Aneil Patel reported that his group identified the following themes and ideas for research: • Incorporating emerging technology into concession programs to adapt to passenger spending habits, for example, with mobile food ordering. ACRP could develop a guide comparing/and contrasting those programs. • Data sharing: Airports need to stitch all data elements together to develop operation-wide elements for airports. However, airports need to develop a value proposition for why they want the data and, specifically, how the data will benefit the stakeholder who is asked to share the data. • Climate change and sustainability: The industry needs to think about how to communicate the message to stakeholders and the general public. Perhaps this communication would include an educational primer of all the initiatives airports are undertaking as well as a communications toolkit. • AI and machine learning: How can airports incorporate machine learning into their budget cycle and overall airport strategy? • Small airports and general aviation airports: The industry cannot focus exclusively on large airports, but should identify spin-off projects specifically targeted to small airports.