45th International Aviation Snow Symposium

April 16th - 20th, 2011
Hyatt Regency Downtown Hotel
Buffalo, New York

Have you had your first snow, yet? How would you like to be in Buffalo this time of year? Better yet, come to Buffalo when the snow is all gone. Share your stories and learn techniques in snow removal, deicing, safety, and sustaining irregular operations. Arrive early and complete your annual wildlife training with the USDA Wildlife Services.

For more information visit: www.snowsymposium.org

Hosted by Buffalo Niagra International Airport - NE Chapter American Association of Airport Executives

The Balchen / Post Award

Once again the Northeast Chapter of American Association of Airport Executives will sponsor the BALCHEN / POST Award for excellence in the performance of airport snow and ice control during the winter of 2010-2011.

The awards will be presented to the personnel of the airport snow and ice control teams who have throughout this past winter demonstrated determination for excellence in their efforts to keep their airports open and safe.

There will be six awards - one to each of the winners in the following categories:

COMMERCIAL AIRPORT
Providing scheduled service and holding a Part 139 certificate (Not including a limited Part 139 certificate)

Large: Over 200,000 scheduled operations annually
Medium: 100,000-200,000 scheduled operations annually
Small: Less than 100,000 scheduled operations annually

GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT
Including limited Part 139 certificate airports

Large: 50,000 or more total operations annually
Small: Less than 50,000 operations annually

MILITARY AIRPORT

(The above airport classifications are for award selection purposes only)

Your assistance in helping select potential candidates worthy of consideration is requested. A completed application for your airport should be submitted to the committee at the address below and postmarked no later than March 1, 2011. Airports are encouraged to submit completed applications including their snow plan, airport layout plan and other supporting material before the deadline.

The awards - six in total - are to be announced and presented during the Awards Luncheon at the annual International Aviation Snow Symposium to be held in Buffalo, April 20, 2011.

You can find the online application at http://www.necaaae.org/cfiles/ne_balchen.php

From the Cockpit

Our Presidents Message

As we venture into a new year – a year of hope and new beginnings – a history-making year – please know that your elected members of the Executive Committee are eager to serve you, our members, and advance the goals and objectives of the Chapter.

Our 52^nd annual conference in Burlington, Vermont, was a tremendous success and well attended by many members and their families. Our host and conference chairs, as well as the conference committee, did an outstanding job in putting together a memorable conference. Many thanks to them all for their tireless efforts in support of the Chapter.

Having begun my Presidential term, I have two major focus areas that I want to improve upon. The first area is Communication and Marketing and, to that end, a new committee has been formed whose primary responsibility is to communicate the Chapter message about all that we do, to the entire aviation community through online and print media sources. The committee is also responsible for marketing the various Chapter conferences to the industry through similar channels. Ms. Anne Crook, A.A.E., and Ms. Maria Renner, A.A.E., have graciously accepted my offer to chair and co-chair, respectively, this brand-new committee. It is our intention to take the Chapter message to the general public using all available resources including Twitter, Face-Book, and LinkedIn. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible and educate them about who we are and what we do. If you would like to be part of this new initiative, please contact either Ms. Crook, Ms. Renner, or me.

My other key focus area is Member Services, with a goal of retaining current members while attracting new ones. With that in mind, we have already begun sending personalized welcome letters and a Chapter pin to every person who signs up to be a Chapter member. The letter provides information about the Chapter and our various conferences, and invites the reader to get involved in Chapter activities by joining one of our committees. A secondary goal under Member Services is to recruit mentors who are willing to make a phone call to new members welcoming them to the Chapter. This personal touch will go a long way in making new members feel welcomed into the Chapter. (Thanks to Marshall Stevens for this suggestion.) If you would like to serve on the Member Services committee or be included on our “mentor list”, please let me know and I will make sure that you are plugged in.

I realize that we are trying several new approaches, but I feel that if the Chapter is going to continue to grow and attract new members, we need to think outside the box. So, if you have a suggestion that you think will benefit the Chapter and our members, I encourage you to email or call me. I am enthusiastically looking forward to serving as your President for the 2010 – 2011 term and am confident that, together, we can make the Northeast Chapter the BEST chapter!

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to say a few words about our dear friend, Leo “Buddy” Comeau, Jr., A.A.E. “Buddy”, a long-time cornerstone of the Chapter, served as Chapter President in 2001-2002, and in many other capacities over the years. As you may be aware, he passed away on Friday, October 15. I was honored to be able to attend his funeral in South Boston on October 20, and paid respects to his family on behalf of the Chapter.

Back To School

by: Melinda Montgomery-Traum, A.A.E., NEC Grants and Scholarships Committee Chair

It is with great pleasure that I relinquish my title as "The Least Busy Committee Chairperson". Our President, Al Pollard, has indicated that we are in a financial position to reinstitute financing for the Northeast Chapter Grants and Scholarships Committee. Times are tough.

Budgets are tight. And we have an opportunity to assist you. These awards are not limited to academic members - they are for YOU, our members. More weight will be given to those airports that have limited budgets. If this is your airport, find a deserving candidate and apply for the right opportunity. I would like to add that there also exist scholarships and grants solely for academic members. And for them, we are reaching out to our academic members and Student Chapter Advisor's.

If you are aware of a deserving student, please direct them to the NEC website. I look forward to receiving many applications!

In Loving Memory

Our dear friend Leo V. (Buddy) Comeau Jr. passed away Friday October 15th, 2010. Buddy served as Northeast Chapter President from 2001 - 2002 and was a vital part of the International Aviation Snow Symposium (Sno Po) for many years. He worked in aeronautical operations at Boston – Logan and most recently at Worcester Regional Airport.

Buddy’s love of people, the Chapter and the Sno Po was, as Al Pollard characterized it… "immeasurable"... He did so much for the Chapter behind the scenes, and at our Chapter business meetings could always be counted on to second a motion (or object) or accurately quote the Chapter By – Laws.

At the request of his family a donation has been made to the NOAH Shelter, Hyannis MA. In his memory and a brick will be engraved at the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society Museum in Manchester, New Hampshire.

PENJERDEL Council's 2010 Company of the Year

by: Edward M. D'Alba, PE, President
Joseph P. McAtee, PE, Executive Vice President

Urban Engineers, Inc. was recently honored by the PENJERDEL Council as the 2010 Company of the Year. Joining this awards impressive list of recipients is an incredible honor that will never be forgotten. The recognition for what we do, how we do it, what we have created, and for giving back to the community, were compliments that Joe McAtee and our many co-workers who were present will always remember.

Urban is proud to have been part of what has happened over the last half century throughout the PENJERDEL region. We thank our clients for the trust and confidence they have extended to us in awarding us work, and our teaming partners for their participation in all the work we have collectively accomplished. We also thank PENJERDEL for making the not always easy, but imperative decision to support the planning, design and building of many of our region's most notable accomplishments. The PENJERDEL regions built environment stands in testimony to a job well done.

We look forward to continuing to shape, preserve, and enhance the assets that propel our region to world class status in the decades ahead.

Welcome New Members:

Robert Beaton
Superintendent of Operations
Bangor Int’l Airport
Bangor, Maine

Nicholas J. Cordisco
North America Sales Market Manager
IEE Sensing
Medford, NJ

Andrew Davis
Airport Director
Worcester Regional Airport
Worcester, MA

Thomas C. Frungillo CM
Airport Director
Bradford Regional Airport
Lewis Run, PA

Francisco Sanchez
Assistant Airport Manager
Barnstable Municipal Airport
Hyannis, MA

Mr. Jorge Reis-Filho
Manager Aviation Security and Technology
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
New York, NY

Mr. Kristin Campbell
ERAU
Cuddy, PA 15031

Mr. James J Moorhead C.M.
Field Maintenance Supervisor
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh, PA

Ms. Courtney Fong
Principal Security and Technology Analyst
The Port Authority of New York New Jersey
New York, NY

Michele Delgado
Aviation Management Intern
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
New York, NY

Gerald Simpkins
Executive Policy Analyst
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
New York, NY

Dick Ludder and Reno Adventure!!!!

Some picture of me with "my" P-51, Lady Jo. I logged 15 minutes at the controls – very solid, not at all super-sensitive, wish I could log a few HOURS!. This plane and the pilot I flew with, Rob Patterson, actually won the Silver Unlimited race the next day! When I was aboard we were “loafing” along at 250 knots! He won at more than 350 kts! At one point we went out to the #3 pylon for one of the Gold Unlimited heats, the fastest of the class, and those speed merchants came over our head about 100’ off the ground doing about 500 mph!! What a thrill that was! It was a FUN weekend! If Krys puts together the same package for the next AAAE Silent Auction, I recommend you bid on it. Worth every penny!

Thank you Burlington International Airport!

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Korta and Al Pollard

Student Members meet the Executive Committee

(L to R) Tamara Gagne, Bob McKewing, Dale Wilde

The New 2010 - 2011 Executive Committee

Conference Co-Chair Bob McKewing celebrated his 75th birthday at the Conference

NEC-AAAE Resolution