Business View Magazine | May 2021

77 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MAY 2021 “Thankfully, we set up the ACC Training Hub, our online training platform, in 2018, and that was invaluable when everyone started working from home due to the pandemic. We could cover important training with virtual education programs. We represent a lot of engineers and planners that need accreditation and credit hours, so we’ve been able to provide that for those individuals.” BVM: How are you helping members with the impact of COVID-19? Schulz: “In Feb. 2020, we released a Capital Development Outlook report. In that report, we identified $138 billion in planned projects at airports over the next five years. Before the pandemic, we were at record levels of travel. Terminals were packed, airplanes were packed, and we were playing catch-up – trying to expand terminal facilities, build new facilities, rehabilitate really old facilities, and also get capacity on the airside. We released that report, and due to the pandemic shut down, within two- and-a-half weeks it was pretty much obsolete. “The aviation system has had numerous shocks and recessions but nothing like this pandemic, both as it relates to the immediacy of the negative impact and its breadth on the international economy. A lot of companies were helping airports on the day-to-day changes to operations – how to stay up and running, and how to keep passengers safe, particularly those few that are travelling. We were also very purposeful on looking at shorter to mid-term impacts on airports and the way we travel – two to five years down the road. This included what needs to be done now to ensure airports have the facilities and systems they need to meet the changing dynamics of air travel based on the pandemic. It involves all aspects of social distancing, how to process passengers safely – from curbside arrival until they get to their gate and board the plane. Overall, we’ve been trying to focus on the long-term implications post- COVID on airport terminal facilities and designs.” A I RPORT CONSULTANTS COUNC I L BVM: What industry advancements are you anticipating going forward? Schulz: “We are very much looking forward to new technologies that will impact airports and aviation. For example: alternative fuels for aircraft and what some of the infrastructure and fuel system needs are going to be. We are also looking into autonomous vehicles coming to the airport and, eventually, running on the airside, as it relates to baggage carts and tow carts. For us, a lot of our members are trying to help airports understand where they need to be in five to ten years and beyond, and what they need to start doing now to prepare for that. “Many of our companies had a pretty large