The governing board of the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) concluded its first meeting this week by selecting the recipients for 24 grants totaling $7,090,000 in airport research funding from more than 400 projects. ACRP's purpose is to carry out applied research on problems shared by airport operating agencies but not adequately addressed by other federal research programs.

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato, an ex-officio member of the governing board, congratulated the ACRP board for helping airports realize a long-term industry goal.

"After many years of planning, we're pleased that this program is under way. The research will help the industry find practical solutions to the challenges facing our nation's airports."

The governing board considered 118 projects in the fields of administration, environment, policy and planning, safety, security, human resources, design, construction, maintenance, operations and special projects. Rating criteria included questions concerning importance of the problem to airport operators; whether the problem is researchable and timely; whether it will produce significant benefits; and whether it holds a high probability of success.

The ACRP is managed by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), a division of the National Research Council which serves as an independent adviser to the federal government and others on scientific and technical questions of national importance. TRB manages applied, contract research programs that develop near-term, practical solutions to problems facing transportation agencies, including the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP).

TRB Executive Director Robert E. Skinner, Jr., welcomed the 13-member ACRP governing Board. The board includes a number of airport representatives who participated in the selection process. Among them are James Crites, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport; Kevin Dolliole, St. Louis International Airport; John Duval, Massachusetts Port Authority; Steve Grossman, Oakland International Airport; Jeff Hamiel, Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission; Carolyn Motz, Hagerstown Regional Airport; Richard Tucker, Huntsville –Madison Country Airport Authority; and Gina Marie Lindsey, McBee Strategic Consulting and former ACI-NA Chairman. ACI-NA Senior Vice President Richard Marchi served as acting chairman during the two-day meeting.

ACI-NA paid for outside legal assistance in negotiation and development of an interagency agreement necessary to set up the ACRP. With the help of the Airport Legislative Alliance, Congress has already provided $13 million for the ACRP. The program was authorized in Vision 100 and is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration and managed by the National Academies, acting through the TRB.

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