At a gala luncheon at Russo’s on the Bay on April 22nd, Icema Gibbs of JetBlue Airlines and William DeCota of the Port Authority NYNJ were honored with the Bishop Wright Air Industry Awards. This was a refreshingly fun event in a year with tough economic realities and both honorees have an important attribute in common, their work is not simply task driven but people driven. Ms. Gibbs is Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at JetBlue and Mrs. DeCota is Director of the Aviation Department in the Port Authority.

The MTA tax increase being fought against by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce has spurred the Airport Press into looking at a deeper problem in New York State and that is the insatiable state appetite for spending. At a time when everyone is tightening their belts, forgoing vacations, cutting out unnecessary driving, and reducing their family’s outings to restaurants and such, New York State has in essence, said to their citizens, tough luck about the taxes folks, now bring on the Caviar. This past budget session they have; • Increased the number of NY State workers by 4,300 while private companies are reducing headcount. • Increased the state budget by over 5% to 131 Billion Dollars In the meantime, New York State is hemorrhaging jobs in the hundreds of thousands every year; last year the number was nearly 180,000 lost jobs. Why is it that only private companies learn how to reduce payrolls, reduce pension and medical benefi ts, introduce process improvements and develop technological solutions to reduce their costs? The aviation industry as a whole is struggling today with costs and regulations that are making it very hard to stay in business and are taking some of the diffi cult steps described above to keep their head above water. Are our public institutions immune from these solutions? During these diffi cult times,

The JFK Chamber of Commerce luncheon was attended by over 330 people as Ed Bastian, President of CEO of Delta Airways outlined his airlines approach to growth; offense, offense, offense. Mr. Bastian is a product of New York State, growing up in Poukeepsie and then graduating from St. Bonaventure’s with a B.B.A. He worked for Price Waterhouse and earned his C.P.A. credentials prior to coming to work in our industry.

Running on the runway at JFK Airport: at worst, a Federal offense, and at best, a logistical nightmare. Not so for the JFK Airport Rotary Club, which, in partnership with the Port Authority of NY and NJ, has staged this annual run for over 30 years. Participation at this year’s 5k (formerly a 10k), held on runway 22L on Sunday, April 19, proved to be the most successful ever , and weather conditions were practically perfect, with cool temperature and modest

winds at the outset. With over 600 signed up, and well over 500 actually racing, this year’s course -- with entry at the section where PANY & NJ police and emergency crews practice their lifesaving skills--provided runner (and walkers and wheelchair participants) with a view of taxiing landcraft virtually an arm’s length away, an aircraft meeting them prominently at the course turn-around (courtesy of JetBlue), and a gaggle of planes landing what seemed to be just yards overhead as they made their descent. What made this year’s run most challenging were the fi nal turn “headwinds” which, to some of the marathoners who have cruised Boston, gave this fl at course it’s own “Heartbreak Hill” effect. However, this beautiful Sunday morning could not be more perfect. It attracted hundreds of individual runners, scores of running teams from throughout the NY area (including a large group representing the passenger side of Lufthansa Airlines, a team of Rotarians from New York City, many members of the JFK cargo section (customs brokers, freight forwarders, truckers, et.al) and several runners who fl ew in for the race all the way from Germany. The JFK Airport Rotary Club is a service organization founded over 30 years ago as part of Rotary International. Based on the motto “Service Above Self,” this clubs works with over 1.2 million members in just about every country on the planet to improve the lives of others. By holding fundraisers such as this race, the club benefi t locals and international charitable missions, such as caring for JFK personnel who have hit hard times, ushering in children from abroad for heart surgery under the Gift of Life Program, and sending relief goods to people in need all over the globe via its RotaShip program. If you’re interested in “giving back” as well as socializing and networking with airport professionals, check out www.Rotary.org as well as our website www.jfkrotary.org and/or please contact Rudy Auslander (rudy.auslander@juno.com) for more details. Plans are already in the works for NEXT YEAR’s run in April. Don’t miss it!