New ideas, old ideas, and things to be watched ...

DFW hosted a first-ever Airport Facilities Council conference at its on-airport energy center in March. It's sort of a best practices for hands-on airport people, and is sanctioned by the International Facilities Management Association , based in Houston . Consultants are a big part of this group, and should be.

Everything from the airfield to the building design to the boiler room is the target of attention, but from an ops point of view. It's really a reiteration of the concept of connecting management and owners (sponsors) with operations. It's a good idea.

One focus of attention: Don't build a facility that costs $1 billion up front but $50 billion to operate over 20 years. Instead, build a "green" facility that costs $3 billion to construct, but only $25 billion to operate over 20 years. There is savings in thinking this thing out. And that means involving operations and designing facilities that are LEEDS certified, which takes into account environmental, leading technology, and practicality. You might call it a holistic approach to facilities design. It soon may be mandatory at an airport near you. (For more on the Council, see page 24.)

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The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the government over the Patriot Act and the CAPPS 2/No Fly initiatives. Good for them.

Even if one thinks the Patriot Act is exactly the right approach to take in today's terrorist-dominated environment, as an American one also has to appreciate that any infringement on civil liberties has to be questioned. The ACLU says that thousands of innocent people are being kept off airplanes unfairly. We need to know how these decisions are being made, how the information is being used (shared), and who is making the decisions.

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In 1986, Massport created quite a stir with a peak period pricing proposal. What was tantamount to treason then is today the beginning of a new day. FAA no longer vehemently opposes it; capacity may demand it. It's really the next logical step; the system will survive, and possibly benefit — via improved infrastructure at relievers.

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Reed Pigman, Jr. , (page 20) relates: "When I was in Ardmore (OK) with Cessna 150s somebody asked me, How would I define success? And I said, If I owned a Learjet I'd be successful. And I got in the sales business and I owned a Learjet. Interest rates hit 21 percent and it almost sank me. I was never so happy as the day that thing flew off."

Thanks for reading.