Airport Cooperative Research Program Update

The upcoming March issue of AIRPORT BUSINESS magazine will feature an in-depth interview with Jim Crites, executive vice president at DFW International Airport and a person who has been one of the industry activists promoting the Airport Cooperative Research Program. The ACRP is operated under the auspices of the Transportation Research Board, which has years of experience in similar research programs for highways and transit. The ACRP has had its starts and stops, most notably when Congress voted to authorize the program but then withheld any funding to get it started. Today, however, the program has been awarded some $13 million for start-up and for the initial round of projects. It is expected to get another $10 million in FY07. In essence, the concept of the ACRP is to serve as an independent incubator for examining issues and challenges facing airports and others in the aviation system, with the goal being to find solutions that all affected parties can utilize. DFW's Crites points out that without very active participation, the ACRP could have a short life once reauthorization comes if it is not embraced by industry and if it does not produce results. For more information prior to release of our March issue, visit www.trb.org. Thanks for reading.