ACC Committees Convene at the Planning & Design Symposium
During the 2026 AAAE/ACC Airport Planning, Design, & Construction Symposium, several ACC committees convened to advance key initiatives, share industry insights, and strengthen collaboration across the airport development community. These meetings provide an important forum for members to exchange perspectives, surface emerging challenges, and help inform ACC’s engagement with federal partners and the broader aviation industry.
The committee discussions reflected the depth of expertise within ACC’s membership and the organization’s commitment to supporting thoughtful dialogue on the policies, practices, and innovations shaping airport planning, development, and project delivery.
Leadership and Volunteer Engagement
ACC’s committee structure is powered by the dedication of volunteer leaders and members who generously contribute their time and expertise to the association. Committee chairs and vice chairs play a critical role in guiding discussions, identifying emerging issues, and ensuring that ACC remains responsive to the needs of its members and the evolving priorities of the airport industry.
At the Symposium, committee leaders facilitated productive conversations on a range of topics affecting airport planning, infrastructure delivery, regulatory coordination, workforce development, and emerging technologies. Their leadership helps ensure that ACC continues to provide a forum where consultants, airports, and industry partners can engage in meaningful dialogue and share practical perspectives from across the field.
ACC extends its sincere appreciation to the committee leaders and participants whose continued engagement strengthens the organization and supports its mission to advance excellence in airport development.
Collaboration with Federal and Research Partners
Participation from federal and research partners added valuable perspectives to the committee’s conversations this year. Representatives from the FAA Office of Airport Planning and Programming joined discussions, providing insight into current priorities and ongoing initiatives related to airport planning, development programs, and policy considerations. We also appreciated participation from the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), whose engagement helps connect ACC members with ongoing research initiatives and opportunities to contribute industry expertise.
These exchanges underscore the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between industry stakeholders, federal partners, and research organizations. Dialogue across these communities helps ensure that industry perspectives inform policy discussions while keeping ACC members connected to emerging research and program developments.
Committee Discussion Highlights
Terminal & Security Committee
The Terminal & Security Committee’s meeting featured a panel discussion titled “The Quiet Terminal and the Airport Acoustic Experience” that highlighted acoustical design initiatives, including Quiet Terminal programs. Moderated by Vice Chair Adam Ariano, (Perkins&Will), panelists Kim Brown (Hennebery Eddy Architects), Linda Gedemer (Faith Group), Lance McIntosh (C&S Companies), and John Zeman (Acentech) shared perspectives on how acoustics affect the passenger experience in terminal and concourse spaces. A key theme from the discussion was that acoustics are often treated as a secondary design consideration, making them vulnerable to value engineering during project delivery. Panelists emphasized the importance of addressing acoustical performance early in project development and protecting project budgets to support effective acoustical design.
Engineering Committee
The Engineering Committee’s meeting started with a discussion of the ACC Pillars, then moved to FAA Advisory Circular (AC) release updates and a recap of the FAA ARP/ACC meeting in mid-February. The meeting shifted to a discussion on existing subcommittees, ACC Communities of Practice (COPs), and a Young Professionals update. It closed with an open discussion of upcoming ACC events, what committee members would like to see related to training/meeting topics, and an ACRP update with some engineering-focused ACRP projects.
Young Professionals Committee
The Young Professionals Committee met to review the 2026 strategic plan, discuss volunteer and engagement opportunities, and outline involvement in the Innovation Competition. Tracy Guerrero, Air Service Manager at Indianapolis International Airport, served as the guest speaker and provided insights about her experience as a young professional in aviation. The committee will focus on building volunteer programs, launching a leadership workshop subcommittee, and planning future webinars and networking events in 2026.
Looking Ahead
The committee meetings held during the Symposium highlight ACC’s role as a collaborative forum where industry professionals, federal partners, and research leaders can come together to exchange ideas and address shared challenges.
Through the leadership of its volunteers and the active participation of members, ACC committees continue to play a vital role in advancing dialogue across the airport development community. These discussions strengthen relationships across the industry and help position ACC as a trusted partner in supporting the continued development and modernization of the nation’s airport system.
ACC thanks all committee leaders, participants, and partners who contributed to these discussions and looks forward to continuing the work in the months ahead.
