UC Aviation Environmental Symposium 2007

Our 2007 symposium BREAKING BARRIERS was a great success! More than 300 gathered at the historic Stanford Court Hotel to hear top-notch presenters on aviation noise and air quality.

Attendees listened attentively as Keynote speaker Jack Broadbent, CEO of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, implored us to become involved in issues of air quality which are taking the spotlight on the global stage.

On Sunday, we held the ever-popular tutorials - Noise 101 – covering the basics, while Air Quality 201 focused on doing general conformity. Industry leaders Burr Stewart and Jim Crites gave a special session on Sustainability which provided an in-depth way to approach environmental issues.

Student participation, encouraged by special outreach and registration fees, grew significantly this year. We had students attending from UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and San Jose State Universities as well as from the UK, Germany and the Philippines. A special session on Sunday highlighted the need to train future generations to work in the aviation environmental field. A distinguished panel of professionals spoke eloquently of the work that needs to be done and how to engender participation from the next generation.

This year we also had significant international participation. Zhang Hong from the People’s Republic of China let us know that even though their country is experiencing rapid growth and modernization, they are dealing with the same problems aviation faces everywhere else, how to serve growing transportation needs while minimizing environmental impacts. Jane Hupe, Secretary of CAEP at ICAO provided a lively video presentation on the latest developments at the United Nations organization. Bengt Christensson of the Airports Regions Council in Europe shared some interesting perspectives on their Quality of Life project while Patricia Lemoyne Forges of ACNUSA in Paris shared how sanctions and enforcement works in France to curb aviation noise.

Technical subjects covered included cutting-edge work being done at MIT on Environmental Portfolios and new aircraft design, work at Georgia Tech on environmental design, new engine development at Pratt & Whitney, military testing of alternative fuels, how the airlines conserve fuel and how this supports environmental efforts, Boeing’s Quiet Technology work, and NASA’s tailored oceanic arrivals research.

Other important work discussed included updates to the AEDT model, aviation’s role in climate change, recently-conducted studies on emissions from Long Beach airport, the use of supplemental metrics, the use of secondary surveillance radar, the future of surveillance technology, noise impacts in Boston, emissions collections at LAX, methods for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and for assessing emissions reductions measures.

Discussions of better ways to tackle problems ranged from how to form a community roundtable, better community building and outreach, planning with the community, the effect of outreach on annoyance, disclosure in real estate transactions, the replacement of old sound insulation, the evaluation of ambient air quality, air quality initiatives, and how to evaluate noise programs.

Finally, policy, legislative and legal issues were covered with presentations on the repeal of the Wright Amendment, FAA Reauthorization, land-use funding, land-use compatibility, litigation at Minneapolis over noise contours, impacts in the national parks, energy policy, encroachment, new environmental initiatives in cargo shipping, and recent work in the federal Joint Planning and Development Office.

On Sunday night we welcomed attendees with an Asian-themed reception complete with the hypnotic sounds of Asian Fusion. Traditional favorites such as Sushi and Pecan Chicken were served under the Chinese Lion head and delicate oriental fans. Sponsored by Harris Miller Miller & Hanson and Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell

Our Monday evening reception “The Streets of San Francisco” featured the fabled cuisines that have made San Francisco an American food capital. The smells of Chinatown, The Mission District, North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf filled the India Suite with an appetizing aroma to the accompaniment of live jazz – sponsored by Landrum & Brown and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

We held our first ever Golf Scramble on Sunday sponsored by Era Corporation. Participants enjoyed a lovely sunny day on the green at the famous Presidio Club and a rather impressive trophy was awarded the winning team.

Lochard, Era Corporation and Megadata all sponsored continental breakfast during the week, while Wyle, ESA Airports and THC Inc, sponsored afternoon snacks.

Exhibitors BridgeNet, Blast Deflectors, the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, Reclaiming the Sky, and the Air Quality Research Center at UC Davis showcased their work along with sponsors in our Exhibit Hall.

Thanks to our sponsors, exhibitors and attendees – we look forward to seeing you next year – March 2-5 2008 at the Palm Springs Hilton Resort. Stay tuned to our website after Labor Day for details on next year’s program.

To be placed on our mailing list to receive the Preliminary Program in the mail – please send your address & contact information to: aviationsymposium@ucdavis.edu.

UC Aviation Environmental Symposium Program - View the program to link to presentations.