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To: Worcester Regional Airport Commissioners

From: Eric N. Waldron, Director

Re: Year-end Review

Date: December 3, 2002

Commission Chairman Amir has asked that I again put together a review of the various accomplishments that have been achieved, as well as highlights of activities at and related to the Airport during 2002. The following is a brief summary of the past year, in the same format as last year’s review.

Safety/Security

* Sponsored or co-sponsored (with the Worcester Area Pilots Association, WAPA) 3 FAA pilot safety seminars

* Annual Emergency Exercise Tabletop held - over 30 different agencies involved

* FAA Annual Certification inspection conducted and passed - no significant findings

* MAC Annual Airport Inspection conducted-no significant findings

* Completed perimeter clear zone vegetation control around airfield fencing-+/- five miles

* Removed 40 airspace penetration/obstructions from the Airport clear zone's (trees)

* Hosted National Guard troops as additional Airport Security for five months

* Developed a Family Assistance Plan with Massport for Worcester Regional Airport, in the event of a disaster involving airline operations; entered into an agreement with the Crowne Plaza hotel for their services in case of plan activation

* Met federally imposed deadline for transitioning to an all federal (TSA) employee security checkpoint operation

* Met federally imposed deadline for installation of baggage screening equipment to comply with 100% baggage screening requirement

* Entered into contract with TSA for providing Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) at the security checkpoint and provided LEO’s for 6 1/2 months

* Obtained Conservation Commission and City approval to implement a liquid runway-deicing program; installed 20,000-gallon liquid deicer storage tank; acquired 1,000-gallon liquid deicer distribution trailer

Pilot/Community Outreach

* Co-sponsored monthly area pilots meetings with WAPA

* Approximately twenty meetings/presentations with Community Group/Service Organizations

* Over fifty meetings with other government agencies

* Hosted +/- 30 teenagers for Airport tour as part of YMCA of Greater Worcester program

* Featured speakers at Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, the University Transportation Center at Assumption College and at a Senior Education class at Assumption College

* Participated in several radio/television shows concerning the Airport

Air Service

* Pan Am, American Eagle and ASA/Delta ceased operations at Worcester

* Projecting approximately 70,000 passengers for the year compared to 130,000 passengers last year

* Through October, aircraft operations are up 12% over last year, primarily general aviation and corporate aircraft flight activity

Interagency Meetings

The Chairman, other Commission Members and I represented the Airport at over fifty interagency meetings, including:

* Eight MAC meetings

* Six MAMA meetings

* Numerous Chamber of Commerce Airport ad hoc Marketing Committee meetings

* Numerous security meetings with TSA, FAA, MAC, Security Consultants and Massport

* MAC Airport Commission Member Training

Capital Projects

Eight capital projects/grants/studies were in some state of process during the year. These included:

* Security Improvement Project Phase 1- FAA and MAC grants received, project to start on or about 12/15/02

* Security Improvement Phase 2/ GA Ramp Reconstruction- FAA and MAC grants received, projected start date April, 2003

* Terminal Sidewalk Reconstruction- completed

* Terminal Roadway Drainage Repair- completed

* Liquid Runway Deicing Equipment Acquisition- completed

* CAT II/III ILS Feasibility Study- final draft completed, Commission presentation planned for January, 03

These projects and studies represent over $2.5 M in capital spending which have been/will be paid for out of three funding sources; FAA grants, MAC grants, and City of Worcester capital expenditures.