Airport Consortium on Transformation (ACT)

ACT Co-Chairs Chad Makovsky, A.A.E., IACE, Aviation Director for the City of Phoenix Aviation Department, and Chris McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, facilitate the ACT CEO Steering Group meeting in conjunction with AAAE’s 97th Annual Conference & Exposition.

Airport directors from across the country convened in Atlanta to discuss innovation priorities and help guide the future direction of the ACT program. Pictured left to right: Chad Makovsky, A.A.E., IACE; Chris McLaughlin; John Ackerman, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports; Jesús Saenz, Director of Airports, San Antonio Airport System; and Phillip Washington, Chief Executive Officer, Denver International Airport.

Mukesh Patel, C.M., Director of Aviation at San Jose Mineta International Airport, and Harry Barrett, A.A.E., Executive Director of Palm Springs International Airport, joined their industry peers for a discussion on the innovation challenges facing their airports

Atif Saeed, A.A.E., Chief Executive Officer, Philadelphia International Airport and Chad Newton, A.A.E., Chief Executive Officer, Wayne County Airport Authority, participate in the latest ACT CEO Steering Group meeting.

Jessica Dunn, Global Technology Officer at EY, addresses the audience on technology, innovation, and collaboration

Driving Innovation At Airports Nationwide

Evolving from the Airport Innovation Accelerator, the Airport Consortium on Transformation (ACT) was launched to address pressing industry challenges—many of which were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, ACT serves as a comprehensive innovation lab focused on nine key areas of transformation, offering airports multiple pathways to engage and collaborate.

Innovation at ACT extends far beyond research. Through hands-on innovation events, members experience emerging technologies in action at airport facilities and participate in real-world pilot projects that test and refine new solutions.

ACT Program Focus Areas

Artificial Intelligence

Leveraging AI technologies to optimize airport operations and improve decision-making processes.

Airport Digitization

Embracing technology to enhance airport operations and the passenger experience.

Airport Electrification

Driving the strategic planning, funding, and deployment of electrification solutions.

Airside Training

To unify the industry’s approach to airport driver and winter operations training through shared challenges and collaborative solutions.

Advanced Air Mobility

Exploring innovative solutions for the air transportation network and integrating them into airport infrastructure.

Workforce Development

Empowering the airport workforce through innovative training, skill-building programs, and strategies to meet evolving industry needs.

Cyber Preparedness & Monitoring

Promote proactive planning, rapid response, and shared solutions for digital resilience

Chemical and Biological Threat Protection

Strengthen airport readiness with improved monitoring and rapid-response capabilities.

Smart Landside

Transform airport access and curbside operations through smart technologies

Innovation in Action: Turning Collaboration into Transformation

Welcome to ACT!

Monthly Newsletters

ACT CEO Steering Group

Driving Innovation At Airports Nationwide

Innovation Reports

Powering the Future: Insights from the ACT Airport Electrification Task Force

Workforce Development: Measuring the Success of Workforce Development Programs at Small, Non-Hub & GA Airports

The Airport Digital Marketplace

Innovation Engagement Events

ACT Air Mobility Showcase: Joby Aviation Open House

ACT LAX Sustainability and Innovation Tour

ACT PHX/Waymo Workshop

ACT NREL Workshop

Latest Program Insights from LinkedIn