2017 ACC Young Professionals Innovation Competition Winner Announced

The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) is pleased to announce the winner of the 2017 ACC Young Professionals Innovation Competition, "Taxiing Into Autonomy." The proposal uses autonomous aircraft towing vehicles to improve airfield and gate utilization efficiency by making it easier and less costly to tow aircraft to remote parking positions, and reduces pushback maneuvering time by eliminating engine run-up and tug disconnect times.  The winning team includes Christopher DiPrima, San Francisco International Airport; Michelle Fong, San Francisco International Airport; Justin E. Divens, HMMH; and Joseph Gale, RS&H.

The first-place team will present their submission at the 2018 ACC/AAAE Airport Planning, Design and Construction Symposium Feb. 28 - March 2 in Denver, Colorado.  The team will also have the opportunity to display their submission at the event.

Supported in part by the ACC Members Foundation the competition is part of a larger program offered by the ACC Young Professionals Forum as a means to engage the young professionals in ACC member firms and enhance their professional careers.  Targeted for industry professionals that are aged 35 or under, the Young Professionals Forum provides networking, mentoring, education and career growth opportunities.

"Congratulations to this year's winning team, who present a futuristic concept that may be a reality before we know it," said ACC President T.J. Schulz. "This submission represents the key goals of the Innovation Competition - to highlight innovations that reflect evolving trends and addresses growing challenges at airports."

ACC would like to thank all who submitted projects and participated in the competition, including team members from the following firms and airports: 

ADB Safegate                                       Jacobsen Daniels                 RS&H

DY Consultants                                     JMT                                      San Francisco Int. Airport

HMMH                                                  Merchant Aviation                 Urban Engineers

Competition submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges including Evan Futterman, Futterman Consulting; Wilson Rayfield, Gresham, Smith & Partners; Kate Andrus, Mead & Hunt; Anne Barry, Ross & Baruzzini; and Benet Wilson, AviationPros.

The ACC Young Professionals Forum is looking to refresh the Innovation Competition for 2018.  If you wish to be a part of this process, please contact Pinar Maurice at [email protected].