The Division of Aviation will receive  $115.33 million in relief funding from this plan ($101.5 million for PHL,  $13.7 million for concessions and $148,000 for PNE).

We are very grateful to be included in the relief package. The DOA’s daily expenses are about $1 million per day and this funding will enable us to continue operating our airports, making payroll, paying vendors and covering debt service payments. Our acceptance of this relief funding includes a 90% employment retention threshold that will allow us to avoid significant layoffs until September 30, 2021.  

The American Rescue Plan is the third COVID-19 stimulus package passed by Congress. But we cannot and should not count on further federal support for airport operations. The recent busy Spring Break season and an anticipated increase in passenger volume this summer make us hopeful for the public’s return to leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel, but we will not be close to our recent passenger levels for three-to-five years, or until business and international travel recovers. We must continue with our plans to align our workforce to the projected tough years that still lay ahead of us. 

Our Early Retirement Program (ERP) proposal continues to move forward. City Council voted the ERP ordinance out of committee on March 22, and we are waiting for the final vote. Regardless of City Council’s approval or rejection of the ERP proposal, we will still have to make difficult decisions on staff reductions in the coming months.  

The stress and anxiety caused by the uncertainty of current financial status is felt by everyone at the Division of Aviation. I wish I could be bringing you better news. But I promise we will keep you all updated as decisions are made. Thank you for your continued understanding and support.  

Stay safe.  

Chellie 

PHL Achieves ACI Airport Health Accreditation and GBAC-Star Facility Accreditation 

PHL recently achieved Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) from Airports Council International (ACI) and Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR Facility Accreditation for health and safety measures put in place throughout the airport's facilities. 

The AHA program provides airports with an assessment of how aligned their health measures are with ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force recommendations, along with industry best practices. The GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation, considered the gold standard for prepared facilities, helps organizations and businesses prepare for, respond to and recover from biological threats and biohazard situations and real-time crises. 

Thank you to the PHL team members for their work to meet the rigorous standards of both programs,  especially Custodial Manager Janet Stressman, who  spearheaded the GBAC Star application process. 

HR Updates

To sign up to receive notification of employee updates directly to your phone, email [email protected] with your email and/or cell phone number. 

Airport Early Retirement Incentive Program 

Philadelphia City Council voted the Division of Aviation's Early Retirement Program (ERP) out of committee at a March 22 hearing, moving the ordinance to a full City Council vote in April. Upon final approval of the program, DOA HR will host information sessions for eligible employees.  Employees should ensure their contact information is up to date in OnePhilly since information will be sent from various City agencies throughout the process. No action is required from interested employees at this time.   

OnePhilly Training and Information Sessions

To schedule personal OnePhilly training and information sessions, email [email protected].  The sessions provide a great opportunity to address login issues, review and update personal information and see what is new to OnePhilly.  Sessions may be scheduled virtually or in-person. Appointments are required.   

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

City of Philadelphia Distribution Information

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for select groups. Click here to learn more about the City’s plans for distributing vaccines. Anyone interested in receiving the vaccine through the City, should fill out the interest form found here. For a list of community vaccination sites, click here. 

COVID-19 Post-Vaccination Health and Safety 

The CDC recently introduced new guidance that allows small groups of vaccinated individuals to have small, unmasked indoor gatherings. This is a welcome change for friends or families who have been able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and can safely reunite; however, it should not change the way that you protect yourself or people who are unvaccinated. The CDC still encourages the following measures, regardless of your vaccination status: 

• Wearing a mask in public and when around other unvaccinated people
• Practicing hand hygiene and social distancing 
• Avoiding gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one household 
• Avoiding crowded, poorly ventilated areas 
• Avoiding medium or large-sized gatherings 
• Delaying domestic and international travel
• Continually monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 

COVID-19 is still a very real and present risk. It takes all of us to continue to control the spread of this virus, so please be vigilant in protecting yourselves and each other. 

• What can you do after you get vaccinated? Click here. 

The Division of Aviation’s COVID-19 policy and procedure can be found in the Safe Work Playbook viewable on the Division of Aviation Intranet. Continue to follow CDC and City of Philadelphia guidelines. If you have any additional questions, contact Sheila Trueheart, Deputy CAO or Delicsha Wilds, Deputy of HR at [email protected]. 

Employee Training Update

New Courses Coming to PHL University in April 2021 

Flawless Presentations and Train the Trainer   

Online Employee Sexual Harassment Prevention Training 

In accordance with the City’s Home Rule Charter (Article IV,  4-300), sexual harassment training for all staff is mandatory. Educating staff with the knowledge and resources necessary to identify, refrain from and report sexual harassment is vital to the City’s commitment to safe, inclusive and harassment-free workspaces. The Department of Labor (formerly the Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations) provides an e-learning course through the city’s Learning Management System (LMS). 

All DOA  employees with computer access must complete this mandatory training by September 30, 2021. The course takes about 30-40 minutes to complete. You must complete the course and exam with a score of 100% to receive credit. To access the LMS, click this link: SmarterU Login Instructions. LMS automatically tracks completion of the course (no need to notify HR). Email LMS Program Manager [email protected] with questions regarding accessing the training in the City’s LMS. 

Training & Development will host small onsite learning labs for all supervisors, per the requirement of the City’s Sexual Harassment Policy, and employees without access to computers. More details on these trainings will follow.

To read the City's Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy, click here. 

SPRING FORWARD TO EARN YOUR $500 CAP WELLNESS CREDIT 

To earn the $500 CAP wellness credit, CAP employees and their covered spouses must complete the CAP Wellness Program on the MyActiveHealth Portal. To learn more about how MyActiveHealth can assist with health and wellness goals, take a look at this video. 

To learn more about how to earn the wellness credit, click the links below:

• CAP Wellness Requirements
• Earn $500 Using Your 2021 CAP Benefits 

Sheila Trueheart Named Chief of Staff

Sheila Trueheart has been named Division of Aviation Chief of Staff. She is responsible for supporting the executive team in meeting PHL goals and objectives by providing senior-level advice and counsel on programs, initiatives, and issues that align with the airport’s mission and strategy. 

Congratulations Sheila!

March Staff Promotions and New Hires

Congratulations to the following Division of Aviation employees promoted in the month of March:

• David Wilson — Procurement Technician 2
• Johnnae Brown — Administrative Specialist 1 Non-Confidential
• Michael Swiencki — Electrical Engineer 2 

Welcome the following new Division of Aviation employee hired in March:

• Carl Henderson — Stationary Engineer

Acting Airport Security Manager Jason Sankey Receives MBA from Drexel University  

Acting Airport Security Manager Jason Sankey recently received an MBA, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, from Drexel University. 

“With all aspects of aviation changing consistently a leader in the industry needs to think ahead and pivot at a moments notice,” said Jason. “Efficiency and results are a core concept of an MBA education and I want to bring that to the security department and the airport as a whole. I am part of one national committee now and plan to be more involved in national level organizations.” 

Jason hopes to streamline processes such as fingerprinting by moving much of what is manual and paper based to an automated electronic process. He is also looking into getting his AAAE accreditation. 

Congratulations Jason!  

Celebrate Earth Day 2021 

Thursday, April 22 marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day. The airport's Sustainability team will hold an Earth Day virtual lunch and learn session for all DOA employees. The topic of the session, determined through feedback provided through a staff survey, will be announced shortly. Details and an invitation will be released shortly.  

Coming to A-East: Pepsi Lifewtr Lounge 

Guests looking to grab a drink before leaving the airport or while waiting for their flights have a new option near the A-East gates— the Pepsi Lifewtr Lounge.  

Located in the area that previously housed the airport’s Take a Book, Leave a Book reading area (now in A-West), the Lifewtr Lounge will offer passengers a place to relax, enjoy entertainment and purchase snacks and beverages. Look for the lounge to be opening in the coming weeks.   

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom

At the Airport:  

Filling the Terminals with Hopeful Artwork  

Positive messages can pop up anywhere. Guests traveling through PHL can find them in two art exhibits: "Fill the Walls with Hope" between Terminals C and D and "Granny Graffiti" in Terminal F.   

Capital Development:  

PHL East Airfield Rehabilitation Project Earns Recognition  

PHL's East Airfield rehabilitation project has been named recipient of the 2021 Philadelphia Aviation Project Award in the March of Dimes Annual Transportation, Building and Construction awards. The project will be formally recognized in November at the organization’s annual awards event, which honors leaders and projects from the public and private sectors of the transportation, building and construction industries.  

PNE:  

PNE to Close One Runway for Rehabilitation Project  

To get a jump start on the last and the third package of the reconstruction of Runway 6-24, the largest at PNE, that runway and associated taxiways closed March 24 (a week earlier than planned thanks to favorable weather). PNE, located about 25 miles from PHL in the city’s Northeast section, is a general aviation facility that does not have scheduled commercial air service. It sees an average of 100 departures and as many arrivals daily by private aircraft.  

People at PHL :

Representing the Customer’s Voice: A Conversation with Director of Guest Experience Elizabeth Moselle  

PHL Leaders Engage in Women’s History Month Special Events  

On Monday, March 15, airport CEO Chellie Cameron joined Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Yassmin Gramian and SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards in HERstory: Women in Leadership via Zoom. The women talked about the women who have had the biggest influence on their lives, how they are addressing COVID-19’s impact on women, racial equity and were asked to give their advice to men. The panel discussion was moderated by PHL Deputy Director of Aviation, Capital Development Api Appulingam, the president-elect of the WTS Philadelphia Chapter.  

Celebrating Women in Aviation – Spirit Airlines GM Rene Burrows  

REAL ID Deadline Approaching 

The REAL-ID deadline, extended last year due to COVID-19, is now just six months away. Beginning October 1, 2021, a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, enhanced driver’s license or other approved alternate ID (U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. military ID, or DHS trusted traveler cards will be required to fly.  

REAL IDs can be obtained at a PennDOT REAL ID Driver’s License Center (the closest to PHL is located at 2904 S 70th Street). For more information about REAL ID, the documentation needed for your REAL ID appointment and requirements in other states, click here.