Until now, other than a small number of part-time employees, the Division of Aviation has refrained from staff reductions. We have made tough decisions to reduce costs by cutting contracts, refinancing debt, reducing supply usage, eliminating many equipment purchases and limiting overtime. In addition, we have instituted a hiring freeze, deferred numerous projects and implemented pay reductions for exempt staff. However, it is one year into the COVID-19 crisis in the U.S., and, based on current projections, it will take three to five years for the airport to reach its record-setting 2019 passenger volume. The ERP will give the airport a chance to align staff size to the realities of the post-pandemic world.  

Last March, I don’t believe anyone thought that a year later, we would still be waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted and borders to be reopened, allowing the aviation industry to begin its recovery. In 2020, PHL served less than one third of the 33.02 million passengers we welcomed in 2019, placing the airport back to 1995’s totals, while facing 2020 expenses. We are grateful for the two rounds of federal relief funding we were awarded, but this money covered a little more than four months of our operating costs and expenses. Any additional relief funding we might receive will only provide minor, temporary assistance, and is not something we can or should rely on indefinitely. 

If the ERP is approved by City Council, airport Human Resources will hold online and in-person information sessions to help individual employees understand what early retirement might look like for them. The decision to retire is not one that can, or should, be hastily made. I am sure that for many of our colleagues eligible for the ERP, retirement was a milestone that was still a few years, not months, away. For those of you considering taking this significant step now, you have my utmost respect. And to all members of the Division of Aviation, thank you for your continued support and understanding.  

Stay safe.  

Chellie 

HR Updates 

DEADLINE APPROACHING: Conversion of Sick Leave and Vacation Leave Memo (DC 33 and DC 47 members only) 

Under the City’s current Sick Leave Policy, Division of Aviation employees who are members of either District Council 33 or District Council 47 may convert two days (15 hours) of sick leave to one day (7.5 hours) of vacation, up to a maximum of 20 days (150 hours) of sick leave to a maximum of 10 days (75 hours) vacation. The conversion may be made into whole vacation days only and you must have a balance of 80 days (600 hours) sick days after the conversion. If you wish to convert sick leave to vacation, please complete this leave memo and return it by email or interoffice mail no to: 

Virna Mitchell ([email protected]) – Departmental Payroll Supervisor

Division of Aviation, Human Resources Unit, Terminal E 

Completed forms must be received no later than March 31, 2021. 

The best way to ensure you receive information from the City and DOA HR is to review/update your contact information in OnePhilly  

Please take the opportunity to review your personal information in OnePhilly (Employee Self Service). Having accurate information on file is in your best interest in the event of an emergency and/or for life insurance and/or pension benefits.    

OnePhilly Training and Information Sessions

To schedule a personal OnePhilly Training and Information session, contact [email protected].  This is a great opportunity to address login issues, review and update your information and see what is new to OnePhilly.  Sessions may be scheduled virtually or in-person. Appointments are required.   

Annual Outside Employment Reminder

All outside and self-employment activities must be submitted or resubmitted for annual evaluation and approval. This includes activities previously waived, such as:

• Landlord
• Ride share driver (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
• Mail order/arts & crafts sale (Avon, E-Bay, etc.)
• Part-time/seasonal/sporadic retail or other activities that receive compensation, etc.

If you receive compensation for any service or product, have fiduciary duties on the board of any organization/ company, or otherwise engage in employment outside of your employment with the City, please download and complete the NEW OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT FORM and forward it to [email protected] (Employee Relations). Follow-up with HR is required once employment had ceased.

Questions or concerns may be emailed to Etta or Integrity Officer Joe Messina ([email protected]). 

Register for City Mandated Sexual Harassment Training Sessions 

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), Sexual Harassment Prevention Training – Online for Employees.  

(Training & Development is working on a separate training for staff without easy access to City-issued computers—more details to come). 

All DOA  employees with computer access are asked to complete this mandatory training by September 30, 2021. The course takes about 30-40 minutes to complete. Employees must complete the course and exam with a score of 100% to receive credit. 

• To access the online course through the City’s LMS, click the this link: SmarterU Login Instructions. LMS automatically tracks completion of the course (no need to notify DOA HR).  

Questions about accessing the training in the City’s LMS? Email [email protected], LMS Program Manager. 

(Supervisors and managers are required to attend virtual in-class sexual harassment trainings. Training & Development is working on a separate training schedule for supervisors.) 

Click here to read the City’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy. 

Course Due Reminders for 2020 Cyber Awareness from the City 

The difference between DOA and City reminders  

The Cyber Awareness training DOA employees were mandated to complete by October 31, 2020 included the following topics: 

• 2020 KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training  
• Computer Security & Data Protection 
• Phish Catcher Game: Fearware 
• Micro-module - Introduction to Ransomware 

The City’s Cyber Awareness training keeps Philadelphia in compliance with related laws to keep government systems from being externally hacked. Developed by the Office of Inforamation Technology (OIT), this training puts an emphasis on the types of threats and specific impact of hacking government systems. All City employees are required to complete it, even if they have completed the training recently mandated by the airport or elsewhere.   

Make sure to take the City’s annual Cyber Awareness Training immediately.Learn ways to keep your computer and data safe and secure. The training is available in SmarterU. Click here for SmarterU login instructions.  

OIT is working on a separate training for front-line staff without easy access to City-issued computers—more details to come. Questions? Contact: [email protected].   

START NOW. FINISH EARLY. 

EARN YOUR $500 CAP WELLNESS CREDIT 

The CAP Wellness Program is to be completed on the MyActiveHealth Portal by CAP employees and covered spouses.   

To learn more about how MyActiveHealth can assist with Health & Wellness Goals, take a look at this video. 

To learn more about how you can earn your wellness credit, click the links below:   

1. CAP Wellness Requirements.
2. Earn $500 Using Your 2021 CAP Benefits. 

Rework Updates 

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 please contact Sheila Trueheart, Deputy Director of Administrative Operations, or Delicsha Wilds, Deputy Director of HR, at [email protected]. 

Racial Equity Advisory Council (REAC) Contact Information:

Employees with questions, comments or concerns regarding the DOA’s efforts to advance racial equity and encouraged to contact REAC at 215-863-5300 or [email protected]. 

February Staff Promotions

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

• Jerry Germain — Airport Assistant Ops Officer 2
• Simon Gholson — Heavy Equipment Operator 2
• Terrance Gamble — Heavy Equipment Operator 

Safety Reporting System Now Live

PHL has developed a Safety Management System (SMS) to better capture and manage safety risks at the airport. The SMS is designed to manage and track the airport's response to safety concerns from reporting through resolution. As part of this initiative, PHL SMS has launched a safety reporting portal. All airport stakeholders are encouraged to report safety concerns at https://www.phl.org/SMS/report-hazard. Reports are confidential and can be anonymous unless the employee chooses to provide contact information. It is important to know that when information is shared in SMS, it is done with the intention of learning and improving practices, not finding fault in one another. 

For any further questions or information regarding the SMS, please contact the SMS team at [email protected].

OrderAtPHL Launches Robotic Delivery Pilot 

The next time you order food through OrderAtPHL, don’t be surprised if it is delivered by a robot. The gita unit is part of a robotic food delivery pilot program being launched through OrderAtPHL.com, PHL Food & Shops’ contactless food ordering program. The pilot began February 22 and runs through April.  

The gita, which can carry up to 40 pounds, features a cargo bin to hold guests’ orders. Guests are able to open the bin and remove their items themselves. The gita robot uses visual sensors to pair to and follow the AtYourGate representative through the airport. The units were developed by Piaggio Fast Forward and have been piloted at several other U.S. airports.

ACI Honors PHL for Customer Feedback Efforts 

PHL is one of just 140 airports worldwide — and one of only 23 in North America — to earn Airports Council International’s (ACI) “The Voice of the Customer” recognition for 2020. ACI honored airports for their commitment to understanding guests’ needs during the COVID-19 pandemic by collecting at least three quarters of Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Departures survey data. ASQ examines traveler satisfaction over 34 key performance indicators. Data collected at PHL is used by a variety of Division of Aviation departments, including Guest Experience, Marketing and Operations, to learn how passengers travel through the airport and which amenities they interact with; possible staffing issues during peak travel times; and how PHL rates among peer airports.     

Read more here.  

American Airlines Adds Nonstop Service from PHL to Outdoor Vacation Destinations  

American Airlines will offer three nonstop flights a week between Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI) and PHL beginning April 1. American is also adding three new routes and expanding service to four destinations from PHL for summer 2021.   

Beginning June 3, American will offer daily service from PHL to:  

•  Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB)  
•  Salt Lake City (SLC)   
• Traverse City, Michigan (TVC)   

American is increasing the frequency of service between PHL and the following destinations:  

• Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH) - daily  
• Key West, Florida (EYW)-daily  
•  Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK) -daily  
•  Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) - four times a week 

 For information on all American-PHL service, visit aa.com.   

Executive Order for Mask Wearing In Effect 

Wearing face masks at PHL has been a City of Philadelphia directive since May 2020. On January 21, President Biden issued "Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel”, an Executive Order requiring face masks to be worn in airports, on commercial aircraft, and on various modes of surface transportation. The order went into effect on February 1.  

The TSA issued a security directive and is enforcing the Executive Order at all airports. Masks that cover the nose and mouth must be worn at all times in and on airport property, except when eating, drinking, or taking medications orally;  when necessary for identification purposes; when communicating with a deaf or hard of hearing person who needs to read lips; driving a personal vehicle by yourself; and driving a commercial vehicle by yourself. Children under 2 and individuals with disabilities that cannot safely wear a mask are exempt from the order.   

Failure to comply with the mandate may result in removal from the airport, and is subject to federal penalties. The TSA security directive is available here.  

Information Security Tips

Top 4 COVID-19 Scams to Watch Out For

The ability to leverage current events is a dream scenario for modern-day cybercriminals. These criminals use events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to fuel their malicious intent.

With the global pandemic comes the desire to stay updated with the most current information. However, it can be difficult for internet users to navigate this information and separate fact from fiction. It is also difficult to ensure that links and resources are reliable. The reality is that malicious activity comes through just about every communication channel: email, social media, text and phone messages, and of course, misleading and malicious websites.

Here are some common examples of what you need to be on the lookout for in the months to come:

1. Malicious Websites

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber threat actors have consistently capitalized on global interest surrounding the latest information on the virus. These threat actors take advantage of internet users by registering website domains related to COVID-19. Fake websites and applications typically claim to share news, testing results, or other resources, however, they ONLY want your credentials, bank account information, or to infect your devices with malware.

With many organizations and employees continuing to work from home, users may let their guard down and be more susceptible to emails from unverified senders. NEVER give out your personal information, including banking information, Social Security Number, or other personally identifiable information (PII) over the phone or email.

2. Phishing Emails

Report suspicious emails to Information Security.

Expect phishing emails to be on the rise. Cyber threat actors will utilize COVID-19 phishing emails in an attempt to convince the recipient to either reveal sensitive information (i.e. bank account information), or simply try to convince the recipient to open a malicious link or attachment, allowing them to potentially access your system.

COVID-19 vaccine-themed phishing emails may include subject lines such as the following:

• Vaccine registration
• Information about your vaccine coverage
• Locations you can receive the vaccine
• Ways you can reserve a vaccine
• Vaccine requirements

While some phishing emails might be easy for you to detect, never get complacent when reviewing your emails. Expect to receive well-composed phishing attempts that are impersonating well-known and trusted entities, such as government agencies, healthcare providers, or pharmaceutical companies. NEVER open any link or attachment from a source that you cannot clearly identify as being legitimate!

For instance, email phishing campaigns in the past have targeted state-level agencies impersonating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These emails have requested recipients to click on links in order to view a secured message pertaining to COVID-19 vaccine information. Links such as these could easily direct the user to a webpage that attempts to collect PII, including name, address, date of birth, driver’s license number, phone number, and email address.

Here are some notable indications an email, text, or phone call may be a phishing attempt:

• Inspiring a sense of urgency to click a link or provide information
• Is overly formal or written in an overly complicated manner
• Requests sensitive information or that you review a link or attachment
• Asks users to follow a non-standard process, or a process you might find odd!

3. Fraudulent Charities

For as long as the pandemic is around there will always be consistent attempts by threat actors to create fraudulent charities seeking donations for illegitimate or non-existent organizations. Fake charity and donation websites will try to take advantage of one’s good will, especially during such hard times. Always do your research before donating and providing any information.

4. Unemployment Scams

Be wary of identity theft scams involving fraudulent claims, especially surrounding unemployment benefits. This scam has especially skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as unemployment claims in general have been on the rise. The most typical scams to be on the lookout for (but are not limited to) include telling recipients that they’ve won contests, a cash prize, or are eligible for an award for applying for unemployment.

Recommendations

Phishing remains a prominent attack vector for almost all cyber threat actors. Your cybersecurity best practices will always be the airport’s first line of defense against phishing. Here are some recommendations you can take to shield yourself from these threats:

• Report any suspicious emails to the Information Security Team
• NEVER give out your personal information, including banking information, Social Security Number, or PII over the phone or email
• Always verify a charity’s authenticity before making donations. For assistance with verification, utilize the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) page on Charity Scams. This information can be found here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0074-giving-charity

Additional Resources

• CDC | COVID-19-Related Phone Scams and Phishing Attacks: https://www.cdc.gov/media/phishing.html
• CISA | Insights: https://www.cisa.gov/insights
• CISA | Information & Updates on COVID-19: https://www.cisa.gov/coronavirus
• DHS | Operation Stolen Promise: https://www.ice.gov/topics/operation-stolen-promise
• FDA | Beware of Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and Treatments: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/beware-fraudulent-coronavirus-tests-vaccines-and-treatments
• U.S. DOJ | Coronavirus: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom

At The Airport:  

PHL’s New Initiative Puts the Passenger First  

Airports are no longer just places for passengers to wait for flights. They are dynamic and constantly evolving to meet the everchanging expectations of travelers. Today’s airports are unique enterprises, home to hundreds of businesses and organizations and the workplace of tens of thousands of badged employees who all interface with guests. To bring all entities together to communicate effectively and to create a unified guest-centric approach, PHL established its Guest Experience (GX) Department in late 2019. 

Airlines:

American Airlines Adds New Nonstop Routes At PHL In Time For Summer  

PHL passengers making plans to travel to the Dominican Republic this spring have a new option. American Airlines will offer three nonstop flights a week between Santiago (STI) and PHL beginning April 2. American is also adding three new routes and expanding service to four destinations from PHL for summer 2021.   

Capital Development:  

PHL Installs Pedestrian Safety Enhancements on Airport Roadways  

To enhance pedestrian safety on its roadways, PHL has installed an In Road Warning Light (IRWL) system on its Arrivals Road and Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFB) on its South Commercial Road. The project also involved repaving, adding new raised crosswalks and making ADA compliant curb ramp improvements to the commercial vehicle side of the Arrivals Road; enlarging the taxi loading lane at B-C baggage claim; and installing bus shelters for rental car passenger pickup on the South Commercial Road. 

Shopping & Dining: 

PHL ACDBE Operators Discuss Surviving COVID-19 Pandemic, Giving Back To Others  

When COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions were enacted in March 2020, many of the more than 160 PHL Food & Shops concessions were forced to shutter their gates. As governances were modified to allow for a wider variety of shops and restaurants to reopen, the airport’s concessionaires began returning to all the terminals. Leading the way were Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program participants. Currently, of the 83 PHL Food & Shops merchants operating, 50 have overall ACDBE participation, whether through 100 percent operators or through joint ventures. 

People At PHL:

PHL Leaders Offer Expertise To Aviation, Transportation Industry Organizations  

The Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Senior Leadership team is made up of professionals in a variety of areas including airport operations, business, finance, law, human resources and more. In addition to their jobs at PHL, many leadership team members offer their expertise to aviation and transportation related organizations as members of boards and committees. 

Working Strategically To Generate Revenue: A Conversation With PHL Deputy Chief Revenue Officer Adam Mitchell  

The first thing you notice about PHL Deputy Chief Revenue Officer Adam Mitchell is his charismatic smile and calm professional demeanor.    

This demeanor is useful while supporting PHL Chief Revenue Officer Jim Tyrrell in overseeing the airport's revenue portfolio, which has expanded over the past 24 months and includes Property Management, Business Development, Air Service Development, Marketing and Branding and Guest Experience. Mitchell works with his colleagues on the Revenue team to administer tenant leasing programs and concessions programs such as food, beverage and retail; ground transportation; advertising; WiFi; commercial real estate; and pursuing new business development opportunities for amenities and service facilities.   

One on One with Chellie Cameron and Black Leaders in Aviation

Airport CEO Chellie Cameron joined several Black leaders in aviation to discuss a variety of topics, including their backgrounds, career experiences, reflections and advice to the next generation pursuing careers in the industry. See below to watch the four part series.  

Episode 1: Chief Administrative Officer Soledad Alfaro

Episode 2: American Airlines Vice President PHL Lakshman Amaranayaka  

Episode 3: MarketPlace PHL LLC Vice President and General Manager Mel Hannah and MarketPlace PHL LLC Operating Partner Clarence LeJeune 

Episode 4: Jacobs VP of Growth and Sales Sharon Jean-Baptiste, P.E. 

Happy Engineers Week! PHL Salutes Our Team Members  

February 21-27 is designated as Engineers Week, and the Division of Aviation is saluting our team of engineers who perform a variety of important jobs that are crucial to PHL and PNE. The Division of Aviation Engineering Department focuses on the replacement, rehabilitation and expansion of airport facilities and systems.  

Black History Month Employee Spotlight

The Division of Aviation is fortunate to have seasoned employees with an abundance of experiences and perspectives. Throughout February, PHL shared insight from several longtime staff members: 

Sheila Truehart, Deputy Director of Administrative Operations 

Helen Miles-Jackson, Human Resources Associate 

Patricia Camps, Administrative Specialist Supervisor