Sean Van Dongen from the FAA Airport Technology Research & Development (ATR) branch attended the SMART Airports and Regions Conference in Denver, Colorado on July 11-12, 2024. The focus of the conference was incorporating new and emerging technologies so that airports run more efficiently and are easier to navigate for the end user. Key focus areas included decarbonization efforts and maintaining safety as passenger numbers increase.

The FAA’s goal for decarbonization is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by 2050. Some of the ways proposed to achieve this are electrification of all ground equipment, increasing solar power generation, and using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Another topic of interest was the use of hydrogen-powered ground vehicles, particularly in cold climates where the batteries in electric vehicles do not always function well. Other ideas included reusing deicing fluid or placing used deicing fluid in an anaerobic digester with other organic waste to create methane to produce heat and electricity, and airports becoming Smart Engines for cities by producing renewable energy to give back to the grid.

One idea for making airports more efficient for its employees and airlines was developed by an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) company. They designed a baggage handling AV that helps streamline the baggage handling process and keep employees out of harm’s way. Other discussions focused on improving passenger experience included streamlining the screening process and airport movement for regular travelers, while still making it intuitive for less frequent travelers.

Sean Van Dongen | Sean.D.Van.Dongen@faa.gov