Jim has 50 years of experience in aviation. He was a former FAA senior manager and is a well-known expert in FAA-policy regarding Airport Improvement and Passenger Facility Charge programs (AIP/PFC) eligibility. He spent many years developing the policies and authoring or co-authoring the legislation behind the programs in use today. He started his career with FAA as a financial management assistant and head of concession contracting at Washington National Airport (DCA), now known as Reagan Washington National Airport.
After a supervisory contracting officer stint in Los Angeles, he returned to FAA Headquarters where he worked on FAA standards for aircraft firefighting (ARFF) and snow removal equipment (SRE). He then guided AIP/PFC policy for the FAA from 1990 until 2005 and in 2004 and 2005 directed the official updates of the AIP Handbook, considered to be the “industry bible” for airport funding support. Until then, the last official AIP Handbook had been done in 1989.
In FAA Headquarters, Jim was recognized as the final authority and expert on AIP/PFC project eligibility. As an accepted ‘problem solver,’ he brings a unique ability to streamline efforts, address eligibility and champion projects. What sets him apart from others is that he is the only person in a consulting role in the industry that was responsible for these policy development activities. As a result of an organizational reorganization, he became the first National Advisor for Airport Financial Policy and Legislation.
There are others in the industry who came from FAA who worked in regions and Airport District Offices, but Jim is the person they consulted about the policies.
The FAA also contracted with him to be lead author and consultant for the latest edition of the AIP Handbook, issued in 2014.
Jim has been a senior airport consultant for the past 19 years, helping scores of airports navigate FAA requirements to secure necessary funding for airport construction. He has kept current in FAA requirements and has assisted the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Airport Consultant Council (ACC) with legislative measures as a volunteer. He is currently an associate member of AAAE.