My gathering was small this year, but my heart was full of gratitude for my husband and nephew, who sat at the table with me, and for you, my Division of Aviation family. Thank you for all you do.

I can’t believe we are at the end of 2021. When I look back at everything that has happened in the Division of Aviation, our industry, city and country over the past year, it’s hard to believe all of it took place in just the last 12 months.

We entered 2021 facing much uncertainty, as COVID-19 continued to limit travel. Case surges and travel restrictions have kept our passenger volume about 30 percent below that of 2019, but vaccinations are helping world travel resume. In November, we welcomed our first international guests in almost two years. As American Airlines’ designated transatlantic hub, we are hopeful that many of the European routes suspended since March 2020 will restart in 2022.

While we welcomed many travelers back to the airport throughout the year, we also said goodbye to many dear, longtime Division of Aviation employees through the Early Retirement Program (ERP). The departure of these staff members allowed the airport to avoid layoffs and furloughs. In the months since the ERP ended, Human Resources and management have identified mission critical jobs and begun the process of filling these positions.  We have invited our former colleagues to attend our virtual Employee Recognition ceremony on December 7. I hope you will join us as we recognize current staff for their many years of service to the City of Philadelphia and Division of Aviation, our 2021 P.R.I.D.E. Award winners and our retirees. Be sure to check your emails and PHL University for registration details.

We are still a few years away from a full COVID-19 recovery, but will begin 2022 with an optimistic outlook.  Our cargo expansion plan is moving forward and, while we don’t have an exact dollar amount yet, we know the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide tens of millions of dollars to begin much-needed capital projects across the airport. 

I am looking forward to discussing what the new year and beyond holds for the Division of Aviation community at the first of our quarterly “Conversations with the Chiefs” meetings, which will be held in January.  Meetings will be held in person and virtually. Registration details will be forthcoming in HR communications.     

Wishing you and your families a safe and healthy holiday season. 

Chellie

HR Updates

Congratulations to the 2021 WELLness Walking Challenge winner, Chaffing the Dream! 

Helen "Drill Sgt Savage" Jackson (Captain)

Rebecca "Ya Can't Keep Up" Rodriguez

Jeremiah "J Walker" Hall

Jonathan "100 Miles and Runnin" Todd

Etta "High Stepper" Kennedy

The team walked a combined total of 2,137,236 steps! Way to go!

2nd Place:

JC Steppers: Trudy Tyler, Milton Robinson, Lakeisha Hawes-Cousin, Ashley Francis, Sharon Lewis 1,737,622 steps

3rd Place:

Between a Walk and a Hard Place: Shannon Clark,  Alec Gever, Mae Mitchell, Susan Bailey, Keith Brune 1,271,592 steps

4th Place:

The Ran Somewheres: Wayne Lawrence, Ian Hayes, Peter Young, Damien Oravez 755,461 steps

5th Place:

PAU P.A.L.S.: Anita Parisi, Yolanda Parks, Cynthia Peoples, Cassandra Williams 544,827 steps

6th Place:

Wild About Walking: Stacey Moragne, Linda Ivey, Ashlee Franklin, Delicsha Wilds 259,731 steps

Save the Date: Employee Recognition & PRIDE Award Ceremony 

This year’s employee recognition event is scheduled for December 7 from 1-2:30 p.m. via Zoom:

To join the meeting:

•  Click on this link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89020737394?pwd=Qm1aTGxnREN6Vm9pUkZrQmJYMHB4QT09
• Enter Meeting ID 890 2073 7394
• Enter Passcode 891150

Or dial by your location 1 646 558 8656 US (New York). To find your local number, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kndby5vi0. 

Thurs-yay – Water Cooler Conversations are back!

Join us on December 9th Thurs-yay Water Cooler Conversations Holiday Editions! Look for more details in upcoming employee updates and on the break room monitors.

Rework Update: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

All City employees and embedded contractors are mandated to be vaccinated by January 14, 2022.  For more information on the policy, click here

Vaccination Availability

Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways for us to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Vaccination locations are widely available throughout Philadelphia. To find a location most convenient to you, please visit the Department of Public Health’s website.

If an employee has lost their COVID-19 vaccination card, they may request a copy of their immunization record by [email protected], or by calling (215) 685-5488.

If you have not already done so, please upload your vaccination card to OnePhilly as soon as possible. Instructions are available HERE.

Employees Combined Campaign Ends December 31

The City of Philadelphia Employees’ Combined Campaign workplace giving program ends December 31. The campaign gives employees and retirees the opportunity to contribute to pre-approved charities using the convenience of payroll deduction, credit card, and personal check. Simply put, through this campaign, employees can positively affect their community.

This annual charitable giving program is purely voluntary and a personal decision; however, one of the City’s core values is to give back to local communities. The campaign is a manifestation of those values because it provides employees and retirees with an opportunity to make a collective impact. To learn more, visit https://cityofphiladelphiacombinedcampaign.americascharities.stratuslive.com/. 

To donate:

1. Access the online fillable pledge form on the giving portal
2. Submit cash, money order or personal check to Zoraida Antonetty (‘Z’), in the Executive Offices: Terminal D, 3rd Fl. Money orders and/or checks must be made payable to “Combined Campaign”.

Fall Virtual Wellness Series 

The Airport, through its EAP provider, Penn Behavioral Heath, offers this series in order to help employees express and deal with the day to day experiences of living through these extraordinarily stressful times. Taking care of ourselves is necessary so we are equipped to help our families and loved ones.

Topic: Stress Management 

When: Dec 2, 2021 1:00PM

Topic: Stress Mindfulness

When: Dec 16, 2021 1:00PM

To Join by Computer: Copy and paste the following address into the web browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88320640524?pwd=WCs0RGpkOXIwUjJFQmFLTnQ5TnV5dz09

To Join by Phone: Dial (929)205-6099

TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE UPDATES DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHONE, EMAIL [email protected] WITH YOUR EMAIL AND/OR CELL PHONE NUMBER.

Employee Milestones

Staff Promotions

Congratulations to the following Division of Aviation employees who were promoted in the month of November: 

Anissa Pagan — Custodial Crew Chief

Bashirah Aziz — Custodial Crew Chief

Daniel Woertz — Industrial Electrician Group Leader

Eric Fields — Custodial Crew Chief

Sahreefah Smith — Custodial Crew Chief 

Thwana Warner — Custodial Crew Chief

Yaritza Alicea, Service Representative, Human Resources

New Hires

Welcome to Jessica Noon, who was hired as Airport Sustainability Manager in November. 

Damian Oravez Honored as a Cybersecurity Leader of the Year

Congratulations to Chief Information Security Officer Damian Oravez, who was named Cybersecurity Leader of the Year in StateScoop’s third annual LocalSmart Awards. The awards program recognizes “visionaries who transform local government to make a difference in citizens' lives” and “work to make a lasting impact in the government IT community.”

StateScoop readers submitted more than 250 nominations in five categories, of which 100 people and projects across the community were chosen as finalists. Nominees needed to be current employees and recent projects in city, county or other municipal governments.

StateScoop reports on news and events impacting technology decisions in state and local government.

Free Flu Vaccinations for Airport Staff 

The Philadelphia Quarantine Station will hold a flu vaccine clinic at PHL on December 1st (in Customs and Border Protection), 8th and 15th (locations to be announced) from 12- 3 p.m. All airport employees between the ages of 19-65 are eligible to receive the vaccine.   

 For more information, contact the Philadelphia Quarantine Station at 215-365-6401 or [email protected].  

Information Security 

Happy holidays, PHL! As we approach the end of the year, scammers are ramping up their efforts to capitalize on the season. Below are four of the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) most common holiday scams for 2021 and how to avoid them. 

1. Social Media Gift Exchanges: This scam usually involves sending gifts or money to other participants with the promise of receiving gifts in return from other participants. Victims unwittingly share personal information with the scammers and sending gifts to unknown individuals that are likely in on the scam. It is also considered an illegal pyramid scheme. It is best to always avoid these types of exchanges. 
2. Temporary Holiday Jobs: Scammers take advantage of the surge in seasonal jobs from retailers and shipping and delivery services by posting fake job listings. These scams intend to steal money and personal information from job seekers. Be on the lookout for opportunities that seem too good to be true and vet job openings with the hiring company before sharing your information with anyone. 
3. Fake Charities: Roughly 40 percent of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of the year, making this time of year a prime target for fake charity scams. Look out for fraudulent charities and scammers claiming to be individuals in need, avoid impromptu donations to unfamiliar organizations and verify charities at give.org. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website using a credit card. 
4. Puppy Scams: Pet scams typically involve paying for a pet upfront and never receiving it. With puppy sales high this time of year, and pet scams in general on the rise, be wary of unknown puppy sellers. Use reputable adoption agencies or breeders as much as possible and always request to see the pet in person before making the purchase. 

To read the full list of common holiday scams and how to protect yourself from them, visit the BBB’s website here. 

Gifts & Gratuities

The holiday season is the perfect time to revisit the Home Rule Charter and Ethics Code rules for giving and receiving gifts for City of Philadelphia employees. See pages 3 and 4 of the Ethics Manual for details.

Celebrate the Season with PHL Food & Shops

PHL Food & Shops is celebrating the holiday season with specials for PHL passengers and employees. Now through December 24, guests and staff can have their purchases giftwrapped for free at the giftwrap booth in the B/C Connector, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily (subject to change based on retail hours). PHL Food & Shops is also offering a free gift with $100 in same day purchases through December 24. Shoppers can choose from one of four Philadelphia ornaments, designed by a local artist.  

 The annual Employee Appreciation Week will be held December 13-17.  Staff can take advantage of extended discounts and $5 off an OrderAtPHL order. Be on the lookout for a list of participating concessionaires, which will be published soon.  

The Latest from PHL’s Online Newsroom  

At the Airport:   

2021 Business Opportunity Forum Offers Opportunity to Diverse Regional Firms  

In partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s Minority Enterprise Development Week (MEDWeek), PHL hosted its 9th Annual Business Opportunity Forum, where small and diverse businesses in the Philadelphia region gathered to understand the dynamics of doing business at the airport, hear about anticipated opportunities, and network with leadership and other contractors. PHL hosted approximately 300 attendees, with the aim of connecting them to resources and airport opportunities that can help their firms grow. 

PUP-Dates to PHL’s Wagging Tails Brigade  

Our brigade of friendly, certified therapy dogs, known as the Wagging Tails Brigade, can often be found roaming the terminals with their handlers, donning blue “Pet Me” vests. Operating in partnership with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), these furry friends visit the terminals for two hours each week, sharing snuggles and providing a calming environment for our passengers. 

Holiday Travel 2021: What PHL Guests Need to Know  

Making a list and checking it twice pertains to more than gift giving. Passengers planning to fly from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) this holiday season need to start preparing—and checking items off—their travel lists now to stay ahead of the holiday hustle and bustle. Planning to arrive at least three hours before boarding time and making arrangements to avoid parking onsite should be at the top of PHL passengers' lists.    

Capital Development:  

PHL Honored with March of Dimes 2021 Philadelphia Aviation Project Award  

City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation Deputy Director of Aviation, Capital Development Api Appulingam accepted the 2021 Philadelphia Aviation Project Award at the March of Dimes Annual Transportation, Building and Construction awards luncheon on November 3. The award recognized PHL's East Airfield Rehabilitation project for promoting economic development within the City of Philadelphia. Beyond the economic impact for the region, the East Airfield project was an important upgrade to airfield infrastructure at PHL and will keep airside operations running safely and efficiently.  

PHL to Use Portion of Economy Parking Lot to Support Phase One of Cargo Expansion Program  

PHL will advance its extensive cargo development program using a portion of its Economy Parking Lot as operational space for business partners requiring airside access. In June, PHL released its Cargo Expansion Strategy, which includes plans to expand the airport’s air cargo facility footprint by 136 acres and almost triple its cargo building square footage from 600,000 to 1.4 million.   

PHL Bipolar Ionization Installation Update  

Earlier this year, PHL began the process of installing an air cleaning technology known as Bipolar Ionization (BI) in response to the airport’s new cleaning protocol implemented to remedy passenger and employee concerns about COVID-19 pandemic. This technology is being installed to PHL’s more than 450 air handling units to reduce or prevent the spread of diseases and airborne pathogens throughout the airport complex. To date, the project is more than 50 percent complete.  

PHL Recognized for Airport Carbon Accreditation Program Participation  

PHL has reached Level 1 in its journey to Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA). The announcement was made by Airports Council International (ACI) at the 2021 ACI North America Conference and Exhibition in Reno, NV.  PHL is one of only 20 accredited airports at Level 1 "Mapping" in North America. 

Airlines:  

Frontier Kicks Off PHL-NAS Service with Island-Themed Celebration  

Frontier Airlines passengers taking the November 2 inaugural flight from PHL to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, Bahamas, were treated to an island celebration and Bahamas swag prior to boarding. Joining in the festivities at PHL were Frontier Senior Director Michael Pewther and Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Executive Director Dr. Kenneth Romer. 

American Airlines Launches Nonstop Service Between PHL and Kingston, Jamaica  

Passengers bound for Kingston, Jamaica, on American Airlines’ inaugural flight from PHL were given a taste of the island prior to takeoff on November 4. The celebration included giveaways and Blue Mountain Coffee courtesy of the Jamaican Travel Bureau and music played by American’s in-house employee DJ. Joining American crew members for the ribbon cutting were Lakshman Amaranayaka, American's Vice President of PHL Hub Operations; Philip Rose, Regional Director for the Jamaica Tourist Board; Alsion Roach Wilson, Consul General of Jamaica, New York; and Jim Tyrrell, PHL Chief Revenue Officer. 

Operations & Security:

How Does the PHL HVAC Team Maintain the Airport Temperature As Seasons Change? 

Have you ever looked at the large, gray rectangular boxes on PHL's roof and wondered what they are and what they do? These units are called air handlers and they have the essential function of circulating air evenly throughout the airport. There are more than 700 air handlers airport-wide that provide PHL with warm or cold air, depending on the time of year.