Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has won the Airports Council International (ACI-NA) Environmental Achievement Award for Best Innovative Project for the airport’s successful implementation of the three-year Airfield Rehabilitation Program. The 2019 Airports Council International (ACI-NA) Environmental Achievement Awards were held last week at the Airports@Work Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Established in 1997, the annual Airports Council International Environmental Achievement Awards recognize airports that strive to protect and preserve the environment through their programs, initiatives and projects. The Airfield Rehabilitation Program at Billy Bishop Airport modernized the airfield with sustainable infrastructure that included a complete LED lighting and signage retrofit that has reduced energy usage by 75 per cent and the construction of a Ground Run-up Enclosure (GRE) facility that has all but eliminated noise impacts in the community associated with high-power aircraft engine run-up operations. In addition to the positive environmental results achieved by the program, the project incorporated innovative measures to reduce the impact of construction on the environment, the community and on airport operations.
“North American airports recognize that continued sustainability leads to economic vitality and operational efficiency while minimizing their environmental footprint,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “By implementing sustainable business practices, the 2019 ACI-NA Environmental Achievement Award winners are industry leaders when it comes to protecting the environment while serving their passengers and communities.”
“From the Airfield Rehabilitation Program’s inception to its completion, every aspect of the program was thoughtfully planned and executed by the Billy Bishop Airport team and its partners to mitigate project-related construction impacts on airport operations, the community and the environment,” said Gene Cabral, Executive Vice President, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “As a direct result of the program’s innovative approach, the airfield project was completed with virtually no impact to the surrounding airport community and passengers. We are proud to be recognized by Airports Council International with an Environmental Achievement Award as it truly demonstrates our commitment to conducting our operations with respect for the environment and the community.”
This is the second time that Billy Bishop Airport has won an Airports Council International (ACI-NA) Environmental Achievement Award. In 2017, the airport won the top award for its Noise Management Program. In addition, Billy Bishop Airport has won a series of passenger-driven awards, including being named one of the top airports globally and in North America in both the Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Service Quality Awards and Skytrax World Airport Awards. Billy Bishop Airport has also been ranked as the fourth Best International Airport by Condé Nast Traveler and has ranked top ten on Private Fly’s list for Most Scenic Airport Approaches in the world for five consecutive years.
