Dear reader,

Greetings from the new federal infrastructure bill; to say I’m excited to be here and start an overhaul of all our nation’s major ports (airports included) is an understatement.

Wha- you’re not excited? Why? This is the biggest thing to happen to our country’s travel hubs in decades, and its impact will have repercussions for decades to come, some of them for you. Okay, come with me; we’ll have a little chat and I’m sure by the end you’ll be just as over the moon as I am.

Think of us, your friends in Congress as you dine at your new airport Chili’s ToGo

Thrilled you asked. In terms of aviation specifically, we mean the plethora of tools, programs, buildings, and equipment, and how the combination of all of the above contributes to the overall national infrastructure at large.

What a lot of people don’t realize, is just how integral a well-functioning fleet of planes is to everyday commerce…and even public health- also just how many factors influence the end result of a singular well-kept plane let alone a reliable fleet ready to take off and serve the public.

The delays that result from short staffing, computer glitches, or outdated equipment aren’t simply irritating for the traveling public (and I get it, it’s really stressful when you miss a connection or have to cut a vacation short); they’re also a commentary on the stability (or lack thereof) of our national economy as a whole.

Cargo is a huge factor in flight, and that cargo can be anything from medical supplies, to mail, to vital organs for donations. The supply chain and staffing shortages we’re seeing lately, highlight the fragility of an already imperfect system, and the reason that this federal funding means a better everyday life for you and yours, and not just when you finally take that trip abroad.

I am, but not as big as the fact that the government is footing the bill here. Most airport/airline overhauls are as slow-going as they are because they’re not federally funded- that’s why most airports have gone 30-40 years without a remodel. Think about that for a second; how much has changed both in terms of accessibility and frequency of travel, not to mention security protocols?

It’s no wonder bottlenecking is a huge problem not only for incoming and outgoing planes but passengers. Airports and their runways are not built for the volume of traffic they see, and everything from check-in procedures to the fact that we’re living in a post-9/11 world means that current airports don’t match up to what’s needed in today’s travel landscape.

This funding means that for the first time in almost half a century, airports, airlines, and even ATC will have the money not just for mediocre mild improvement, but for truly cutting edge, modern overhauls with access to the latest tools, software programs, and even construction capabilities.

Instead of responding to events (like the tragedy of 9/11) that warranted responsive action in the form of enhanced security, airlines and airports can preemptively plan for an airport experience that has efficiency and flow at the forefront.

Better programs and software mean less hassle at check-in, as well as reduced glitches that we so commonly see from an overloaded system ill-equipped to service the number of passengers keen on travel.

Enhanced and well-thought-out runways mean a steadier flow of traffic and fewer nightmarish delays waiting on the alleyways and taxiways to clear. No more living in the purgatory of having landed at your destination only to wait on the tarmac for an hour. Heaven.

This also means a steadier supply of goods on store shelves (Jordan is especially thrilled about this one since her preferred brand of chocolate has forsaken her for months).

Overall, this means not only a better experience for you the next time you travel, it means a better experience for you overall. It’s not well known, but aviation has far-reaching effects when it comes to our everyday lives, and a more efficient system that operates without disruptions means a more seamless way of life in general.

The benefits don’t stop there- though they indirectly mean an even smoother process for passengers as well. For the first time in decades, airlines will have what my mother would have called, “play money”. They’ll be able to invest and (potentially) overcome staff shortages- or at least take some of the pressure off. I’m not talking about mass hiring though they could do that to a certain extent. But is just throwing more bodies at the problem truly helping the issues? What if instead of hiring more people they instead are able to finally improve software and training programs, update other tools they’ve neglected, as well as invest in new ones to help streamline their processes? Automation is the name of the game here, which will help them to improve from a base level (think, “the call is coming from inside the house”), which in the long run will save them the time, trouble, and expense of sourcing new employees. Let’s see how each department could potentially be affected:

With their respective companies now poised to be able to offer new software (or at least probably much-needed updates), there is the potential to streamline scheduling’s arduous job like never before. I’ll say it again and again- most of the issues we see in terms of cancellations and short staffing come from a sort of trickle-down effect with reserve utilization.

“Hi, this is crew scheduling calling with a trip for you via software not from 1996”

One bad, rushed decision leads to another, and before you know it you’re out of people and out of time. In this instance, innovation is your best friend. The solution isn’t necessarily putting more physical boots on the ground, but making the necessity of said boots redundant. If half of scheduling’s pain points are resolved through automation, they’re much more likely to be proactive about that pilot who’s about to go illegal, or the fact that another inbound crew is late.

Don’t mind us just checking our paychecks for errors, keeping up to date with our new cutting-edge crew portal, and just generally crushing it between legs

This also means crews will be more optimally assigned, which would probably be fun for them. Innovation is also a friend to those flying and crewing the planes, as any way you can give your people the tools they need to be proactive on their own behalves, means a mutual win of efficiency.

Update their company website and apps, let them monitor their own paychecks a week in advance, automate and streamline till the cows come home, and you might be surprised at how empowered your team becomes, and how smoothly your operation can run without relentless hiring.

Last, but certainly not least, I’m excited that this bill means that airports and airlines will have the resources to invest in greener technology. It’s surely no secret that operating an airline comes with steep environmental costs- costs that can only be solved with the implementation of newer technologies that are now, no longer out of financial reach.

Saving the planet, one departure area at a time

All in all, I, the infrastructure bill, am thrilled to be here and to make your lives from travel to traversing down a grocery aisle, better.

See you soon,

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law