Leland Burch of Greer is the chair of the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Commissioners Committee.
Burch is serving his 31st year as commissioner with the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District.
The ACI-NA committee is made up of representatives from among more than 400 airport board members, commissioners and trustees who serve on aviation boards, commissions, councils and authorities. The committee covers topics ranging from insurance and risk management to international aviation issues. ACI-NA is based in Washington, D.C.
“The commissioner presides over the meetings and basically sets the agenda,” Burch told GreerToday.com. “It’s interesting and fascinating to me. There is a lot going on in the aviation industry."
Burch is among six commissioners overseeing the $125 million Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport terminal improvement project (Wingspan). The project is scheduled to be completed in October with a grand opening in November.
GSP just reported a 7.5 percent increase in passenger traffic for January, compared to the same month in 2015, and is anticipating showing a 15 percent increase in February.
One of Burch’s first official duties was to award David Jolly (R-Fla.) the recipient of the ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award on March 16 at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C.
“Representative Jolly has been a leader in advocating for modern transportation infrastructure in the ongoing debate on FAA reauthorization,” said Burch. “We are very pleased to recognize Congressman Jolly’s leadership with the 2016 ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award, and we look forward to continuing to work with him to pass a long-term, bi-partisan reauthorization that modernizes the entire aviation industry, including airport infrastructure financing.”
Jolly serves on the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Subcommittee. His leadership promotes the airports as economic engines for communities.