Metro official gets key post with national airports council

Not since James Davey back in 1975 has Detroit Metropolitan Airport had a seat at the management table of Airports Council International-North America - until now, that is.

Michael Conway, director of external relations at Metro, has been named chairman of the marketing and communications committee of airports of ACI-NA. Davey managed Metro from 1960 to 1975, and was chairman of ACI in 1974.

Conway, 51, of Wyandotte, has hit the ground running too, having recently attended a conference in Phoenix, and working on several sessions. He will be assisting in policy development, public awareness campaigns and program planning.

"ACI- North America is, by far, the most important organization for this airport and all airports," said Lester Robinson, Wayne County's director of airports. "It's very helpful to have one of our executives in an ACI leadership position."

The ACI-NA is the leading industry group advocating for airports in the U.S. and Canada.

"I am deeply honored to be supported in this manner by my peers and the management of airports across North America," Conway said. "I am committed to working hard to promote the cause of all airports, large and small, and to provide my thoughts on the complex issues facing airports today. I look forward as well to providing resources and meaningful conferences for those professionals who handle such areas as public information, community relations, marketing and customer service at airports."

A native of Taylor (the first city east of Metro), Conway now lives several miles farther southeast in the riverside community of Wyandotte with wife, Catherine.

Conway, who holds two degrees in education, spent several years teaching. He joined Wayne County government in 1981, working in downtown Detroit in the public information office.

I was always interested in the airport," Conway said, noting that even as a kid, he would watch the men working outside. He said he may have envisioned himself as a glove-wearing blue-collar type, but said he never imagined he'd be in management, handling public relations, media, environmental issues and customer service as he does now.

By 1986, Conway's stated interest in the airport landed him in the community relations office at Metro, which is operated under the auspices of the county's Department of Airports.

Current Executive Edward McNamara kept him on the staff when he took office in 1987, and Conway said he "got himself educated," about the airport and airport management in general.

As a member of the ACI-NA for about a dozen years, Conway has been an active participant in the organization, helping develop information and programs to benefit member airports.

"Michael Conway has been a leader within our organization and this committee for nearly a dozen years," said Linda Greene, vice-president public affairs for ACI-NA. "He has brought us valuable insights from a leading hub airport which has faced a multitude of challenges. Just in the last two years, Michael and his staff have led discussions and made presentations on customer service initiatives, and crisis media relations to airports across North America, which have been very well received. "

Conway said one of the main focuses of his group in the upcoming year would be to help educate the public and especially politicians about the need for more airport capacity. He said air traffic is expected to explode by nearly 40% to more than 1 billion passengers a year over the next 10 to 12 years. A boom like that would require that 10 airports the size of Dallas/Fort Worth be built.

That's not going to happen, Conway said. What will have to happen across the country is more expansion projects like the ones that have been ongoing on at Metro, such as the second crosswind runway added a few years ago and the fourth parallel runway now under construction - not to mention the new $1.2 billion, mile-long midfield terminal set to open by the end of this year.

He said the reason Detroit will be prepared is because of plans dating back 12 to 15 years. He said other airports and host communities have to deal with this issue now, and he will focus on that as a priority.

ACI-NA members comprise 98% of all domestic and nearly all international airports, Conway said, and the organization provides support and information to all of them. He said smaller airports are especially important to keep informed, because they don't often have the staff or resources to get all the information they need.

"I respect those guys at the big airports, but I really respect the people at small airports because they usually have to do so many different jobs," Conway said.

Conway said that although his career didn't start in the aviation industry, he's firmly rooted in the airport business. He said he'll continue at his post and working with advocacy groups such as the ACI-NA, and said he just can't picture himself doing anything else.

Michael Conway is well-known throughout metro Detroit as the airport's spokesman. Photo by Dave Chapman

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