Happy 60th Birthday, JFK Airport!

**Matt Molnar** · 2008-07-19, 05:58 PM

Press release:

THE PORT AUTHORITY THANKS ITS CUSTOMERS AS KENNEDY AIRPORT TURNS 60

Travelers Encouraged to Leave Their Cars Home Next Friday and Take a Free Ride on AirTrain JFK

The Port Authority will provide free AirTrain JFK rides on Friday, July 25, as a thank you to customers who have helped make John F. Kennedy International Airport the country’s premier international gateway, and one of the world’s most venerable aviation facilities.

Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, “Our customers are our greatest asset. Free rides on AirTrain JFK are our way of thanking our customers for making JFK Airport the nation’s premier gateway for the last six decades, while highlighting this great mass-transit option and reducing the number of cars on the road.”

Executive Director Chris Ward said, “Our customers are our number one priority. Kennedy Airport would not be the world-class airport it is today without them. We hope this small benefit gives them one more reason to come to Kennedy, use AirTrain JFK, and reduce traffic on our roads.”

The first passenger arrived at what was then known as New York International Airport on July 9, 1948, on a Peruvian International Airways DC-4 from Santiago, Chile. The airport was dedicated three weeks later, on July 31, 1948, in a ceremony attended by more than 200,000 people, including President Harry S. Truman.

The airport has undergone numerous transformations since then, including a name change in 1963 to honor slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Contrary to popular belief, the airport has never had any other official name, although it was commonly referred to as Idlewild.

In the 1960s, the airport became home to several new passenger terminals, including one of the icons of modern American architecture – the TWA Flight Center, designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen. Rehabilitation work is currently under way in the building, and it is expected to reopen to the public later this year, as is a new passenger terminal under construction directly behind the Saarinen terminal.

The 1970s at JFK saw the advent of supersonic flight and ever-larger jets, including the inaugural voyage of the B-747. In the 1990s, the Port Authority spearheaded what would become a $9 billion-plus, public-private redevelopment program that has delivered new terminals, parking garages, roadways, cargo facilities and AirTrain JFK, the airport’s rail system, which opened in 2003 – on the 100th anniversary of powered flight – and has since served tens of millions of airport customers. The Port Authority’s 10-year capital plan earmarks more than $6.4 billion for aviation-related improvements.

In 2000, JFK welcomed its one billionth passenger, and since then, nearly 300 million additional travelers have passed through the airport during a period of unprecedented growth in air travel.

Next month, the airport ushers in another new era: The first scheduled flight of the A-380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, is set to arrive at JFK’s Terminal 4 on August 1.

**stuart schechter** · 2008-07-19, 08:34 PM

I'm gonna take advantage of this and go spot at kennedy

**Matt Molnar** · 2008-07-19, 10:53 PM

FYI, there are only a couple of good locations for spotting on AirTrain property, and photography is banned. Not saying you shouldn't, but if you hang out in one place for awhile, or you whip out a camera, there's a good chance you'll get a talking to from PAPD. Remember everyone, the airports are not public property, so if you are told to stop doing something and/or asked to leave, you have to.

**T-Bird76** · 2008-07-20, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by GothamSpotter

FYI, there are only a couple of good locations for spotting on AirTrain property, and photography is banned. Not saying you shouldn't, but if you hang out in one place for awhile, or you whip out a camera, there's a good chance you'll get a talking to from PAPD. Remember everyone, the airports are not public property, so if you are told to stop doing something and/or asked to leave, you have to.

Matt not sure how correct that is... Photography is not banned at JFK other then T4, there is no rule on Port's books saying its banned. Plus the area airports are publicly owned facilities. The only facility at JFK that is privately owned (terminal wise) is T4, which is run by the same company that runs LHR's terminals.

Airport Ownership and Management from official FAA records
Ownership: Publicly-owned
Owner: PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK & N.J.
225 PARK AVE SOUTH 9TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10003
Phone 212-435-3640
LEASEE: PROPERTY OWNED BY CITY OF NEW YORK; BUREAU OF FERRY AND GENERAL AVIATION.
Manager: SUSAN M. BAER
BLDG 14
JAMAICA, NY 11430
Phone 718-244-3800

**PhilDernerJr** · 2008-07-20, 12:33 PM

Publicly owned does not mean it's for public use. If one person of authority decides that photography is not allowed, they can enforce it as a rule whether it's "on the books" or not, unfortunately.

**mirrodie** · 2008-07-20, 01:18 PM

If you do go, perhaps bring some extra coffee and Munchkins as a peace offering?

**T-Bird76** · 2008-07-20, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Phil D.

Publicly owned does not mean it's for public use. If one person of authority decides that photography is not allowed, they can enforce it as a rule whether it's "on the books" or not, unfortunately.

JFK's very existence is for the publics use. Photography is a protected under the first Amendment and no person of authority can legally enforce something that is not official policy. Banning photography from a public location is a violation of civil rights. Publicly funded and Governmental agencies cannot enforce something that is not legally on the books, that's a matter of procedure and protocol. You might want to take a read at the thread Fred posted regarding LIRR stations.

mta-memo-on-photography-t12725.html

As I stated...Port does not have any enforceable rule on the books about photography at any of the area airports, any statement to the contrary is wrong, not true and should not be made. They do have rules on the books about solicitation and loitering which can lead to you being asked to leave a location regardless if you have a camera, video camera or you’re simply sitting there doing nothing but you cannot be asked to leave because your taking pictures.

**Matt Molnar** · 2008-07-20, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by T-Bird76

JFK's very existence is for the publics use. Photography is a protected under the first Amendment and no person of authority can legally enforce something that is not official policy. Banning photography from a public location is a violation of civil rights. Publicly funded and Governmental agencies cannot enforce something that is not legally on the books, that's a matter of procedure and protocol.

From the PA's website:

The Port Authority reserves the right to restrict videotaping and photography at its airports.

They're not banning it outright, but this vague line pretty much gives them the option to tell you to stop. See: http://www.panynj.gov/AboutthePortAutho ... nterGuide/

Not saying it's guaranteed you'll have a problem, or that PA should have a right to do such a thing, just warning our friends here that if you are asked to stop photographing or leave PA property and you refuse, there is a possibility you could be arrested for something like trespassing or loitering.

Port is a pseudo-public/private corporation. It is completely self-funded without any state aid, but its executive leadership consists of the governors of NY and NJ and a board of commissioners who are appointed by the governors and confirmed by the state senates. There is certainly a strong argument that it is a government organization which would be required to honor all First Amendment privileges, but the most recent relevant case law is not in our favor. In 2004, a man protesting the Republican National Convention was arrested for trespassing during a demonstration on Port Authority property on the sidewalk adjacent to Ground Zero. His defense: it's public property. The decision: no it's not, and he was convicted.

Also, there are signs at PATH stations as well as all Port Authority-owned bridges and tunnels that photography is prohibited.

You might want to take a read at the thread Fred posted regarding LIRR stations.

mta-memo-on-photography-t12725.html

The LIRR and MTA are not associated with the Port Authority.

**T-Bird76** · 2008-07-20, 06:20 PM

there is a possibility you could be arrested for something like trespassing or loitering.

Hmm funny that's what I said...and that's what going to get you kicked out.

The Port Authority reserves the right to restrict videotaping and photography at its airports.

That's also not a ban....Two totally different things.

My point was and is very clear that there is no ban on photography so the statement was not correct and should not be made to the members of the site. A suggestion not to take photo yes, but not that there is a ban.

**T-Bird76** · 2008-07-20, 07:18 PM

Anyway Back on topic!

Happy 60th to probably the most Sr. Honorary member of NYCA.com!

**USAF Pilot 07** · 2008-07-20, 11:18 PM

While photography may not be illegal, be prepared to be stopped, questioned, and asked to leave - based solely on your picture taking.

Bottom line is that you have to pick and choose your battles.

If you're willing to take the risk and stand up for what you presume is the right to photograph on JFK property, be prepared to not only be arrested, but undergo a legal battle - one you may not win - ultimately costing you time and money.

On the other hand, if you swallow your pride a little and leave (if asked to do so) even if you know you're in the right, worst case is that you don't get the shots you may have wanted, but you will avoid a legal mess and having to worry about not dropping the soap in the shower.

Realize too your actions and attitude not only affects you but every other spotter during future encounters and/or incidents.