Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
  • Airport News
    • Publisher’s Message
    • Fast Five
    • On Duty
    • Air Cargo
    • Airline News
    • Airport Community
    • Airport Employment News
    • Airport Safety & Security
    • Company Spotlight
    • Ground Services
    • Intermodal
    • New York Aviation History
    • Non-Rev Traveler
  • Airport & Aviation Events
  • Airport Employment
  • Latest Issue
  • Login

Subscribe for Updates

Get the latest local airport and aviation news delivered right into your inbox each week!

News Updates
United States Mint Begins Shipping 2023 American Women Quarters Program Coins Honoring Bessie Coleman

U.S. Mint Begins Shipping 2023 Bessie Coleman Quarters

January 27, 2023
The 11.34 megawatt microgrid will transform the New Terminal One into the first fully resilient airport transit hub in the New York region that can function off-grid during power disruptions.

The New Terminal One Creates the Largest Rooftop Airport Terminal Solar Array in the U.S.

January 27, 2023
Airbus A350

Air France-KLM Orders Four A350F’s to Modernize the Fleet of Martinair

January 27, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
  • Airport News
    • Publisher’s Message
    • Fast Five
    • On Duty
    • Air Cargo
    • Airline News
    • Airport Community
    • Airport Employment News
    • Airport Safety & Security
    • Company Spotlight
    • Ground Services
    • Intermodal
    • New York Aviation History
    • Non-Rev Traveler
  • Airport & Aviation Events
  • Airport Employment
  • Latest Issue
  • Login
Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
Home»Fast Five»Jim Gillespie
Fast Five

Jim Gillespie

Alstom, Head of Automated People Mover (APM) - Airports
Metropolitan Airport NewsBy Metropolitan Airport NewsSeptember 12, 2022No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Jim Gillespie, Alstom

James Gillespie is Alstom’s Head of Automated People Mover (APM) – Airports. He started his career at Delta Airlines, where he spent a decade in several Engineering roles. He then held several ascending leadership roles with Zodiac Aerospace in his 14-year tenure with them before finally moving to Bombardier Transportation in 2015, acquired by Alstom in 2021. Over the span of his 30+ year career, he has developed expertise in operations leadership and supply chain management and has a reputation for his singular focus on customer service.

1 Since the AirTrain at JFK International Airport began operations in 2003, what function has Alstom had in its 24-hour maintenance/operation and passenger assistance?

Jim Gillespie: Alstom and Bombardier Transportation (acquired by Alstom last year) have been the sole operations and maintenance service provider since the AirTrain opened in 2003. We provide the system operations control, maintain all the train equipment, the station elevators/escalators, and staff the customer service team who serves as liaisons with AirTrain passengers. 

2 What is the approximate capacity of people per day, per direction on the AirTrain at JFK? Are there stats for users between paying fares out of the LIRR Jamaica Station and users within the airport and its employees? 

Jim Gillespie: Prior to the COVID-19 health emergency, AirTrain ridership rose to approximately 65,000 passengers per day. The statistics only refer to overall ridership, not necessarily those at the Jamaica and Howard Beach Fare Gates. 

3 Which air train system in the world is the most sophisticated and designed best for travelers?

Jim Gillespie: Over 30 of Alstom’s Innovia automated people movers (APM) systems have been delivered around the world over the past 50 years and are in operation at 26 of the world’s busiest airports. The technology Alstom has created has supported increased airport capacity and is an overwhelmingly reliable system.

Our turnkey operations include overseeing the design, build, operation maintenance and upgrades of each system as needed. The driverless Innovia APM is a transportation system specially designed to serve airports and dense urban areas. It offers quick, comfortable, and convenient service for commuters within cities, to and from airports, or between airport terminals. This service does not interfere with surrounding road or runway traffic. 

4 What improvements in technology have developed since the original AirTrain was introduced at JFK that may help develop AirTrain service within the new JFK after the airport’s re-development? 

Jim Gillespie: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has aggressively updated multiple features at AirTrain, including the closed-circuit TV system within airport terminals and recently onboard the AirTrain cars themselves. Passenger information display monitors provide customers with real-time arrival information and wayfinding guidance through the airports. 

5 What are some of the other Automated People Mover (APM) systems in place in the New York metropolitan region, and are there any plans in place to implement an APM at other airports in the U.S.?

Jim Gillespie: Alstom also partners with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) at the Newark Airport and is looking forward to the possible installation of a new people mover system at the LaGuardia airport. We are exploring other opportunities in the US, including within the New York Metro region. Currently under construction, the people mover being built at the LAX airport in Los Angeles, California, will revolutionize the passenger experience by connecting all terminals to the new long-term parking and rental car facilities.

Alstom offers a complete range of equipment and services, from high-speed trains, metros, trams, and e-buses to integrated systems, customized services, infrastructure, signaling, and digital mobility solutions. www.alstom.com

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport News
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Metropolitan Airport News
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Produced by a team of aviation professionals, and enthusiasts our mission is to inform and update the more than 68,000 employees who work on the metropolitan New York airport properties, as well as the many others that provide goods and services in the surrounding communities.

RELATED NEWS & UPDATES

The 11.34 megawatt microgrid will transform the New Terminal One into the first fully resilient airport transit hub in the New York region that can function off-grid during power disruptions.

The New Terminal One Creates the Largest Rooftop Airport Terminal Solar Array in the U.S.

January 27, 2023
JFK Airport digital backwall Delta

Transformation Continues at Delta’s New York City Hubs

January 18, 2023
Program Manager for the Council for Airport Opportunity’s Office of Second Chance Employment (OSCE)

Denisha Rapier

January 10, 2023
Lysa (Scully) Leiponis, Principal and President, LL Aviation Advisors, LLC

Lysa (Scully) Leiponis

December 11, 2022
Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS)

Sweden’s SAS Set to Start Flying to NYC From Denmark

November 25, 2022
Ralph F. Tragale, President, RT Connects Consulting

Ralph F. Tragale

November 14, 2022
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

AIRPORT & AVIATION EVENTS
JFK Airport Food Service Hiring Event
January 31, 2023
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport-(JFK)
Jamaica, New York
LAAMCO Monthly Meeting
February 01, 2023
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
JFK Rotary Club Monthly Dinner Meeting
February 08, 2023
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Vetro Restaurant & Lounge
Howard Beach, New York
  • >> More Airport & Aviation Events

Subscribe for Weekly Email Updates

Get the latest local airport news, events, and jobs delivered right into your inbox each week.

Metropolitan Airport News provides timely news, information and updates for both Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) employees and businesses that provide services at, and around the major New York airports (JFK, LGA, EWR).

John F. Kennedy International Airport
PO Box 300877
Jamaica, NY 11430 USA
Phone: (347) 396-0904
Email Us

Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Flickr
JANUARY 2023 ISSUE
Metropolitan Airport News - January 2023
LATEST COMMENTS
  • Airportlife2017 on The New Terminal One at JFK
  • Carol Simon Levin on Remembering Cornelia Fort, On a Date Which Will Live in Infamy
  • Julia Lauria-Blum on Remembering Cornelia Fort, On a Date Which Will Live in Infamy
  • About Us
  • Advertising Options
  • Charitable Giving Program
  • Back Issue Archive
  • Contact Us
© 2023 Airport Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.