Live Chat at SAN

The Airport Authority is currently testing a new feature on its Web site, “Live Chat”. For four hours every morning, Colm in our Customer Service Department answers questions from the public. The chat function is designed to be very user-friendly and gives you personalized information on San Diego International Airport. All you have to do is click on the “Live Chat” box .

So, fellow Ambassablogger Ed and I decided that this was a perfect opportunity to try out a video posting for the Ambassablog. In the clip below, you'll see the two of us asking Colm some “questions," plus some fun surprises. Special thanks to Travis, the summer intern in Airport Planning from Oklahoma State University, who was instrumental in putting the video clip together.

Coming soon

Airport Authority employees take note:

Adieu to 30 Days of Blue

The 30 Days of Blue special birthday celebration for San Diego International Airport (SDIA) comes to an end today. The airport turned 80 years old last month and kicked off 30 Days of Blue with a free community festival, the SAn Skyfaire, at Liberty Station on August 16. Over 1,200 people came out to enjoy the day. Here's a nice collage of the event, assembled by our summer intern, Jennifer (now back at college).

A focus of the celebration has been an issue of paramount importance in our region and the world: sustainability. The Ambassablog got involved with special video post by Ambassablogger Sjohnna on what the airport is doing to protect the endangered California Least Tern at SDIA, as well as a post called More about EONS by Ambassablogger Ed.

And for each of the last 30 days, the airport has posted on its Web site a useful sustainability tip you can put in practice in your everyday life, as well as an important sustainability measure under way at the airport.

30 Days of Blue may have lasted just a month, but with a renewed and continual commitment to sustainability by by all of us, perhaps its important message can last indefinitely.

More about EONS (part 2 of 2)

This a follow-up to my post, All about EONS, from July 18.

Do you get excited over toilet bowl cleaner? You might be surprised, but a lot of my Airport Authority colleagues did recently! In an effort to get out the word on the Airport Authority’s Sustainability Policy (which I talked about in the previous post), the Airport Authority recently hosted an employee open house focused on showing employees how what we do in our jobs and at home can be truly sustainable. In the picture above, I'm hanging loose with fellow Airport Authority employee Isabel at the open house to promote sustainable care for the ocean.

Even the giveaways at the open house were sustainable. Employees were given reusable, sturdy canvass tote bags featuring the airport's logo and other earth-conscious gifts, such as Clorox's new Green Works™ glass and toilet bowl cleaner. Green Works™ is the first line of natural cleaners developed by a major consumer products company. You wouldn’t believe what a hit the latter was; yours truly was low on both cleaners, so they really came in handy! Check out fellow Ambassablogger Ryan awarding a bottle of Green Works™ to Airport Authority employee Michelle.

Part of being sustainable is having the right information to let you to make choices and act in a manner that respects the earth. It’s nice to know how much the Airport Authority is committing itself to really promoting sustainability — and a clean toilet bowl to boot!

Welcome home

When I returned from vacation this summer, I was pleased that my flight landed at Gate 2 in Terminal 1. When you travel through Gates 1 and 2 here at San Diego International Airport, you’re greeted by a lovely piece of art that really reflects the spirit of San Diego. It’s quite a lovely welcome home!

It's called Day at the Beach and is by artist Tracy Sabin. He’s a local artist from Carlsbad. The beautiful tile mosaic was installed in the airport in 2005 and depicts a beach scene much like you might find on any San Diego beach.

Here are two photos of the mosaic: above is one of the entire piece of art I took right after I landed in San Diego, and at the top is a closeup. I was tired when I arrived, but that’s the power of art – noticing the artwork warmed my heart to be home in good ol’ San Diego ... and it inspired me to take a photo to remember it.

I like how the individual mosaic tiles make it seem like the sea is sparkling. Beach, anyone?

Look for more information about our Airport Art Program in future posts!