The IABSC’s annual awards program recognizes individuals or companies for exemplary service in the baggage handling industry in areas of Innovation, and Lifetime Achievement.
Innovation Award
The Innovation Award is to recognize key accomplishments in bringing innovation or change to the Baggage Handling System industry. It will be awarded for technical invention of componentry or systems that created broad-spread adoption throughout the baggage handling industry. Such items could include RFID, DCV/ICS technology, pusher/diverter sort systems , tilt tray, Upper-level SCADA, network communications, etc., or setting specification standards. The award honors individuals, teams, companies and/or organizations who have created or implemented key changes, programs, or practices with technical innovation to improve BHS performance and ROI.
2022 Innovation award
Joel Staehs
The late Joel Staehs was awarded the Industry Innovation Award for his patent on the BAE Pusher and SuperPusher design that served as the standard baggage diverter for nearly two decades and revolutionized automatic baggage sorting in airports around the world. Over 3,000 BAE pushers were incorporated into baggage handling sort systems in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the UK until replaced by the Siemens Diverter in the early 2000s. Staehs served as the Director of Mechanical Engineering at BAE until the company ceased operation in 2002, and over the years mentored hundreds of engineers in baggage and material handling systems. He closed out his career at CAGE, Inc., where he served as Senior Mechanical Engineer.
Linear systems and many of the design principals developed in those early days went on to become the industry standard and the foundation of TSA’s (PGDS) Planning Guidelines and Design Standards. All future system architecture and refinements have been based on this foundation.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is to recognize the champions, pioneers, leaders, ambassadors and influencers in the BHS industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to those who consistently demonstrate leadership, mentorship of individuals, successful service in a variety of roles, significant contribution to industry standards and professional associations, etc., over a significant period of time. This individual is one who has exhibited leadership through vision and has had a significant impact on industry direction, trends and contributions to trade organizations such as the IABSC, AAAE, ACI, ACC, PGDS IWG and the TSA.
Award Recipients will have displayed or provided impact to the baggage industry with a core goal to always be improving and demonstrating that the status quo is never good enough. The ability to see where process and product are needed; have the vision to refine a new concept or process, and follow it through development and implementation for the benefit of the entire industry, are key elements in consideration for this award.
It is a recognition of those who have contributed time, talent and commitment, who are industry icons known for ethics, loyalty and talent. This person will have imparted their impact on customers and colleagues and raised the level of awareness of the vital role of BHS throughout the commercial aviation industry. This award may be awarded posthumously.
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award
Michael Benedetti
The IABSC Lifetime Achievement award went to Michael Benedetti for more than 30 years of innovation in automation, controls and software in automated baggage sorting and security. He got his start in automated baggage handling at BAE where he distinguished himself as a top-notch problem solver and innovator on major baggage systems at nearly every major airport in the US and the United Kingdom. He transferred that knowledge to the consulting side of the business when he served as Director of Engineering and Chief Technical Officer at CAGE Inc. One of his accomplishments while at CAGE was the total revamp of the company’s BHS specification in 2004. He later carried his decades of expertise to the TSA where he applied his real-world experience to the Planning Guidelines and Design Specifications (PGDS), and was instrumental in the development and management of the TSA System Integration Facility (TSIF) test loop in Washington D.C. He also authored TSA’s Interface Requirement Document (IRD) which continues to be TSA’s standard for EDS integration, and the CBIS Control Change Request (CCR) and Request for Variance (RFV) processes to ensure changes and variances were properly implemented and documented in security screening systems in the U.S., and the Data Acquisition Controller (DAC-I) which independently collects baggage data to determine system rate, sizes, and inefficiencies. All of these tools and processes have been integral to the roll-out and operation of the integrated baggage security screening systems utilized at all major airports in the U.S.
Award Archives
2021 INNOVATION AWARD
Our Members voted for a collaborative effort for the research and development of linear checked baggage inspection systems.
Between 2001 and 2003, Southwest Airlines led by Michael P. Golden, and VTC led by Victor H. Thompson studied the physical, operational, and system parameters and challenges related to checked baggage inspection systems. This led to the development of linear baggage screening systems.
Linear systems and many of the design principals developed in those early days went on to become the industry standard and the foundation of TSA’s (PGDS) Planning Guidelines and Design Standards. All future system architecture and refinements have been based on this foundation.
2021 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Danny Bearden
This award goes to Danny Bearden who for more than 31 years, help shape the direction of the baggage handling industry. This gentleman was one of the initial sponsors and contributors of the IABSC. He was a trusted friend and mentor of many industry champions and was passionate about the personal and professional growth of his colleagues.
Among his many accomplishments, he was instrumental in developing and introducing the AMP Miser belting product to the industry which has saved the airlines and airports untold dollars in energy saving costs.
Bruce McMickle
Bruce McMickle has been a force in the baggage handling industry for almost 40 years, having worked for Stearns, Matflex, Siemens and Forbo-Siegling.
He was one of the founding fathers of the IABSC and has help guide this organization as Chair and Board Member for nearly 14 years.
As a founding member of the IABSC, Bruce took on the role of President with an eye toward growing the organization into a thriving network of professionals and was an accomplished advocate for baggage handling systems within the aviation industry. His networking, leadership and perseverance expanded membership of the organization by tenfold and provided the foundation the current IABSC is built on today.
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