CONCORD AREA HUMANISTS: Private Jets and Greenhouse Emissions by Jim Poage, Ph.D.

The proposed expansion of private jet hanger space at Hanscom Field has generated controversy. This talk will discuss: greenhouse emissions for private vs. commercial jet travel, economic equity issues, how impacts of aviation projects are assessed, role of the Environment Impact Review, potential of sustainable aviation fuel (biofuel), and arguments used to justify and oppose such projects.

Jim had a long career with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Cambridge, MA. He has a B.S. and M.S. from Stanford University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

During undergraduate work at Stanford University in electrical engineering, Jim became interested in systems engineering - how parts work together.

In studying for a Ph.D. in applied mathematics at Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, he studied optimization of systems - getting the best performance of systems. The systems courses account for interactions among aspects of a problem. His Ph.D. thesis was in pattern recognition - for example computers recognizing written characters or speech - involved applied probability and statistics. His pattern recognition thesis experience gave him a firm understanding of uncertainties and randomness that are part of almost any problem. His work with optimization helps obtain the best end-value in any project.

Jim has expanded his system view of problems to include integrating all the success factors involving technology, employees, customers, suppliers, organizational structure and culture, processes, and external influences.

Recently, Jim has written a book, FLAIR, with his daughter Jennifer Poage.

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