Chapter 11: Airport Planning

Overview

• Airport master plans are developed based on forecasts.

• Relationship established between capacity and demand.

• Airport requirements determined by these relationships.

Forecasting

• Airport Master plans are developed based on forecasts.

• From forecasts relationships between capacity and demand can be established and airport requirements determined

  • Who are the users now and who will be the users in the future?

Civil Airport Users

• Air Carriers

  • Major, national, large, and medium regional carriers

• Commuters

  • Serve smaller cities (less than 12,500)

• General Aviation

  • All except carriers and commuters

• Military

Operational Activity

• Enplaning Passengers: Refers to the number of passengers boarding flights.

• Enplaning Air Cargo: Volume of cargo being shipped.

Aircraft Operations

• Local Operations: Locally based, aircraft operating within a 20-mile radius.

• Itinerant Operations: Not locally based, Aircraft operating more than 20 miles from their base.

Facilities Requirements

• Done in consultation with airlines and GA

• Aircraft operations = airfield improvements

• Passenger enplanements = terminal improvements

• Cargo tonnage = facility development

• Airport access traffic = access roads and rapid transit facilities

Aircraft Operational Requirements

• Forecasts of activity indicate kinds of aircraft anticipated

Capacity Analysis

• Airfield Capacity: Maximum rate of aircraft movements on the runway/taxiway system

• Airspace Capacity: Proximity of airports to one another, relationship of runway alignments and nature of operations (IFR VFR)

• Terminal Capacity: the ability of the terminal area to accept passengers, cargo and aircraft the airfield generates

  • Includes gate positions, terminals, cargo buildings, auto parking, and maintenance facilities.

• Ground access: The ease with which passengers and cargo can reach the airport, including road networks, public transportation options, and accessibility for taxis and shuttles.

Design Alternatives

• Planners must consider various alternatives:

  • New site development

  • Airfield and airspace design and operation

  • Terminal and ground access systems design and operation

Site Selection Factors

• Runway Orientation: Based on wind analysis and surrounding obstructions.

• Expansion Opportunities: Future growth potential and utility availability.

• Meteorological Conditions: Weather effects on airport operations.

• Noise Impact: Consideration of community noise objections.

• Wind analysis

• Surrounding obstructions

• Availability for expansion

• Availability of utilities

• Cost compared to alternate sites

Airport Reference Code (ARC)

• Considers Aircraft Design Group (wingspan) and Aircraft Approach Category (approach speed)

Surrounding Obstructions

• Existing or proposed

• Natural or man-made

• Must pass muster of FAR Part 77 (Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace)

• FAA requires an airport owner to have adequate property interest in Clear Zones to protect from future encroachments

Availability of Utilities

• Distance to electric power, telephone, gas, water, sewer

• Cost of bringing utilities to site

Meteorological Conditions

• Consider

  • Prevalence of ground fog

  • Bad wind currents

  • Industrial smoke/smog

  • Study of wind direction year-round

Terminal Area Plans

• Focus on balancing convenience, efficiency, investment, and aesthetics.

• Importance of minimizing walking distances and providing necessary services.

Economy of Construction

• Consider:

  • Soil classification

  • Drainage

  • Rolling terrain

Convenience to Population

• Must be convenient to population or people will not use

• Consider - time, distance and cost to transport

• Should be located no more than 30 minutes from majority of potential users

Noise

• Most predominant objection raised by opponents to new airports

• Efforts being sought by government and industry to reduce noise

• Pilots modify power settings and fly noise

• Abatement routes

Terminal Area Plans

• Achieve an acceptable balance between passenger convenience, operating efficiency, facility investment and aesthetics

• Should provide orderly and convenient progress from auto to airplane

• One of the most important factors affecting travelers is walking distance

• Provide all necessary services within optimum expenditure of funds

Terminal Area Factors (Passengers)

• Adequate curb space for public private transportation

• Minimize walking distance

  • Parking to ticket counter

  • Ticket counter to passenger holding area

• Passenger transport over long distances

• Baggage handling

Terminal Area Factors (Passenger Vehicles)

• Traffic Separation: Keep public parking separate from commercial traffic.

• Parking Arrangements: Includes short-term, long-term, and rental car areas.

Terminal Area Factors (Airport Operations)

• Traffic Segregation: Separate operations for arriving and departing passengers.

• Utility Infrastructure: Adequate facilities for operations and maintenance.

• Concession exposure and availability

• Security – prevent unauthorized access

• Maintenance shops and operations

Terminal Area Factors (Aircraft)

• Maneuverability: Ensuring efficient flow between apron and taxiways.

• Noise Control: Measures to mitigate environmental impact.

• Efficient flow between aprons and taxiways

• Easy maneuvering at gate areas

• Aircraft fueling

• Heliport areas

• GA areas

Terminal Area Factors (Safety)

• Enplaning and deplaning at aircraft

• Elevators, escalators, stairs, and ramps

• Road crossing as to protection of pedestrians

• Provision for disabled persons

Terminal Area Factors

• Most important general concept

  • Ability to handle expected demand

  • Compatibility with aircraft fleet

  • Flexibility for growth and response to technology

  • Compatibility with ground access systems

  • Compatibility with Master Plan

  • Minimal directional confusion

  • Cost considerations

  • Sociopolitical and environmental considerations

General Considerations in Terminal Design

• Most important specific design and development

  • Processing cost per passenger

  • Walking distance for various passengers

  • Passenger processing delays

  • Occupancy levels for lounges and corridors

  • Aircraft maneuvering delays and costs

  • Construction costs

  • Operating and maintenance costs

  • Estimated revenues from concessionaires

Financial Planning

• Looks at revenues and expenditures

• Considers funding sources and financing methods for proposed development

• Analysis of revenues vs. expenditures, funding sources, and projected costs.

• Importance of federal grants, user charges, and concession revenues.

Economic Evaluation

• Essential to test economic feasibility of master plan against airport operations, individual facilities and services

  • Revenue from: Concessions, landing fees, parking fees

• Assessment of economic feasibility against operational expectations.

• Understanding projected revenues and potential need for subsidies.

Break Even Point

• Annual amount needed to cover cost of capital investment, administration, operation and maintenance

  • Revenue from: User charge, lease rentals, concession revenues

Potential Airport Revenue

• Can sufficient revenues be expected that might be supplemented by federal, state and local subsidies

  • Landing areas

  • Aircraft apron and parking areas

  • Terminal buildings

  • Public parking areas

  • Cargo buildings

  • Aviation fuel

  • Hangars

  • Commercial facilities

Land Use Planning

• Airfield runways, taxiways and approach zones provide the basis for development of the Land-use Plan.

• Integrating airport development with regional planning efforts.

• Managing land for aviation and potential industrial uses based on space availability.

• For airports with limited acreage, most land use will be aviation oriented

• Some airports lease to industrial users – this may include rail access, company parking lots, low level warehousing facilities etc.

• These may located under runway approaches but free of Clear Zones

• Local government must maximize compatibility of airport and adjacent facilities

• The more political bodies involved, the more complicated the process becomes

• Zoning:

  • Height and hazard zoning

  • Land use zoning

Environmental Planning

• Key issues: Noise, air and water quality.

• Required assessments such as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).

• Considerations for community impact and wildlife preservation.

• Issues of concern to airport management:

  • Noise

  • Air quality

  • Water quality

    —For each project an Environmental Impact Review is performed

    —Categorical Exclusion (CE)

    —Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

    Environment Impact Statement (EIS)

Conclusion

• Airports must navigate a complex interplay of design, capacity, community impact, and financial viability to succeed.