1. AIRPORT PLANNING 101- THE BASICS
Prepared for:
The 37th Annual Pennsylvania Aviation and Aerospace Conference
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
September 27, 2017
Presented by:
Tom Tomczyk
Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation
Bureau of Aviation

2. PRESENTATION ITEMS WHY PLAN? AIRPORT MASTER PLAN AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN
SPECIAL ISSUES
ROLE OF BOA PLANNERS

3. WHY PLAN? MEET AVIATION NEEDS
RIGHT-SIZE FACILITIES FOR REGULAR USERS
AVOID RELOCATION AND RE-CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES
IDENTIFY CONSTRAINTS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

4. WHY PLAN? FUNDING
Keeping the Airport Plans current is a legal requirement for airports that receive Federal assistance.
The federally mandated ALP, as well as the forecast and critical aircraft data are the essential items to be eligible for funding.
All federally obligated airports have an ALP. Non-federally obligated airports which primarily are privately-owned public use airport are encouraged to have an airport sketch if they are contemplating major aviation development such as runway widening and an extension.

5. WHY PLAN? JUSTIFICATION
PURPOSE AND NEED
ELIGIBILITY
Development needs to be consistent with forecasts for the planning period which typically is 20-years. For example, an increase of 25% in based aircraft should not result in a 100% increase in hangars and ramp. Purpose and need for facilities are also looked at especially runway extension which are only justified for planning if forecasts indicate that there will be over 500 annual operations by the design aircraft group within the planning period.

6. WHY PLAN? FEASIBILITY CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL
Desired improvements requiring impacting runway operations, substantial relocation of existing facilities and\or earthwork may not be feasible to construct.
Environmental constraints such threatened and endangered species, archeological sites and wetlands influence improvements. DEP regulations regarding storm water management effects any increase in impervious surfaces. Therefore airports need to plan for the minimum amount of pavement and buildings needed during the planning period.

7. WHY PLAN? FEASIBILITY AIRSPACE FUNDING & SUPPORT
Instrument procedures may be needed to meet aviation demand. This has an affect on the size of approach surfaces, marking and visual navaids. Feasibility of procedures such as obstacle clearance and meteorological conditions are looked at.
Large projects desired by sponsor that would require millions in funding need to be financially feasible with a BCA ratio of 1 or greater. Support includes general acceptance by the surrounding community of a project, not opposition. Support also extends to demonstrating additional local share of funding to accomplish projects that cannot be FAA and state funded.

8. WHAT IS AN AIRPORT MASTER PLAN?
A Master Plan which is a comprehensive study that includes several elements that:
justifies
identifies
describes
the short, medium, and long term development plans necessary to meet current and future airport needs.
An airport study follows the key elements of planning. The level of documentation depends on the complexity of the airport and or its issues.

9. TYPICAL MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS
INVENTORY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS
AVIATION DEMAND FORECASTS
REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS
AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Airport Master Plans include at least an inventory of existing facilities and the environment which is the current condition of the airport, aviation demand forecasts which is future activity, facility requirements which are current and future needs, capital improvement plan and airport layout plan drawing set which document future plans to meet airport needs. A more comprehensive Master Plan with several elements, including an alternatives section showing options of how the airport can be developed and or a detailed financial plan forecasting future revenues and expenses along with sources of funding beyond aviation development grants as well as implementation feasibility and economic development opportunities to foster sustainability. These type of documents are for more complex airports, have several issues and/or is desiring a major deviation from prior plans such as a major runway extension or new runway.

10. EXAMPLE ALP
Here is an example ALP.

11. ALP REQUIRED ELEMENTS & FEATURES
STANDARD PLAN SIZE, TABLES & FEATURES
PLAN & PROFILE VIEWS
AIRPORT AND RUNWAY DATA
METEORLOGICAL DATA
UNIQUE CONDITION NOTES
ALPs need to be at a standard size and to scale. The ALP is mostly in plan view but inner approach and departure surfaces are also in profile view.
The FAA requires specific data tables for the airport, runways, buildings and other conditions. The ALP also contains wind data for different weather conditions and for all-weather. Unique conditions such as date of mapping, clear threshold siting and obstacle free zones are noted on the ALP. Also, don’t forget the north arrow and other specific details.

12. STANDARDS AND MODIFICATIONS
DESIGN STANDARDS
MODIFICATIONS
Design standards such as runway width and separations are checked. Any modifications to standards need to be identified and approved prior to funding. For this airport a modified runway taxiway separation based on the design airplane vs. the entire design group was approved prior to a grant to rehabilitate and widen this runway. The current and planned runway length needed to accommodate only the smaller end of the design group.

13. SPECIAL ISSUES COMPLIANCE SUPPORT NEXTGEN
Planning also may have to consider special issues. Although not directly an element of planning, compliance issues may likely affect an airport’s eligibility to obtain funding to implement its plan.
In support of the FAA’s NEXTGEN initiative, Bureau planners are responsible for verifying Instrument Procedure Development requirements at Block Grant and Non-Federally obligated Pennsylvania airports.
Planning should verify items such as clear threshold siting surfaces, runway length/width, marking, lighting and signage. Planners then provide this information to FAA Flight Procedures.
NEXTGEN is the modernization of National Airspace System that will rely on satellite based navigation (GPS) and surveillance, reducing ground based navigation and radar equipment.

14. SPECIAL ISSUES AIRPORT ZONING BRIEFINGS
The Planning outside the Master Plan should promote airport hazard zoning by local municipalities through the airports. The BOA retains a program to fund these efforts provided the zoning is enacted.
Planning issues may involve legislative briefings regarding all facets of aviation. Some of the information is offbeat and specific to the aviation industry and the response can involve the Airport, their Consultant and the BOA. For example, the response to legislator letter above from the BOA explained why it has been more difficult for funeral homes to transport deceased loved ones to long distances without going to a large airport. The primary reason is that most flights at small hub and non-hub airports are performed by regional jets which do not have the cargo capacity to transport caskets. Fedex and UPS which have aircraft capacity, are not allowed by regulation to perform this service.

15. SPECIAL ISSUES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

16. SPECIAL ISSUES RUNWAY EXTENSIONS Funding Available Competitive NPR
“The climb to construction”
Competitive NPR
Positive Benefit –Cost Ratio
Environmental Clearance and Local Support
Funding Justification –Documented Regular Use
Feasibility to Meet Standards

17. SPECIAL ISSUES RUNWAY EXTENSIONS “….fuhgeddaboudit”
“failure to maintain minimum climb through the process”
“….fuhgeddaboudit”

18. ROLE OF THE BOA PLANNERS
OVERSEE AIRPORT PLANNING:
REVIEW PLANNING STUDIES
APPROVE FORECASTS AND AIRPORT LAYOUT PLANS & ENSURE THAT FUNDED AIRPORT PROJECTS ARE JUSTIFIED AND FEASIBLE
ADDRESS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE ISSUES
Primary Functions of Airport Planners includes overall review of planning studies pertaining to aviation in the Commonwealth.
We also address special and unique issues such as airport zoning.

19. ROLE OF THE BOA PLANNERS
….. AND FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AIRPORT STAKEHOLDERS AND THE BUREAU
We also help airport stakeholders understand and, through effective planning, conform with aviation rules, regulations and policies of the Commonwealth. This includes aviation safety and program requirements to obtain aviation development grants.

20. OVERSEE AIRPORT PLANNING
NATIONAL PLAN “NPIAS”
STATEWIDE PLAN
REGIONAL & INDIVIDUAL AIRPORT PLANS
The BOA planners through review and guidance integrate national airport planning through statewide to regional and individual airport plans. This includes airports of all sizes of which have a specific role in these systems.

21. REVIEWING ALP’S REQUIRED ELEMENTS & FEATURES JUSTIFICATION
STANDARDS & MODIFICATIONS
FEASIBILITY
PRESENTATION
APPROVAL
Here are the items we review.

22. REFERENCE MATERIALS FAA Advisory Circulars FAA Orders
Federal Aviation Regulations
Transportation Security Regulations
Security Related Publications
FAA Reports
General Airport Publications
FAA Web Sites
Statewide Airport System Plan
FAA Environmental Desk Reference
Example of number of volumes
FAA Advisory Circulars – over 800 volumes
FAA Orders - over 7,500 volumes
The Planning Section is very familiar with these reference materials and know where to find the information