“You Don’t Have to Take My Word For It”

While the numbers included in an economic impact study represent one approach to communicating the value of an airport, numbers alone cannot tell a complete and compelling story. To address this gap, airports may benefit from working with their tenants and users to understand, describe, and subsequently communicate the value of an airport and its contribution to the surrounding economy. Outreach to an airport’s core constituency can help build a narrative around the economic role of the airport, while simultaneously opening a channel for two-way communications, thus enabling users to offer their perspective on airport strengths and challenges. If you wish to engage with the users of your airport services, one approach is to conduct “on-the-record” interviews with known airport users and/or major regional employers. The sample discussion guide under tools can be used to investigate specific facets of airport and aviation reliance, as a way of building a narrative around economic impacts. Other examples of outreach and engagement techniques you might consider include the use of working groups, user meetings, open houses, and the compilation of individual business testimonials. Below are a number of on-the-ground examples of how these techniques have been adopted at airports and airport-related organizations across the country. These examples provide a starting point and possible template for developing approaches that fit your airport and community’s specific needs.
  • PWK, a GA airport located just north of Chicago, engages in a broad range of outreach and communication efforts in partnership with its users. The PACE council provides a regular forum for tenants, members of the business community, and area residents to discuss and assess issues related to the role of the airport in the community. The airport also holds regularly scheduled user meetings for corporate, FBO, and other general aviation users.
  • The Arizona aviation community holds an annual Aviation Day at the state capital. With attendees from cities and their aviation departments, airports, businesses, and universities, the event helps establish connections between government officials and airport users while providing a platform to communicate the economic value of aviation to the state.
  • In 2011, the CABA held an “Aviation Saves” open house to help communicate the ways in which “Aviation Saves …Lives …Jobs …Communities …Businesses …Economies.” With attendance from airport-reliant businesses, the public sector, and community residents, the event focused on communicating the value of business and general aviation to Denver and the state of Colorado.
  • The NBAA publishes a booklet of testimonials from business leaders expressing the importance of business aviation. This model could also be followed to present quotes and facts from businesses in your airport community.
Additional discussions of community dialogues and engagement strategies can be found in the Media Kit.

Resources

  • ACRP Report 132 The Role of U.S. Airports in the National Economy

    Appendix 4, Section 2.3, Interviews with Air Reliant Industries presents the findings of interviews with air reliant industries.

  • ACRP Report 44 A Guidebook for the Preservation of Public-Use Airports

    Chapter 4, Practical Management of 16 Primary Airport Closure Risk Factors outlines ways in which airport advocates can be engaged in a variety of airport leadership opportunities to ensure the continued successful operation of an airport and support its role within the broader community.

    Table 4-1, Airport Advocate Discussion describes 13 categories of people and organizations that may serve as advocates for an airport.

    Table 4-3, Organizing Airport Advocacy presents a seven-step approach to organizing an airport advocacy group. While targeted at public-use airports that may be at risk for closure, the process addresses a generally relevant progression of building from a core group of airport and community leaders, to a broader ongoing outreach effort.

  • The New England Council - Logan International Airport’s Evolving Role in the New England Economy

    Uses material drawn from interviews with major employers to supplement quantitative analysis of how Logan International Airport supports the continued specialization and development of the New England regional economy.

Tools

  • ACRP Report 132 The Role of U.S. Airports in the National Economy

    The guidance found in Section 7.1, Non-Quantifiable Impacts was used to develop qualitative material for ACRP Report 132, The Role of U.S. Airports in the National Economy. These types of questions can be used in your own region to elicit a more detailed picture of how air transport supports area businesses.