Phase 1: Pre-CSPP Activities

The graphic below identifies the tasks that are a part of Phase 1: Pre-CSPP Activities. A description of each task, checkpoint, and the focus of the safety/collaboration efforts associated with this phase can be accessed by clicking on the graphic below.

You can move to the next phase of the construction safety and phasing plan (CSPP) process using the following link – Next Phase. You can also navigate to any phase using the CSPP Process drop-down tab at the top of the page.

Tools

Below is a list of tools, templates, and training materials applicable to this phase. Each of these items can be downloaded and customized based on the airport and project. Please note that some tools may appear in multiple phases of the CSPP process as some tools are applicable to multiple phases.

CSPP External Stakeholders Checklist

Airport Internal CSPP Communications Checklist

CSPP Process Checkpoints Checklist

CSPP Template

Best Practices/Lessons Learned

As part of ACRP Project 08-03, a number of best practices/lessons learned (BP/LL) were identified for Phase 1: Pre-CSPP Activities. Please note that some BP/LL may appear in multiple phases of the CSPP process as some BP/LL are applicable to multiple phases.

The BP/LL identified for this phase are listed below:

Airport Construction Requirements Documentation: Airports with regular construction activity should consider creating airfield construction guidelines that provide detailed information regarding specific construction safety and phasing requirements the airport desires to institute for all airfield projects. This may include items such as preferred methods for airfield lighting and signage covering, security requirements, escorting procedures, haul route delineation, barricade requirements, and vehicle marking/lighting. Documents such as these can aid consulting engineers/designers and contractors in understanding the unique requirements of the airport and ensuring that these requirements are addressed in the CSPP and safety plan compliance document (SPCD). This also promotes standardization across all airport projects which can speed up review and approval processes. If developed, it is important that these requirements be kept up-to-date to ensure they remain useful and compliant with appropriate FAA Advisory Circulars. Other related airport documents (e.g., Airport Rules and Regulations) also need to be incorporated, where applicable.

Coordinate with Key Stakeholders Early: Key stakeholders should be identified in preliminary project planning or early in the design process. Once identified, key stakeholders should be consulted with to understand their needs/requirements that should be considered as part of the development of the CSPP. Key stakeholders include but are not limited to airport staff, FAA Office of Airports, local Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), local FAA Technical Operations (TechOPS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), tenants, airlines, and airport users. In general, the higher the operational impact of a project, the earlier the coordination process should be initiated. Airports with regular construction activity should consider the development of a standing construction exploratory committee that meets on a regular basis and is composed of a diverse group of stakeholders. These meetings should include a review of planned construction projects and discussions on their potential impacts. Airports should also leverage other stakeholder meetings (e.g., regular tenant meetings) to provide an overview of upcoming projects and discuss their potential impacts.

Establish Standard Construction Notification Process: Airports should establish a consistent process for notifying stakeholders about upcoming construction on the airport. This improves overall awareness of the various projects occurring at the airport and the impact of each project. The initial notification should be made early enough to allow stakeholders time to contact the airport if they have questions/comments regarding the project. The means and methods of a standard notification process may vary widely based on the size of the airport and the airport’s unique mix of stakeholders. For some airports, this may include e-mailing tenants or posting notices regarding the construction project in the fixed base operator (FBO), on access gates, or other commonly used areas. For other airports, this may include standardized construction publications or dedicated websites.

Establish Letters of Agreement to Promote Standardized Practices and Coordination Procedures: Airports commonly sign Letters of Agreement (LOAs) with their local air traffic control tower (ATCT) facilities related to the designation of movement/non-movement areas, emergency procedures, and other regular activities. If an airport has regular construction activities, the development of an LOA related to construction safety elements should be considered. Establishing an LOA will standardize practices and could reduce review times. LOAs could potentially address processes for handling haul routes that cross active taxiways and processes for shutting down navigational aids (NAVAIDs) during construction. 

Engage Air Traffic Control Towers and FAA Technical Operations Throughout the Development, Implementation, and Management of a CSPP: For airports with air traffic control tower (ATCT) facilities and/or FAA-owned navigational aids (NAVAIDs), local ATCT and FAA Technical Operations (TechOPS) personnel need to be consulted in the development of the CSPP and any revisions that are made. This should include participating in CSPP review meetings during CSPP development and ongoing construction progress meetings when construction is underway. If the airport creates a standing construction exploratory committee, local ATCT and FAA TechOPS should be part of the committee.

Establish a “Base” CSPP for Each Airport: For airports with regular construction activities, a “base” CSPP document should be created and used as a starting point to develop the CSPP for an airport project. The use of a base CSPP document as a starting point for all airport projects will ensure that the unique needs of the airport are consistently integrated into the CSPP. Additionally, this can also reduce review times as all CSPPs will have a consistent structure and appearance. This practice is especially important for larger airports with multiple consulting engineers/designers working on the airfield at the same time. The CSPP template created as part of this research effort can be modified to address specific requirements the airport wants to include in all CSPPs for projects at the airport. 

Establish a List of Stakeholders and Their Needs: The development of a list of airport-specific stakeholders and their general needs/interests related to construction on the airport can be a critical tool for identifying and determining the stakeholders that need to be engaged in the development and review of a CSPP. Airports should develop a list of stakeholders specific to their airport and keep it up to date. The base stakeholder communication checklist developed as part of this project can be used as a starting point.

Identify Need for FAA Reimbursable Agreements: The airport sponsor should work with the FAA Office of Airports as part of the initial project planning effort to determine if any FAA Reimbursable Agreements will be required as part of the project.