This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for the preparation of master plans for airports that range in size and function, from small general aviation to large commercial service facilities. The intent of this AC is to foster a flexible approach to master planning that directs attention and resources to critical issues. The scope of each master plan must be tailored to the individual airport under evaluation.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for airport sponsors in the selection and engagement of architectural, engineering, and planning consultants. It also discusses services that normally would be included in an airport grant project, types of contracts for these services, contract format and provisions, and guidelines for determining the reasonableness of consultant fees.

ACRP Report 16, second edition, is designed to help airport practitioners, owners, operators, managers, and policymakers of small airports, who may have varying degrees of experience and backgrounds, to fulfill their responsibilities in such areas as financial management, oversight of contracts and leases, safety and security, noise impacts, community relations, compliance with federal and state obligations, facility maintenance, and capital improvements. The first edition has been edited and reformatted for currency, relevance, and usability and updated with additional information and new subject areas (e.g., unmanned aircraft systems, geographic information systems, digital notices to airmen, social media, and federal and state obligations). Also, hyperlinks to many of the documents and resources mentioned in this report, such as ACRP publications, industry sources, and sample checklists, have been collected into ACRP WebResource 6: Resources for Managing Small Airports.

The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a list of best practices to improve their business processes, foster improved communication with each other, and better serve the airport sponsors.