1.4 Common Resources
This section of ACRP Research Report 16: Guidebook for Managing Small Airports, 2nd edition, identifies some of the most common resources useful to small airport managers.
FAA Website
Website for the Federal Aviation Administration.
FAA Advisory Circular 150 series
Series of FAA advisory circulars that address airport-related planning, design, and operations.
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5100-14: Architectural, Engineering, and Planning Consultant Services for Airport Grant Projects
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.
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13: Airport Design
Establishes the FAA standards and recommendations for the geometric layout and engineering design of runways, taxiways, aprons, and other facilities at civil airports. Identifies airport reference code, approach reference code, departure reference code, and taxiway design group that are used in identifying the appropriate design standards for an airport.
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5340-1: Standards for Airport Markings
Contains the FAA standards for markings used on airport runways, taxiways, and aprons.
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5340-30: Design and Installation Details for Airport Visual Aids
Provides guidance and recommendations about the installation of airport visual aids including runway and taxiway lighting, land and hold short lighting systems, rotating beacons, windcones, obstruction lights, medium intensity approach lighting systems, omnidirectional approach lighting systems, runway end identifier lights, and precision approach path indicators.
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5370-10: Standards for Specifying Construction of Airports
Identifies the requirements (specifications) for materials and methods used for the construction of airports.
FAA Order 1050.1: Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures
Contains policy and procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by the FAA and implementing regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The provisions of this order apply to action undertaken directly by the FAA and to actions undertaken by a non-federal entity where the FAA has authority to place conditions on a permit, license, or other approval such as grant funding.
FAA Order 5050.4: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions
Provides information on fulfilling NEPA requirements for airport actions under FAA’s authority. Provides the guidance on preparing categorical exclusions (CATEXs), environmental assessments (EAs), environmental impact statements (EISs), and the issuance of a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) or record of decision (ROD). It also identifies the agency, tribal coordination, and public participation requirements.
FAA Order 5100.38: Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Handbook
Referred to as the AIP Handbook, this document provides the policies and procedures for the implementation of the Airport Improvement Program based on the enabling legislation. It covers who is eligible for an AIP grant; what projects can be funded and the required project justification; project procurement requirements; allowable costs; the grant process, oversight, and payments; letters of intent; State Block Grant Program; Military Airport Program; Innovative Finance Demonstration Program; Voluntary Airport Low Emissions Program (VALE); and other programs. The appendices of this document detail the requirements for specific types of projects.
FAA Order 5190.6: FAA Airport Compliance Manual
Provides guidance on administering the various continuing commitments airport owners make to the United States as a condition for the grant of federal funds or the conveyance of federal property for airport purposes.
Florida Department of Transportation, Aviation and Spaceports Office
Develops the Florida Aviation System Plan, promotes the development and improvement of Florida’s airports and spaceports, regulates airport, and protects airport approaches. Major activities include aviation system development, aviation grant program, airport regulation, intergovernmental coordination, aviation outreach and aviation emergency operations management. To support these activities, the Florida DOT has developed numerous resources to assist their local communities in owning, operating, and managing their airports.
Georgia Department of Transportation, Aviation Program
Has the responsibility of ensuring that publicly owned airports in Georgia are safe, adequate, and well maintained. The Georgia DOT serves two primary functions in providing airport aid: airport development and aviation planning. On its website’s sample forms page, it provides numerous resources for its airports including sample minimum standards, airport manager’s agreement, FAA model zoning ordinance, fixed-base operator’s agreement, generic T-hangar bid package, sample land lease for hangars, and a vehicle ordinance for airports.
National Association of State Aviation Officials Website
Serves as a national voice for the public interest, states, and territories on aviation and the National Aviation System.
Pennsylvania Airport Manager’s Safety Handbook
Developed for the airport manager and those wanting a basic understanding of the complex issues of managing a public airport in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania DOT recognizes that to succeed in its role of providing a safe operating environment, managers and staff must have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and the expectations of the aviation community.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation
Provides numerous resources organized by topics of engineering, planning and zoning, licensing and safety and aviation grants. The resources within these topic areas are accessible from the web page.
Recreational Aviation Foundation
Dedicated to preserving existing airstrips and creating new public-use recreational airstrips throughout the United States.
Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division
Helps cities and counties to obtain federal and state funds for general aviation airports. The Aviation Division is part of the FAA State Block Grant Program. Its airport rules and standards web page includes information on and templates for airport compatibility guidelines, airport rules and regulations, minimum standards for fixed-base operators, lease agreements, and airport manager’s contract agreements.
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations: Aeronautics and Space
Provides Federal Aviation Regulations on aircraft, airmen, airports, and the National Airspace System.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation
Provides resources to assist local communities in owning, operating, maintaining, and managing their airports including forms for building an airport or landing strip, and sample agreements, ordinances and minimum standards. The Wisconsin DOT, Bureau of Aviation, manages the funding for the state’s reliever and general aviation airport through the FAA’s State Block Grant Program.