1. What is an Airport Master Plan? 2. What components make up an airport master plan? 3. What is an Airport Layout Plan (ALP)? 4. What is the airport's development process? 5. What is an Environmental Assessment (EA)? 6. What is the purpose of an EA? 7. What is the structure of an EA? 8. How does the airport planning process work? 9. How is a Master Plan approved?
1. What is an Airport Master Plan?
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An Airport Master Plan is a document that represents the long-term (20-year period) development goals of an airport and is typically reviewed and updated every 5 to 10 years. The objective of a Master Plan is to provide guidelines for future airport development that will satisfy aviation demand in a financially feasible manner, while simultaneously addressing the community's aviation, environmental, and socioeconomic issues. The Airport Master Plan provides the following: graphic presentation of the future development of the airport and anticipated land uses in the vicinity of the airport; establishes a schedule for development; proposes an achievable financial plan; justifies the plan technically and procedurally; and addresses issues in a way that satisfies local, state, and federal regulations.
2. What components make up an airport master plan?
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3. What is an Airport Layout Plan (ALP)?
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An ALP is a scaled graphic presentation of existing and proposed airport facilities (e.g. runways, taxiways, apron, terminal building, navigation aids, etc.), their location on the airport, and the pertinent safety clearance and dimensional information required. The ALP drawing set outlines the airfield development proposal using computer aided drafting and design techniques. Under certain circumstances, the ALP will be updated rather than the entire Master Plan for an airport. The FAA requires an airport sponsor to keep their ALP current.
4. What is the airport's development process?
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An airport's development process begins with the Airport Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan. Following local, state, and federal approval of the ALP, the airport owner may begin development of the projects as depicted on the approved ALP. The projects eligible for state and/or federal (FAA) funding support are completed based upon the approved Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP). The ACIP details those projects which are eligible to receive federal funding support. The ACIP is updated each fiscal year. Based upon the scope of the proposed project(s), an airport may or may not need to complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It is necessary to receive approval of the appropriate environmental documentation prior to project initiation.
5. What is an Environmental Assessment (EA)?
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An EA is a public document that analyzes a proposed federal action for the possibility of significant environmental impacts. The analysis is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If a determination is made that no significant impact would occur, a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) is issued. However, if the environmental impacts are determined to be of significance, the federal agency may then need to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
6. What is the purpose of an EA?
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The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) details three purposes of an EA in its Forty Most Asked Questions as follows: 1) Briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); 2) Aid an agency's compliance with NEPA when no EIS is necessary (i.e. it identifies alternatives and mitigation); and 3) Facilitate preparation of an EIS when one is necessary.
7. What is the structure of an EA?
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8. How does the airport planning process work?
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Airport planning is developed through a hierarchy of governmental agencies. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the development and publication of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The NPIAS lists the airports considered to be in the national interest and eligible for federal funding. State aviation organizations, such as the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) identify existing airports that meet the state air transportation goals and any new airports required to meet future aviation demand. This information is then used to identify airports for inclusion in the NPIAS. At the local level, airport owners/operators develop Master Plans that typically contain a higher level of detail than system plans. Funding for eligible projects is provided by the FAA through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). AIP is funded by aviation user fees deposited in the federal aviation trust fund for the purpose of improving the nation's aviation infrastructure. The DOAV contributes to a matching share, typically comparable to the local share, for AIP eligible projects. The DOAV also offers funding support for a variety of non-AIP eligible projects and ensures that state aviation resources are allocated to airports within the state with the greatest need.
9. How is a Master Plan approved?
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An Airport Master Plan, inclusive of the ALP, is produced based upon FAA guidelines and regulations found in FAA Advisory Circulars, 150/5070-6A, "Airport Master Plans" and 150/5300-13, "Airport Design". The FAA does not approve a Master Plan, but rather 'accepts' it, meaning they do not verify the narrative information or data contained in the overall plan. The ALP drawing set however is approved as being in conformance with planning and design guidelines by signature on the Airport Layout Drawing (ALD). The DOAV is active in all facets of the planning effort and approves the ALD prior to signature by the FAA. |
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Virginia Highlands Airport
18521 Lee Highway
Abingdon, VA 24210
18521 Lee Highway
Abingdon, VA 24210