Supporting Your Airport

An NBAA Airports Handbook Presentation

Airports Are Essential
Only 550 U.S. airports are served by airlines, and this total is
shrinking
General aviation provides rapid, on-demand transportation by:
Utilizing a network of more than 5,000 smaller, public-use
U.S. general aviation airports
Bringing travelers closer to their destination than large hub airports
used by the big airlines
Did You Know?
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Airports Are Valuable to Everyone
Your airport is also a significant economic engine, creating jobs
and additional tax revenue
GA airports also serve as bases for:
Emergency medical services
Agricultural operations, such as crop dusting
Federal, state and local law enforcement
Colleges and universities, such as Ohio State University and the
University of North Carolina



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Every Airport Is Part of a Larger Network
Most of the nations public-use airports have shorter runways
and smaller facilities designed for GA aircraft operations, than
commercial service airports do
In some rural areas of the U.S., GA airports are the only air
transportation link to the rest of the country
In major metropolitan areas, some GA airports are designated as
being reliever airports because they offer GA operators an
alternative to operating at the congested hub airports
Closing a public-use GA airport weakens the entire national
network of airports
Did You Know?
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Economic Impact
An airports financial value includes, but is not limited to, the
economic activity that occurs because of the airfield
The number of jobs attributed to the airport is greater than simply
those positions based on the airport, and includes:
Area hotels, restaurants and catering companies
Rental car companies, gas stations and parking facilities

Airports Are Economic Engines
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Economic Impact
Business travel has the greatest impact on the local economy
Thousands of business aircraft travelers arriving at GA airports daily
spend money and conduct business in communities near the airport
Companies locate business aviation facilities near GA airports for
rapid access to customers and markets, generating jobs and tax
revenue for local communities
Business aviation often delivers point-to-point service where no
airline service exists

Airports Are Economic Engines

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Economic Impact
Why do an economic impact study for your airport?
Airports are often threatened by local politics
Study results can help confirm that your GA airport is a valuable
community asset
Having an economic study done ahead of time allows you to react
quickly when your airport is questioned

Understanding an airports economic impact allows supporters to
make a strong case in support of their airport, showing:
The airport attracts outside dollars
The airport contributes economic benefits such as jobs, services
and tax revenues

Calculating the Value of Your Airport

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Economic Impact
Northern New Jersey reliever airport across the river from New
York City with over 200,000 takeoffs and landings annually
1,700 on-airport jobs and 15,000 more in the neighborhood
$1.8 billion in annual regional sales due to the airport
One third of the 400,000 local hotel rooms are sold to airport
visitors

Case Study: Teterboro, NJ
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Airport Access
GA airports provide access, enabling business aviation operators
to fly anywhere, anytime, saving companies time and money
Airport constraints (both existing and proposed) are a significant
concern for operators in locations like Santa Monica, Van Nuys
and Burbank, CA; they include:
Night curfews; limits on total operations; banning aircraft by size;
noise generation limits; local construction of buildings and towers


Did You Know?
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Airport Access
The top three U.S. airports ranked by air carrier operations are
Atlanta Hartsfield International, Chicago OHare International and
Dallas-Fort Worth International
The top three U.S. airports ranked by itinerant GA operations are
Van Nuys, CA, Daytona Beach International, FL, and Kendall-
Tamiami Executive, FL
Imagine if all this GA traffic suddenly began landing at the
overburdened hubs, like Los Angeles International or Miami
International?


Useful Statistics
Source: FAA Air Traffic Activity Data System
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Airport Access
While subjective, human perception about aircraft noise has a
powerful effect on how people perceive their local airport
Many anti-airport groups begin with a specific focus on noise

Noise Perception Is Everything
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Airport Access
The aviation community has responded to noise concerns with:
New, quieter aircraft engines
Flight procedures/airspace changes that steer aircraft away from
homes

Local government zoning of adjacent land can also change
airport noise perceptions for the better
Noise Perception Is Everything
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Work with airport and ATC officials to support:
Encouraging pilots to use NBAA Noise Abatement Procedures,
published online at www.nbaa.org/quietflying
Improving runway approach aids
Developing engine run-up areas for performing engine maintenance,
and encouraging their use at times other than night/weekend hours
Installing noise-reducing blast fences

Remember, most people near an airport appreciate an airport
operator who tries to help them solve a noise problem

See additional tips in the NBAA Airports Handbook

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Airport Access
How to Make Your Airport a Quieter Place
Safety and Security
Airport safety is very important to the community
Airport neighbors want to be sure the airport is doing everything
possible to run a safe operation on the ground and in the air
The business aircraft safety record is equal to that of the
commercial airlines

Did You Know?
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Safety and Security
A collision potential exists any time an aircraft is moving
Runway incursions increase the potential for collisions between
aircraft on the ground
Aircraft operators can minimize the chances of being involved in
a runway incursion by:
Having pilots fully prepare for departures (maximize pilot situational
awareness)
Having flightcrews use standard operating procedures and standard
communications phraseology during surface operations
Using sterile cockpit procedures to the maximum extent possible
while taxiing
Avoid Runway Incursions
See additional tips in the NBAA Airports Handbook
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Safety and Security
FBOs and airport tenants together can mitigate the potential for a
ground damage accident by:
Using two wing walkers
Using adequate lighting at night on ramp areas and on aircraft and
vehicles themselves
Towing aircraft at safe speeds
Chocking aircraft during repairs and fueling

Avoid Ground Damage
See additional tips in the NBAA Airports Handbook
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Safety and Security
Require positive access for all gates and doors
Check aircraft interiors for unauthorized personnel prior to
departure
Positively identify all luggage before loading aboard an aircraft
Require accurate passenger manifests

Operators Role in Airport Security
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See also NBAA Security Best Practices at www.nbaa.org/security
Advocacy
Business aviation is a good story
Proactive and on-going airport support is important
If your airport doesnt already have a support group,
why not start one?
Last-minute stands on issues are traditionally ineffective
Spread the Good News
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Advocacy
Identify the issues that can rally the group
Test those ideas with airport users
Invite all airport users to participate
Create an agenda and meet on the airport
Identify everyones motivation for attending
Record minutes and set the next meeting date

Support Group Organizing Tips
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Advocacy
Media involvement has both up and down sides
News to you may not be news to a reporter
Invite reporters on an airport tour
Its okay to say I dont know, but make every effort to follow up
with an answer later
There is no such thing as off the record
Ask NBAA for help

Working With the Media
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Advocacy
Plan aviation career days
Offer student scholarships
Offer flight department and FBO internships

Young People Are the Industrys Future
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Your GA Airport: A Quick Review
GA airports:
Facilitate national and international business travel
Provide a much larger travel network than the airlines
Deliver significant economic impact through jobs and tax revenues
Need support from community members like you in order to truly
thrive
Airport user groups can make significant inroads to protecting
your airport
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A Few Questions for You
What surprised you most about what youve heard today?
Would you be inclined to join an airport user group?
What do you think is the biggest challenge faced by your local
airport?

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For More Information
Refer to the NBAA Airports Handbook for
further reading
Contact the NBAA regional representative
assigned to the area that includes your
airport


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About NBAA
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National
Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA) is the leading
organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft
to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and
successful. Contact NBAA at (800) FYI-NBAA or info@nbaa.org.
Not an NBAA Member? Join today by visiting:
www.nbaa.org/join/ah


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