ACRP 01-01 Guidebook for Managing Small Airports
The Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) at the University of Minnesota, along with its consultant partners AirportAdmin, LLC., Mead & Hunt, Inc., and Professional Engineering Services, Ltd., has been awarded a contract by the Transportation Research Board to develop a guidebook for managing small airports.
Project Background
Managers of small airports are responsible for a wide range of activities that includes financial management, oversight of contracts and leases, safety and security, noise control, community relations, compliance with federal grant conditions, and facility maintenance and capital improvements.
In addition, small airports are subject to extensive regulation related to:
- aviation (e.g., U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, and state aviation departments)
- taxes (e.g., fuel, sales, and employment)
- employment (e.g., discipline, discrimination, wages, work hours, performance, safety, and labor relations)
- revenue accountability
- capital funding
- law enforcement (e.g., badging, searches, stops, arrests, and security)
- contracting (e.g., disadvantaged business enterprises, leases, construction, and preferences)
- real estate (e.g., condemnation and easements)
- environmental protection
- and others
Management resources at small airports are usually quite limited because many airports operate within small budgets. Airport managers have a wide variety of educational backgrounds and experience. Although some management guidance is available for their use, much of it is dated, focused on specific issues, intended for larger airports, or designed as a textbook rather than a practitioner’s handbook.
This research will provide operators and managers of small airports with current, comprehensive advice on resources and techniques that can be applied to meet their responsibilities.
Project Objective
This project will develop a practical, easy-to-use guidebook on managing small airports for airport owners, operators, managers, and policymakers. To achieve this, it will be necessary to (1) identify fundamental management principles, (2) identify best practices for effective use and management of resources and facilities, and (3) present information in an attractive, convenient format. A major element of this research will be to identify best practices to achieve safe and efficient operation while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and federal obligations.