Introduction to Airports

Question 1

Civil airports are

almost always locally operated entities, but they must

Answer 1

operate under federal
regulations, advisory documents, best practices, Grant Assurances to the federal
government, FAA Orders, and Security Directives

Question 2

Airport Executives are

responsible for a variety of issues over which they have little control, such as

Answer 2

local zoning and non-compatible land development around the airport, aircraft
noise, and changes in commercial airline operations, mergers and route structures,
and corporate air travel habits and trends

Question 3

Airports represent a variety of perspectives to a community

Answer 3

economic
development, employment, and a source of environmental concern (e.g., noise, air
pollution)

Question 4

The steady growth of airports
and the vision that a national
airspace system was vital to
the economic growth of the
nation created

Answer 4

the need for
government grant funding
and, eventually, the
development of the
professional Airport
Executive.

Question 5

Key stakeholders in
government positions
sometimes use airports for
political advantage. This
often prevents

Answer 5

adequate
citizen participation in
decision-making related to
airport operations or policies.

Question 6

Airports have traditionally served as

Answer 6

evacuation centers

during national disasters.

Question 7

Airports are highly complex organizations to manage. An airport is the agent of

Answer 7

public service, a business, a community resource, and an essential stakeholder to
commerce.

Question 8

a successful Airport Executive must be both a

Answer 8

“jack-of-alltrades”

and a highly competent administrator.

Question 9

An Airport Executive routinely

manages tasks, such as

Answer 9

negotiating a lease with a new tenant,
resolving an air carrier dispute, filling out the paperwork for a federal grant
application, giving an interview to the local press, attending a homeowners
meeting to discuss airport noise, overseeing construction of a taxiway or runway
extension, and responding with turnout gear and a fire truck to an airport
emergency.

Question 10

Airports have various
characteristics that prevent a one-size-fits-all approach to management. Airports
have different

Answer 10

geography, purposes (e.g., general aviation [GA], commercial,
cargo, military), airfield layouts, and limitations due to surrounding development,
topography and political infrastructures

Question 11

In most cases, government regulations

provide

Answer 11

standards for each airport operator to meet. However, how the airport
meets those standards is up to the airport operator along with federal government
approval.

Question 12

In many ways, the local airport is a

Answer 12

mirror of the community it serves.

Question 13

Airport Executives and policy-makers must understand and balance two
dichotomous philosophies:

Answer 13

(1) the airport is a public entity and must be managed

as such, and (2) the airport is a business enterprise and must be managed as such.

Question 14

the simplest understanding is

that an airport is a

Answer 14

public entity that is run like a business.

Question 15

Local government agencies operate most of the nation’s airports, which

Answer 15

which generally
do not understand the unique nature of the airport and attempt to put the airport
into a category or frame-of-reference that they can better understand.

Question 16

airports may be viewed similarly to

Answer 16

public utilities, such as power, water
and sewage treatment, or like the U.S. Post Office, a government-run organization
that must operate as a business entity.

Question 17

much of the capital

development money for many airports comes from

Answer 17

the federal government, and
local government entities may not understand the implications of receiving such
funding.

Question 18

Public airports are generally owned by

Answer 18

governmental entities and do not exist for
the purpose of creating a profit, though self-sufficiency may be their financial
goal.

Question 19

The distinction for airports as public entities could become less clear,
however, if

Answer 19

airport privatization becomes more acceptable as a means of operation
and potential ownership.

Question 20

Public airports represent a major investment by a community and the government
in the air transportation system. Their purpose often attracts

Answer 20

private and

commercial investment

Question 21

The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) encourages airports to be self-sufficient, with all operational expenses
covered by airport revenues; however, many small or GA airports

Answer 21

remain partially

funded by local taxpayers through the general fund

Question 22

Some airports may engage in
profit making ventures, such as providing fuel. However, monies generated on
airport property by using airport assets, such as fire trucks, snow plows, and
personnel are required

Answer 22

to be used for the operation of the airport

Question 23

Airports are often characterized as being

Answer 23

monopolies because of their location and

purpose

Question 24

Merriam-Webster defines a monopoly as

Answer 24

having exclusive control of the
supply of a product or service in a particular market, or an exclusive privilege to
engage in a particular business or provide a particular service granted by some
authority.

Question 25

In some cases, an airport is considered a monopoly because

Answer 25

it has exclusive control over the supply of a service, in this case air transportation or airline service.

Question 26

Small towns and cities with only one commercial service airport within hundreds of miles can

Answer 26

claim monopoly status, but cities with multiple | airports, and thus multiple options for travelers, cannot.

Question 27

Unfortunately, while most believe that airports are essential to the commerce of the United States, some GA airports

Answer 27

have been closed throughout the nation.

Question 28

Flight restrictions put into place after the events of September 11, 2001 have resulted in

Answer 28

aviation businesses being forced to close and airspace around airports continues to be threatened by poor land use planning and residential encroachment.

Question 29

Kelly Air Mail Act | of 1925

Answer 29

``` U.S. Government pays private contractors to carry the mail by air; represents the start of commercial aviation ```

Question 30

Air Commerce Act | of 1926

Answer 30

``` Passed to promote the development and stability of commercial aviation; aviation under the Secretary of Commerce who issues and enforces air traffic rules; establishes pilot and aircraft licensing; establishes airways and maintain aids to navigation ```

Question 31

Civil Aeronautics | Act of 1938

Answer 31

``` Transferred the federal government’s civil aviation role from the Department of Commerce to a new, independent agency, the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA); placed all aviation regulations under an authority Begins economic regulation; creates the Administrator position; creates the Air Safety Board (predecessor to the NTSB) ```

Question 32

The Reorganization Act of 1940

Answer 32

``` Splits the CAA into two agencies: the Civil Aeronautics Authority and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) CAA continues regulation enforcement; airman and aircraft certification; development of the airway system CAB responsible for economic regulation of the airlines; safety rulemaking and accident investigation ```

Question 33

Federal Airport | Act of 1946

Answer 33

``` CAA charged with managing an aid program to facilitate the improvement and construction of airports (predecessor to AIP) Helps local governments build airport infrastructure; Federal Aid to Airports Program (FAAP) offers 50/50 cost share grants for airport improvements for airports essential to the U.S. as part of the National Airport Plan (predecessor to the NPIAS) ```

Question 34

Federal Aviation | Act of 1958

Answer 34

``` The introduction of jet aircraft and a series of midair collisions spurred passage of this act CAB becomes an independent office (outside of Dept., of Commerce) Safety rulemaking transferred from CAB to newly named Federal Aviation Agency (formerly the CAA) FAA organized into nine regional offices ```

Question 35

Department of Transportation Act of 1966

Answer 35

``` DOT created; Federal Aviation Agency becomes Federal Aviation Administration; National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) created to investigate accidents; FAA also gradually assumes responsibility for aviation security (FAR Parts 107,108) and aircraft engine noise (FAR Part 36) ```

Question 36

``` Airport and Airways Development Act and Revenue Act of 1970 ```

Answer 36

``` Establishes Airport Development Aid Program (ADAP) to provide funding to airports for development projects and equipment acquisition, and the Planning Grant Program (PGP) to provide funding to airports for master plans Establishes FAR Part 139, airport certification ```

Question 37

Aviation and Airway Revenue Act of 1970

Answer 37

``` Establishes aviation trust fund; revenues from airline fares (fee), air freight, general aviation fuel) ```

Question 38

Airline Deregulation of 1978

Answer 38

Phases out the Civil Aeronautics Board’s economic regulation of the airlines

Question 39

Airport and Airways Improvement Act of 1982

Answer 39

``` Establishes Airport Improvement Program (AIP); establishes the National Airspace System Plan (NAS), which will eventually become the NPIAS. NPIAS is reflected at the local airport level in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Establishes FAR Part 150 noise studies (rulemaking would follow in 1985) ```

Question 40

``` Aviation Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 and Airport & Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 ```

Answer 40

``` ANCA establishes Part 161 noise standards; Capacity Act establishes Passenger Facility Charges at $3.00 max Airports must be in compliance with ANCA to receive PFC funding through the ASCEA ```

Question 41

Military Airport | Program

Answer 41

``` Authorized as part of Avt. Safety & Capacity Exp. Act: set-aside of discretionary AIP funds for current and former military airports ```

Question 42

Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century

Answer 42

``` Increase PFC cap to $4.50; Large & Medium hub airports that accept max PFC must reduce AIP funding by 75% ```

Question 43

Aviation and Transportation Security Act 2001

Answer 43

``` Creates the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); transfers FAA security responsibilities to the TSA; government takes over passenger and baggage screening ```

Question 44

Homeland Security | Act

Answer 44

``` Creates the Department of Homeland Security; TSA transferred from DOT to DHS ```

Question 45

``` Vision 100 Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act ```

Answer 45

Reauthorizes FAA funding; launches NextGen

Question 46

``` Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ```

Answer 46

``` Requires threat assessments on airports; strengthened incident management requirements; requires air cargo screening ```