According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Change: 1, an Airport Master Plan is a concept of the long-term development of an airport. The Master Plan displays this concept graphically and documents the data and logic upon which the plan is based.

 

 

The goal of a master plan is to provide guidelines for future airport development which will satisfy aviation demand in a financially feasible manner, while at the same time resolving the aviation, environmental, and socioeconomic issues existing in a community (source: FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Change: 1).

 

The FAA recommends that a Master Plan be completed or updated approximately every five years or when an airport experiences unexpected, rapid growth in activity. The Airport Master Plan process is guided by the FAA and ultimately results in projections of future growth and an Airport Layout Plan (ALP). An ALP is needed because all development at federally obligated airports must be done in accordance with an FAA-approved ALP.

 

 

A report based on current physical conditions at the airport and provides recommendations for future improvement projects.

 

 

The purpose of the ALP Report is to define the current, short-term and long-term needs of the airport. It provides a schedule for airport improvements, which help maintain the airport category minimum standards and its projected demands. The design of the airport should be guided by the FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5300-13 Change: 7.

 

Airports must have improvements be approved by the FAA by submitting FAA Form 7480-1 "Notice of Landing Area Proposal." Completed improvements must be reflected on the ALP. Per Federal Grant Assurance No. 29 airport owners shall keep the Airport Layout Plan up to date at all times. Generally, ALPs are updated every 2-5 years depending on the type and size of the airport.

 

 

 

For more information on the airport master planning process, as outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration, visit http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/media/150-5070-6B/150_5070_6b_chg1.pdf.