Airport Master Plan — 2010

Explanation, news, resources

Airport Commissions New Master Plan — What Is It?

A master plan is a long-range planning document. It looks into the future and tries to predict what will happen at the Airport—how many passengers will use the Airport ten years from now? In 20 years? What kind of infrastructure improvements will the Airport need to make and when?

A master plan attempts to answer three main questions: 1) what infrastructure improvements will the Airport need in the future? 2) When will the improvements be needed? 3) How will the improvements be paid for?

Airport master plans are typically reviewed and updated about every 20 years. Our airport’s first master plan was completed in 1967. It was updated in 1977 and 1993.

How is the Master Plan Used?

The airport reviews the master plan on a regular basis to see how the plan’s projections compare with reality.

Hypothetical example: suppose the plan projects that an additional parking lot will be needed when the airport has one million passengers a year. As time goes on, and as passenger numbers approach one million, the airport will know, with help from the master plan, that it’s time to start building the additional parking lot.

Real world example: the Springfield airport’s 1967 master plan identified the site for the airport’s new terminal. The plan was updated in 1977. Of the update’s many observations, one stands out. It concluded that the maximum capacity of the old terminal was 880,000 total passengers a year. The update said when “that level of activity is attained, a new passenger terminal complex will be required.”

That number was reached and exceeded in 2005. Thanks to the master plan, the new terminal was already being designed and its finance plan was close to completion. New terminal construction began in 2006. When the terminal opened in 2009, it was the end of a planning process that began 41 years before.

Components of the Master Plan

• A master plan evaluates existing conditions at the airport, along with a: history of the airport and its role in the community

• Inventory and evaluation of existing air service facilities: maximum capacity, life span, etc.).
  • Airfield
  • Airspace
  • Commercial airline terminal
  • General Aviation: terminal, hanger storage, aircraft parking
  • Air cargo facilities
  • Ramps
  • Taxiways
  • Runway
    
    
• Evaluation of support facilities
  • Aircraft rescue fire station
  • Aircraft rescue equipment
  • Fuel storage
  • FAA facilities: control tower, etc.
  • Ground transportation: access from public road system, vehicle parking
  • Utilities: water, sewer, communications, etc.
  • Other: industrial parks, grazing leases
  • Provides forecast of future activity: number of passengers, number of take offs and landings, etc

• Studies land use

• Provides environmental overview: noise, water, endangered species

• Studies future security considerations

• Identifies sources of funding

• Studies emerging trends in the airline and airport industry and how those trends may affect the airport

• Provides a plan for future growth
  

What the Master Plan Isn’t

• The master plan is not a “wish list” for new commercial airline service. The population of the metropolitan area, per capita income, and demand are the main factors driving airline service decisions

• The master plan is not a "wish list" for new facilities. The master plan is written by an objective, outside firm that tries to predict what facilites will be needed in the future to accommodate growth
  

Surveys

Online surveys:

Local Based Aircraft
Business Aircraft

Survey Forms

Based Aircraft Survey
Business Aircraft Survey
Tenant Survey
Tenant Survey Airline
Tenant Survey Allegiant
Tenant Survey Concessions
Tenant Survey Rental Car

Airport Master Plan
DRAFT

Download a Working Draft
of the Master Plan