M A S T E R   P L A N


PREFACE

Airport master planning is a methodical process where each step is performed in sequence so that subsequent tasks rely on the results of their predecessors. The primary tasks in order of execution include: Inventory, Aviation Activity Forecasts, Demand/Capacity Analysis, Facility Requirements, Alternatives Analyses, Implementation Plan, and Airport Plans. The typical planning process is briefly summarized as follows.


Inventory - The inventory process collects and quantifies information concerning the existing airport and adjacent properties, including the existing runway/taxiway system, hangars, aircraft parking apron, airport access and property holdings, adjacent land uses, and airport services. This information is utilized throughout the planning process. Also, statistical and projected data pertaining to the airport and its service area, such as aviation activity, population, employment, income, development trends, and future trends is collected. This information provides the foundation on which forecasts are developed.


Aviation Activity Forecasts - To plan for the future it is necessary to develop a forecast of the level of airport activity that can be anticipated at set intervals in the future. Development of forecasts is intended to provide this idea of future levels of passengers and aircraft operations and the types of aircraft that will operate at the airport. Forecasts are developed using various mathematical, market share, and trend related projection techniques to develop a realistic estimate of the future number of based aircraft, type of aircraft (fleet mix), and the total number of aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs) that should be accommodated. The forecasts are one of two elements of the master plan that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reviews and approves prior to proceeding to the next task.


Demand/Capacity Analysis - Every airport has an upper limit on the number of aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs) that the runway and taxiway system can accommodate. This upper limit is referred to as the airfield capacity. Airfield capacity is evaluated both on an hourly and annual basis. As with the airfield, the existing capacity and capability of other airport facilities, i.e., NAVAIDs, terminal building, hangars, tie-downs, auto parking, etc. are compared to future demands.


Facility Requirements - This analysis presents future requirements for airport facilities in terms of additional square feet, lineal feet, acreage, or other appropriate units of measurement. The output of this part of the master plan is a list of optimum facility improvements that the airport should implement over the 20-year planning period to accommodate anticipated aviation activity.


Alternatives Analysis - This portion of the master plan utilizes the facility requirements from the previous task and identifies options that will satisfy these requirements and comply with FAA criteria. The options considered can range from minor changes or additions to the existing airport to major reconfiguration of the airport, its property, and its facilities depending upon the existing capacity needs previously identified. One or a combination of various development alternatives will form the basis for the airport layout plan drawing set.


Implementation Plan - After the facility requirements are determined and the alternatives analysis identifies the most viable manner of meeting these needs, the financial plan and capital improvement program (CIP) identifies sources of funding and the phasing of the required improvements. The financial plan identifies those items eligible for federal and state funding and those requiring local (airport) or private funding.


Airport Plans - Associated with the development of the master plan is the preparation of a series of drawings that depict both the existing airport and the proposed changes to the airport over the next 20 years. This set of drawings is commonly referred to as the Airport Layout Plan Drawing Set. As is the case with forecasts, these drawings must be reviewed and approved by the FAA for Master Plan recommendations to be eligible for FAA funding.

The FAA has very specific guidelines and criteria provided in the form of Advisory Circulars and Federal Aviation Regulations that are used in developing the airport master plan. Based on the forecasts of future aviation activity, the master plan establishes a schedule of financial and construction priorities as well as identifying the sources to be used to fund airport improvements over the short-range (0 to 5 years), intermediate-range (6 to 10 years), and long-range (11 to 20 years) planning periods. As such, it is both a physical and financial plan for use in guiding local decisions relating to airport facilities and their potential improvement.


The aviation forecasts and facility requirements developed based on their projections should be regarded as generalized planning tools or thresholds that assume attainment of the projected activity. Should the forecasts prove to be conservative, proposed improvements can be advanced in the CIP schedule. Likewise, if traffic growth materializes at a slower rate than forecast, deferral of recommended improvements would be prudent.


The Master Plan Update for Athens-Ben Epps Airport was initiated in October of 1997. The initial work effort resulted in the production of the "Master Plan Update Aviation Activity Forecasts Technical Paper", which is incorporated herein as Appendix I. Typically, the master planning process is a continuous, uninterrupted effort. However, seven months into the process, work was delayed at the direction of Airport representatives while other analyses, related to, but outside of, the master planning process, were conducted. In June of 2001, work was resumed on the Master Plan project at the request of the Airport Director. Therefore, the following is the result of the resumption of the Master Plan Update. This Report includes the Inventory, Aviation Activity Forecasts, Demand/Capacity Analysis, Facility Requirements, Alternatives Analyses, Environmental Overview, Implementation Plan, and Airport Plans sections, and presents the various outputs and results of the supplemental analysis that was conducted.


Five additional studies were conducted as part of this supplemental analysis effort. Excerpts from these reports and studies are included in this document as appropriate; full reports have been incorporated as appendices, i.e.:




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