Federal Aviation Administration

Aerodrome Certification Program

The International Conference on Modern Airport Management

March 26, 2003

A Brief Look at the Federal Government

• Legislative Branch– House of Representatives– Senate

• Executive Branch– Various Department to implement the laws passed

by the congress– Department of Transportation includes:

• Federal Aviation Administration• Other transportation administrations

A Brief Look at the Federal Government

• Judicial Branch– Supreme Court– Other lessor Federal courts

A Brief Look at the Federal Government

In 1972 Congress passed a law which states: The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue an airport operating certificate to a person desiring to operate an airport that serves an air carrier operating aircraft designed for at least 31 passenger seats.

(49 USC 44706)

A Brief Look at the Federal Government

• To implement the law passed by Congress, the appropriate department in the Executive Branch

writes a regulation.

• FAA wrote and adopted 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 139 which applies to the certification of airports in the United States.

The Federal Aviation Administration

• Is part of the Department of Transportation• Is responsible for all facets of aviation safety.• Major Offices in FAA:

– Air Traffic– Flight Standards– Airways Facilities– Security (Enforcement only)– Airports

Federal Aviation Administration

Tow er

D ep artu re

A rriva l

E n rou te

A ir Tra ffic

A ir C arrie r

G en era l A via tion

A irc ra ft M n t

F lig h t S tan d ard s

E n forcem en t

S ecu rity

N avA id s

C om m u n ica tion s

A irways F ac ilit ies

C etifica tion /S afe ty

S tan d ard s

G ran ts P rog ram

A irp orts

A d m in is tra to r

FAA Office of Airports

• Has approximately 480 people nationwide– Approximately 90 in Headquarters

• Responsible for _ Airport Certification/Safety– Airport Standards– Airport Grant Program

FAA Office of Airports

• Has 9 regional offices throughout the country.

• Each regional office is responsible to make sure that the policy and standards of the headquarters is carried out.

• The regional offices have direct contact with the airport owners.

Airports Organization

N ation a l P lan n in g D ivis ion

A irp orts F in an c ia lA ss is tan ce D ivis ion

P assen g er F ac ilityC h arg e D ivis ion

C om m u n ity E n viron m en ta lN eed s D ivis ion

D irec to r,O ffice o f P lan n in g an d P rog ram m in g

N ew E n g lan d

E as te rn

S ou th ern

G rea t L akes

C en tra l

S ou th w es t

W es te rn P ac ific

N orth w es t M ou n ta in

A laska

R eg ion a l A irp o rts D ivis ion M an ag ers

D es ig n an d O p era tion sC rite ria D ivis ion

E n g in eerin gS p ec ifica tion s D ivis ion

A irp ort S a fe ty an dO p era tion s D ivis ion

A irp ort C om p lian ceD ivis ion

D irec to r,O ffice o f A irp ort S a fe ty an d S tan d ard s

A ssoc ia te A d m in is tra to r fo r A irp o rts

Overview of the US Airport System

• Airports in the US are generally owned and operated by:– Local governments– State governments– Port Authorities– Airport Authorities– Private Entities

Overview (cont’d)

• Total Civil Landing Areas 19,796

Private-use 14,555 (4983 heliports)

Open-to-Public 5,241 (77 heliports)

Airports - Scheduled service 750

International 87

Overview (cont’d)The System Serves:

• 217,533 General Aviation Aircraft• 4,801 Commercial Jets• 2,427 Commuter aircraft• 649,957 Licensed Airmen• 710 million enplaned passengers

91% domestic 9% international

Overview (cont’d)Activity at the Busiest US Airports

Total Passengers CY 2001 Atlanta-Hartsfield 74.3 million

Chicago – O’Hare 63.1 million Los Angeles Int’l 58.7 million

Total Operations FY 2002 Chicago – O’Hare 901,703 Atlanta – Hartsfield 882,407 Dallas/Ft. Worth 762,371

Overview (cont’d)

• Civil and military airport systems are separate• Only one airspace system for greater safety• Dept. of Defense has about 210 airfields• Roughly 16,000 military aircraft• Joint use - 17 military airfields

Airport Certification Requirements

Airports served by passenger aircraft with more than

30 seats require a special

AIRPORT OPERATING CERTIFICATE

– Federal Aviation Regs Part 139– 570 civil airports & 100 military airfields

Airport Certification Process

Airports must develop an AIRPORTCERTIFICATION MANUAL explaining how they will comply with Part 139.

Airports must make application for an Airport Operating Certificate.

Submit application and two copies of the Airport Certification Manual to the FAA.

Airport Certification Process

Initial Inspection to ensure compliance with procedures contained in the Airport Certification Manual.

The Airport Certification Manual is approved by the FAA.

The FAA issues an Airport Operating Certificate.

Periodic inspections by FAA to ensure continued compliance with the regulation.

The Inspection

• Types of inspections– Initial– Periodic– Surveillance

The Initial Inspection

• Inspection to ensure:

– Airfield Compliance

– Airport Compliance with Airport Certification Manual

The Periodic Inspection

• Airports with scheduled air carrier service – 12 months

• Airports with only unscheduled air carrier service – 18 months

• Airports certificated but no air carrier service – 24 months

The Surveillance Inspection

• Unannounced inspection

• Usually involves specific purpose, for example to test aircraft rescue and fire fighting response

The Inspection

• Inspector reviews – Airport certification manual– Emergency plan– Training records

• Physically inspects runways and taxiways

• Does night time inspection

• Test ARFF response

Enforcement Actions

• Administrative penalty– Letter of Correction– Letter of Warning

• Civil penalty– Fine of $1,000 USD per day– Suspension– Revocation

AIRPORT CERTIFICATION

FACILITIES AND PROCEDURES INSPECTED

PersonnelPaved areasSafety AreasMarking, Lighting, and SignsSnow and Ice ControlAircraft Rescue and FirefightingHandling and Storage of Hazardous Materials

AIRPORT CERTIFICATION

Traffic and Wind Indicators

Emergency Plan

Self-inspection Procedures

Ground Vehicles

Obstructions

Protection of Navaids

Public Protection

Wildlife Hazard Management

AIRPORT CERTIFICATION

Airport Condition Reporting

Construction

Non-Complying Conditions

Self-Inspection Procedures

Airport Operations personnel:– On the airfield every day– Need to know the requirements– Usually first to notice a problem

Airport Inspectors:– On the airport only 1 time during the year– Should not find problems if the airport

operations personnel do their job.

Self-Inspection Procedures

Section 139.327 requires the certificate holder to inspect the airport– At least once Daily– During construction activities– After severe storms– After an accident

The Airport Certification Safety Inspector

Approximately 35 inspectors located throughout USA in regional offices

Rotate the airports assigned every 3 years

All inspectors receive basic training and annual recurrent training

The Airport Certification Safety Inspector

Basic Training – 3 weeks

– Part 139 Regulation– Signing, Marking, Lighting– Fueling inspections– Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting– Pavement Maintenance– Obstruction Evaluation– Accident Investigation

The Airport Certification Safety Inspector

Additional Training– 40 hours aircraft rescue and fire fighting

training including hot fire drill– Enforcement actions– On the Job training

Approximately 1 year to get ACSI credential

Findings

All Airports are different

Airport Certification Manuals should be established so that these differences are addressed

AIRPORT SAFETY AND CERTIFICATION DIVISION

Edward L. Dorsett, A.A.E.OFFICE - (202)267-8792

FACSIMILE - (202) 267-5383Internet: edward.dorsett@faa.gov

FAA Airports Website -

http://www.faa.gov/arp/arphome.htm

Federal Aviation Administration

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