The Airport Planning and Development Process - Literature review Example

Airport Planning and Development 476890) Introduction With the world globalizing at a rapid rate and businesses being outsourced to different countries in the face of tough competition, air connectivity forms a vital part of infrastructure to sustain economic growth. In this context it is but inevitable that the development and planning of airports remain a critical area of concern to the government. The Airport planning and Development Process (APDP) provides an ideal link between different institutions of the airport, human resources and traffic flow processes and co-ordinates the activities between these three entities to improve the overall efficiency of the airport. (Airport Planning and Development Process, p.11) Necessity of Airport Planning and Development The aviation sector is facing severe constraints in increasing resources to meet the volume of traffic more effectively. The APDP is an effective strategy to meet customer expectations, increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the service and to provide cost effective solutions to meet the increasing cost of the airport and its functioning. The three vital elements that require a successful integration are (1) Establishing a National Airport Plan- The plan should be in tune with the needs and volume of the airport in question. A common plan cannot address the concerns of all airports. All functionalities of the airport should be given equal importance and everybody taken on board while drafting the National Airport Plan. The resource allocation for a new initiative should be amply justified and means to identify areas that need improvement should also be put in place.( Airport Development and Planning Process, p. 12) (2) Formalizing a Master Agreement Process- This process shortens the time that would require for a fund to be allocated. The process is more effectively streamlined leading to avoidance of procedural delays. (Paul Stephen Dempsey, 2000, p.207) (3) Generating a Performance Measurement- a comprehensive feedback is generated to assess the quality of work for each new initiative introduced and areas of concern are identified and addressed. The Planning Process This process is achieved by the development of a National Airport Plan. The goals that the plan sets out to achieve are (1) Assess the scope and the Federal participation in the national airport system. The level of public private participation also alters the modalities of this plan. (2) Evaluate the performance and the demands on the airport handling the present traffic. (3) Identifying the areas of resource influx required and the budget to be allocated for the same. The salient points of the National Planning Process encapsulate the following (1) The process seeks to involve a more active participation at the top management level and the field representatives. The plans are more systemic and players in different areas of expertise are advised to take up more leadership roles. (2) Technical expertise is provided to the key players so that the programs that are being taken up by the airport are suitably implemented. (3) Preparing a National Inventory of requirements by the feedback obtained from field representatives and thereafter Airport System Plans, Airport Master Plans (AMP) and the Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) are updated. (Airport Planning and Development Process, p.13) (4) Single Automated System- the National Inventory of Needs and the regional ACIP’s are controlled via a single system of automation that handles all entries related to data, reports and feedback. This is continuously updated by the designated personnel. (5) Comprehensive National Airport Plan- This plan seeks to address in a more comprehensive manner the interactions between the airports and the various stakeholders in the system. (6) Funding- Ultimately it is the government of the present day that has to approve and propose budgets for the airport planning process. The plan seeks to update and inform the government regarding the various proposals it seeks to implement and budget requirements for the same. (Paul Stephen Dempsey, 2000, p.220) Methodologies adopted in Planning There are several methodologies that have been adopted to implement the Airport Planning and Development Process. (a) Creation of the Master Agreement Process- The goals of this process are to allow the private parties and the government to work more effectively and plan more usefully in meeting its objectives. The actual paperwork required in getting the funds sanctioned for a project is reduced and the procedure involved is more streamlined. (Paul Stephen Dempsey, 2000, p.223).This of course increases the speed of project implementation and bureaucratic hurdles are pushed to the background.Some of the notable processes in the master agreement process that facilitate this time saving are (i) The Office of the Secretary for Transportation (OST) facilitates the release process as soon as the Airport Capital Improvement Plan is received and much before the actual fund is allocated. (ii) Regional Airport District Offices are provided with the authority of allocating the fund from one player to another if he feels that the quality of work has been compromised. He can also authorize the budget allocated for one project between other projects provided both the projects are being handled by the same player. (iii) After Part III the private player can begin to withdraw the funds allocated. However this would be followed by weekly or monthly status reports to the ADO (Airport District Office) so as to inform the areas where the money has been utilised. (National Planning and Development Process, p.20) (b) The Performance Measurement Process- This measurement serves as a tool for all stakeholders and also the general flying public in assessing the actual use and effectiveness of the budget that had been allotted for up gradation.Performance Measurement Objectives provide a standardized system of assessing airport performance over a period of time, provides an highly objective based feedback which helps in adding to the airport plan and measures the impact the investment has made both in terms of increasing airport traffic and also in increasing air travel quality for the passengers. The feedbacks of these indicators like safety issues, infrastructure availability are tabulated into the Performance Measurement Process. Data is collected from various sources by the airport staff, representatives of the state or agencies involved in this exercise. This data is uploaded into a common infrastructure pool and automated by information technology. Any suspicion regarding the data source is suitably addressed and suggestions to improve the same shall be made by the Performance Ownership Team. This team then studies and evaluates the data and assesses the efficiency of airports, identifies key areas requiring re-design and converts this data into a form that can be easily drafted in the National Planning Process. (Airport Development: Creating Vision, Building reality, 14) (c) The budget allocations- Budget allocation remains a very critical area of the planning process. The objectives help the airport personnel in effectively formulate programmes and deliver necessary budgets for its implementation. This also identifies training opportunities for employees to help them engage more effectively with consultants and other technical agencies. (d) Use of Information Technology-Information technology provides a smooth interaction between different field offices, regional offices and headquarters. Data available is modulated and made available in such a manner that all stakeholders including the travelling public have access to this information. IT also enables in a more accurate functioning of resources thereby minimizing accidents and mishaps.( Developing Best Practices for promoting Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure, p.50) Creating Airport Infrastructure and Tourism Environment-Responsibilities There are several departments that play an important role in creating a vibrant airport. Most governments have a ministry that handles civil aviation. They are responsible in overseeing the aviation policies and present them to the congress for approval. Apart from these, there are institutions like the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Airport Consultants (ACC) and the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) that provide periodic training programs and conduct regular seminars. The airport manager is the person who is most connected to all activities in the daily functioning of the airport and his feedback is a valuable source of information for drafting planning policies. Several reputed consultancy firms providing expert opinions in engineering and management areas and are critical to the formulation of a comprehensive Planning process. Lastly the major stakeholders which involve the daily flying class along with industry representatives are also taken into confidence when drafting policies. (Paul Stephen Dempsey, 2000, p.208) Airport Planning- Challenges Airport planning is a very exhaustive process which encapsulates the feedback of several departments. However all planning strategies can be made defunct if a range of activities and policies are not adhered to in letter and spirit. These include the following 1) An environmental assessment (EA) is done prior to locating airports so that the creation of an airport will not cause an environmental hazard to the area. Several acts like the Endangered Species Act and the Historic Preservation Act need to be consulted before drafting policies.( AIP Sponsor Guide, n.d) 2) The location of the intended airport and whether natural forces like wind would hamper the functioning of plying aircraft. 3) Noise compatibility programs need to be done to assess environmental impact on human life in the vicinity of the airport. 4) The type of soil quality would ultimately affect the construction of air towers and affect the drainage of the site. Also availability of utilities like electricity, gas, telephone, water and effective sewage system determine strategies in airport planning. 5) Land acquisition remains a very critical area of concern since new airports will inevitably lead to displacement of homes. Improper compensation packages and unscientific planning can lead to tensions that may delay or even terminate the airport planning process. (Paul Stephen Dempsey, 2000, p.247) 6) Airport Planners are always at the receiving end of environmentalists due the pollution aspects associated with the aviation sector. Apart from the sound pollution, the release of engine gases lead to the greenhouse effect which results in global warming. Depletion of the ozone layer as a environmental hazard is also a cause for concern.( Paul Stephen Dempsey, 251) Bibliography 1. Airport Planning and Development Process, January 1997, Analysis and Documentation Report- APDP Implementation Team, 1997, Print 2. AIP Sponsor Guide, Central Region Airports Division, n.d, Web. 3. Airport Development: Creating Vision, Building reality, PB network, Prepared by the employers of Parsons Brinckerhoff, October 2002, Print 4. Developing Best Practices for promoting Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure, Airports and Air Traffic Control-Asian Development Bank, 2000, Print 5. Dempsey Paul Stephen, Airport Planning and Development Handbook-A Global Survey, McGraw-Hill, 2000. Read More