General Aviation Airports: A National Asset

May 16, 2012
FAA releases a study highlighting the role GA airports play in society, the economy, and the aviation system as a whole

The 18-month study breaks down GA airports into four primary categories based on the current aviation activity at a particular airport, such as the number and type of based aircraft, number of passenger boardings, and the type of flights:

  • National airports give communities access to national and international markets.
  • Regional airports connect communities to statewide and interstate markets.
  • Local airports provide access to intrastate and interstate markets.
  • Basic airports link communities with the national airport system and support general aviation activities.

"We have a good handle on how we classify commercial airports … we can plan and invest dollars based on the classification system," say FAA officials.

"We don’t have the same type of planning for the general aviation community — we had one big category.

"No funding is changing as a result of the study, but what it does is allow us to better plan and better invest [FAA] dollars."

According to FAA, the study helps better define the purpose and needs of small airports, and gets everyone speaking a common language so the administration can better understand airport system needs, and where dollars should go.

The national category encompasses airports with at least 30 based jets and 200 total based aircraft.

With regard to the basic category, "The way FAA looks at different airports across the country — we have our different standards and criteria, much of which is based on operations and based aircraft," say officials. "That’s not the only way to look at these airports; they have different roles, and it may not be based on aircraft operations.

"The small airports are about access, and reaching out into the national airport system.

"Another thing we learned with relation to the basic category — if it’s really about access, maybe what we should be thinking in working with those airports in using the NextGen capability of RNAV, RNP, and WAAS approaches — and giving these airports true 24-hour access."

The FAA plans to further study some GA airports to better understand their role. The administration will begin working later this year with airport sponsors and state aeronautic divisions to identify the activities these 497 airports support, and how they serve the public interest.

Thanks for your interest,

BM