Aerodrome Certification Workshop The Federal Aviation Administration Ben

Aerodrome Certification Workshop The Federal Aviation Administration Ben Castellano, Manager, Airport Safety and Operations Division

Overview of the US Airport System • Airports in the US are generally owned and operated by: – Local governments (city or counties) – State governments – Port Authorities – Airport Authorities

Overview (cont’d) • Total Civil Landing Areas Private-use Open-to-Public 19, 796 14, 555 (4983 heliports) 5, 241 (77 heliports) Airports - scheduled service 789 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 Busiest US Airports Total Passengers CY 2000 Atlanta-Hartsfield 78. 6 million Chicago – O’Hare 67. 7. million Los Angeles Int’l 64. 3 million Total Operations FY 2001 Chicago – O’Hare 927, 896 Atlanta – Hartsfield 898, 899 Dallas/Ft. Worth 835, 748

Federal Framework • Dept. of Transportation reports to President of United States • Federal Aviation Administration under the Dept. of Transportation – Primary concerns are: • Aviation safety • Air traffic control

Federal Framework • Associate Administrator for Airports reports to the FAA Administrator – Airport Certification – Airport Capacity – Administration of Grant Programs – Airport Standards and Design

Airport Certification 1972 – Congress authorized the FAA to certificate airports that received both scheduled and unscheduled air carrier service with more than 30 passenger seats.

Airport Certification 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 Airports must develop an AIRPORT CERTIFICATION MANUAL explaining how they will comply with Part 139 The MANUAL must be approved by the FAA Periodic Inspections by FAA

Airport Certification FACILITIES AND PROCEDURES INSPECTED Pavement Conditions Safety Areas Lighting, Marking, Signs Fueling Facilities Traffic & Wind Indicators Ground Vehicles/Driver Training

Airport Certification Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting Bird & Wildlife Hazards Self-inspection Procedures Airport Condition Assessment/Reporting Control of Hazards from Construction Emergency Plan Snow Removal Plan

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 • Part 8, Airport Operational Services, ICAO Airport Services Manual recommends 4 inspections daily for runways.

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 ops people do their job.

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

The Inspection • Types of inspections – Initial – Annual – Surveillance

The Annual Inspection • Airports with scheduled air carrier service – annually • Airports with only unscheduled air carrier service – 18 months • Airports certificated but no air carrier service – 24 months

The Annual Inspection • Inspector reviews – Airport certification manual – Emergency plan – Training records • Physically inspects runways and taxiways • Does night time inspection • Test ARFF response

The Surveillance Inspection • Unannounced inspection • Usually involves specific purpose, for example to test aircraft rescue and fire fighting response

Enforcement Actions • Administrative penalty – Letter of Correction – Letter of Warning • Civil penalty – Fine of $1, 000 USD per day – Suspension – Revocation

Airport Certification