AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2022 - 13

Airport culture: the
essential elements
By Mike Ginter, AOPA vice president,
airports and state advocacy
A O PA P I L O T S
A R E
passionate about flying
and protective of
their airports. I have
not met a pilot yet
who doesn't have a
story about their airport,
some positive
and others dreadful.
Both extremes describe a " culture, " and both
directly affect the GA experience. AOPA's airport
advocacy team has been involved in more
than 450 airport issues since 2020 and we've
learned a few things:
* Vertical alignment of leadership is the foundation.
When the airport authority, city, or
county executive appreciates the value of
their airport and supports the airport manager,
vertical alignment exists. This extends
to the pilot community at that airport, which
must speak with one voice and work collaboratively
with management. This results
in visionary master plans, innovative (and
compatible) use of airport land, and a customer-focused
leadership team.
* Airport funding and revenue streams are
the lifeblood. Airport managers with the
backing of elected leaders can find local,
state, or federal funding to support airport
investment. Many projects require hybrid
funding models, which require vision and
persistence by the airport manager. Most
airports derive 45 percent of their gross revenue
from fuel sales and another 45 percent
from hangar/lease income. Smart investment
can drive future revenue streams and
long-term financial viability.
* Community appreciation is a leading indicator
of the airport's future. When neighboring
communities view the airport negatively-
perhaps they believe the airport is the source
of pollutants or social/economic injustice-improvement
at the airport becomes
difficult. In extreme cases, airports fight for
their survival. mike.ginter@aopa.org
By Adam Williams, AOPA
manager, airport policy
SINCE THE DAWN of flight pilots have
recognized the advantages of using
turf surfaces for certain operations.
As airport designs became more
sophisticated and turf runways
were paved, the desire to take off or
land on turf persisted-even if that
meant operating on land outside
the edges of a designated runway.
Many airports have had a safe " turf
operating area " parallel to a paved
runway for decades. However, the
FAA guidance on airport design left
questions about an airport's authority
to permit that activity.
After receiving input from
AOPA, the Experimental Aircraft
Association, the Recreational
Aviation Foundation, and others,
the FAA released a major revision
to Advisory Circular 150/5300-13B,
Airport Design. This AC now recognizes
the use of turf operating areas
(its term is " Aircraft Operations in
the Unpaved Runway Safety Area " )
for the first time.
Airports are not prohibited
from permitting such operations if
they are safe. If a manager is uncertain
about the safety of this activity
at an airport, the local flight standards
district office is available
to perform a safety assessment.
Considering the diversity of airport
environments, this policy is
reasonable and puts authority in
the right places. Pilots wishing to
discuss new turf operations outside
of designated runways should contact
their airport manager.
adam.williams@aopa.org
ON THE FRONT LINES /
REGIONAL NEWS /
Turf operations
outside
runways
25 years
The AOPA Airport Support Network was
established in 1997 to place an AOPA member
at public-use airports to serve as our eyes
and ears regarding threats to the airport.
NORTHWEST MOUNTA IN REGION
Granby Grand County, Colorado (GNB),
has its first instrument approach thanks to
25-year ASN volunteer Penny Hamilton and
her husband, Bill; Assisted ASN volunteer
Scott Freeman at Gen. Dick Stout Airport,
Utah (1L8), to develop noise abatement
evaluations; Represented AOPA at the
Washington State Airport Managers
Association conference and Idaho
Aviation Expo.
GREAT L AKES REGION
Plans are set for the twenty-fifth anniversary
of the Airport Support Network volunteer
program at EAA AirVenture on July 28.
The special event is on the AOPA campus
at Oshkosh.
CENTR AL SOUTHWEST REGION
Working with Pearland Regional Airport
(LVJ) near Houston, Texas, to block the
development of more than 400 modular
homes on airport property. AOPA alerted
officials at TxDOT and the FAA airport
district office.
WESTERN PACIFIC REGION
Working with members to reinstate a lease
to operate the Spanish Springs Airport
(N86) just north of Reno/Stead Airport
in Nevada.
EASTERN REGION
The Taunton Municipal Airport (TAN),
Massachusetts, commission has agreed
to reconsider its draft ground lease, which
currently requires reversion of privately
developed hangars and is overly restrictive
of non-aeronautical items.
aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy
AOPA PILOT / August 2022
13
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2022

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