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:
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Air Traffic
Flight Standards
Airways Facilities
Security (Enforcement only)
Airports
Federal Aviation
Administration
Administrator
Air Traffic
Flight Standards
Tower
Air Carrier
Departure
General Aviation
Arrival
Aircraft Mnt
Enroute
Security
Enforcement
Airways Facilities
Airports
NavAids
Cetification/Safety
Communications
Standards
Grants Program
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
Associate Administrator for Airports
Director,
Office of Planning and Programming
Regional Airports Division Managers
Director,
Office of Airport Safety and Standards
National Planning Division
New England
Design and Operations
Criteria Division
Airports Financial
Assistance Division
Eastern
Engineering
Specifications Division
Passenger Facility
Charge Division
Southern
Airport Safety and
Operations Division
Community Environmental
Needs Division
Great Lakes
Airport Compliance
Division
Central
Southwest
Western Pacific
Northwest Mountain
Alaska
Overview of the US Airport
System
• Airports in the US are generally owned and
operated by:
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Local governments
State governments
Port Authorities
Airport Authorities
Private Entities
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 750
International
87
Overview (cont’d)
The System Serves:
• 217,533 General Aviation Aircraft
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4,801 Commercial Jets
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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)
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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 AIRPORT
CERTIFICATION 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
Personnel
Paved areas
Safety Areas
Marking, Lighting, and Signs
Snow and Ice Control
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting
Handling 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
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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
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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
Federal Aviation Administration
AIRPORT SAFETY AND
CERTIFICATION DIVISION
Edward L. Dorsett, A.A.E.
OFFICE - (202)267-8792
FACSIMILE - (202) 267-5383
Internet: edward.dorsett@faa.gov
FAA Airports Website http://www.faa.gov/arp/arphome.htm
QUESTIONS