Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in many products, from consumer products to building materials. For airports, the primary implication is associated with aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used in firefighting. For many years, airport operators were required to use AFFFs and, as a result of recommended training requirements and fire response, may have had releases of AFFFs t...

Advanced air mobility (AAM) includes the use of new aircraft technologies to transport passengers and cargo, typically on demand. The AAM ecosystem will initially rely on existing airports, heliports, and routes, but in the future, new dedicated facilities and routes will likely be developed. The impacts of AAM may be far-reaching and affect many stakeholders. ACRP Research Report 261: Advanced...

An airport’s energy service from the grid may be vulnerable to increasing demands and costs and the potential for short- or long-term disruptions caused by natural and human-caused events. Developing an airport energy resiliency roadmap allows the airport to establish a baseline of its energy use, supply, and vulnerabilities; set goals and related strategies in concert with stakeholder input to...

Energy resiliency strategies, established by developing an airport energy resiliency roadmap, help ensure the continued operations of an airport in the face of near-term disruptive events and longer-term shifts in energy supply and demand. Airport Energy Resiliency: A Primer summarizes the benefits of energy resiliency, outlines the processes for achieving it, and addresses the role of airport ...

Obstructions from trees around airports can hinder aircraft operations, requiring the airport to manage tree growth, both on and even off airport property. ACRP Research Report 259: Methods to Manage Tree Growth Near Airports , from TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program, identifies the mitigation strategies to address immediate needs, and longterm planning.

Industry-wide, airports are experiencing disruptive and continuous changes that include the rapid introduction of new technology, financial constraints, retirements, and the need to replace seasoned veterans. These changes are compounded by a diminishing pipeline of individuals interested in working at airports. ACRP Research Report 258: The Evolution of Knowledge Management at Airports , from ...

To support safe operations, airport operators and tenants apply a variety of deicing and anti-icing chemicals (collectively, “deicers”) to aircraft and airport paved surfaces. ACRP Research Report 257: Guide for Treatment of Airport Stormwater Containing Deicers: Update , from TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program, provides a comprehensive guide for selecting appropriate technologies to tr...

Virtual ramp control (VRC) implementations have increasingly been occurring at airports over the past 5 years. More airport operators are interested in potentially implementing a VRC system as the technology proves viable. ACRP Research Report 256: Virtual Airport Ramp Control Operations Facilities: A Guide , from TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program, aims to develop a guide that provides...

Airports face increasing regulatory and technical challenges for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found on or near their facilities. Sources of PFAS may be attributable to activities such as the use of aqueous film forming foam during aircraft rescue and firefighting activities or from airport neighbors who use products that contain PFAS. ACRP Research Report 255: PFAS Sour...

People experiencing homelessness have been increasingly seeking shelter in airports. Homelessness at airports is a complex issue with no easy solutions. Airports and local communities need to work together to provide support for people experiencing homelessness, while also ensuring the safety and security of airport operations. ACRP Research Report 254: Strategies to Address Homelessness at Air...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, airports faced challenges such as implementing health protocols, accessing trusted information, accommodating social distancing, and using effective technologies to control the spread of the virus. Public health officials interviewed for this report acknowledged a potential conflict between sustaining airport operations and promoting travel on the one hand and the ...

Investments in baggage handling systems are crucial to airport operations and customer satisfaction, yet decisions are often made solely based on initial capital investment without considering the total cost of ownership (TCO). A TCO analysis could lead to cost savings and opportunities for innovation, energy efficiency, and automation. ACRP Research Report 252: Airport Baggage Handling System ...

Airports are facing increasing difficulty in meeting funding needs via traditional revenue sources. New digital tools can be used to generate new revenue opportunities and enhance existing relationships with stakeholders. However, there has been little research on identifying and applying these new synergistic revenue-generating opportunities at airports. ACRP Research Report 251: Digital Marke...

The threat of wildlife strikes with aircraft is increasing due to larger bird populations and quieter aircraft. The challenge of managing this risk has prompted the development of Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMPs) by airport operators, which are required to be reviewed regularly. However, there is little guidance available to assess the effectiveness of these plans over time. ACRP Resear...

Human trafficking has emerged as a critical public concern, with tens of millions of global victims who are moved across international borders and between states using various forms of transportation, including buses, trains, and airplanes, among others. Traffickers may be transporting victims through airports, or victims may be traveling of their own accord, unaware that the job opportunity at...

An airport’s insurance program is just one component of its overall risk management program. An insurance program can be quite complex, addressing types of coverage, limits, retention amounts, and legal and contractual issues, among other factors. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 248: Airport Insurance Requirements provides best practices for airports developi...

Airfield markings are critical visual cues and are vital for runways and taxiways. During airfield construction projects, it is often required to remove or obliterate the existing pavement markings and apply temporary markings. These methods can leave scarring that is visible on the airfield for years. Such traces of former markings can be mistaken for active airfield markings by pilots and gro...

Despite dedicated efforts involving changes in technologies and procedures, the number of annual runway incursions in the United States has shown little to no improvement. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 246: Airside Operations Safety: Understanding the Effects of Human Factors provides a review of the current state of human factors research and the related r...

Airports across the United States are owned and operated by a wide variety of governance structures, each with their own features and historical legacies. As the common refrain from airport professionals goes, if you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport. Similarly, if you’ve seen one airport’s governance structure, you’ve seen one airport’s governance structure. The TRB Airport Cooperat...

An aviation system is composed of airports that are publicly owned and open for public use within a defined geographic area—a region, a state, or multiple nearby states. For example, a metropolitan region may have an airport serving commercial airlines and several general aviation (GA) relievers or other GA airports that cater to nonairline traffic. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program'...