Airport Planning

[ About Airport Planning ] [ 2008 Activities ]

About Airport Planning

SPC’s active participation in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Continuous Airport Systems Planning Program (CASPP) ensures that southwestern Pennsylvania will sustain its network of strong regional airports.

Through CASPP, SPC works to identify the immediate and future air transportation needs of the region and to develop a regional airport system plan. Aviation facilities will be required to meet the region’s immediate and future air transportation needs. The system also:

• Defines the role of existing airports in the region
• Makes recommendations for airport expansions
  or new airport development
• Identifies threats to the preservation of existing
  aviation resources

SPC communicates this information to individual airports, who use this valuable information in their planning efforts, and to local decision-makers, who use this information in land-use
and ground transportation planning.

Through an annual FAA grant, SPC maintains an inventory of all airport facilities in the region, administers an Aircraft Operations Counting Program at general aviation airports, and provides technical assistance to airports.

2008 Activities

Aviation planning activities in 2008 included the initiation of a regional count of annual operations at general aviation airports.  SPC staff was an invited participant on an Expert Panel on Airport System Planning Practices (ACRP 11-03/Topic S03-04), sponsored by the Airport Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board/National Academy of Science.

SPC also maintains a seat on the Board of Directors of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania (ACP).  The purpose of the ACP is to represent the Pennsylvania aviation community in matters involving government and private sector interests; to improve and promote aviation in partnership with local, state and federal government; and to increase and enhance public awareness of aviation.

For more information on the Airport Planning program, contact Sara Walfoort at (412) 391-5590 x339 or e-mail swalfoort@spcregion.org.

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