In the administration of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, there are times when issues arise that require immediate attention and cannot wait for the typical ACRP research processes. In response, ACRP has created this Priority Issues Sub-program with a panel to review and select time-sensitive projects--either as Quick Response Projects, designed to provide the industry with targeted, practical research results within a year's time, or as First Look Projects, to address issues for which the airport industry needs a basic understanding of potential implications before more thorough research can be done.
STATUS: This is an ongoing sub-program of ACRP. Each Quick Response project is listed separately, beginning with 11-02; each First Look project is also listed separately beginning with 11-09.
11-02/Task 01 Model for Improving Energy Use in U.S. Airport Facilities
The objective of this task was to demonstrate the potential for energy savings in U.S. airports by conducting a study of Terminals B and D at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport regarding Operations and Maintenance (O&M), commissioning of energy consuming systems, and energy conservation retrofit measures. This objective was accomplished by conducting airport surveys, engineering analysis and producing a model energy report and informational brochure that focuses on pro-typical operations, building commissioning, and energy conservation retrofits opportunities.
Status: This project has been completed and published as ACRP Research Results Digest 2, Model for Improving Energy Use in U.S. Airport Facilities, which is available for download on TRB's website along with related appendices and a brochure.
11-02/Task 02 Ground Access to Major Airports by Public Transportation
The objectives of this task were to: (a) improve the documentation of all airport ground access projects, with an emphasis on those which have occurred since the publication of TCRP Report 62 in 2000; (b) improve the documentation of changes in airport access strategies since the publication of both reports with a review of recent developments in such areas as downtown check- in, automation of the check in process, and integration with existing regional rail infrastructure; (c) provide airport managers with user-friendly, concise, and accurate documentation concerning trends in the area of airport ground access; and (d) support and facilitate the dissemination of the latest information relative to airport managers through media such as printed reports, and PowerPoint presentations to relevant professional organizations. The proposed research created new updated, timely documentation of the characteristics of ground access markets in a manner which builds upon existing products already produced under the Transit Cooperative Research Program.
Status: This project has been completed and published in the regular ACRP Report series as ACRP Report 4, Ground Access to Major Airports by Public Transportation.
11-02/Task 03 Improving Stabilization and Use of Aircraft Evacuation Slides at Airports
This research identified challenges associated with the use of slides at airports, focusing on causes of injury rates and ways to reduce those rates. A comprehensive report was prepared that includes: (1) literature review of known incidents where aircraft evacuations via the slides occurred and identified causes of known injuries One study to include in this review is the NTSB Safety Study 001 published in 2000., (2) survey/interview of airport operators and emergency responders involved in those incidents, slide manufacturers and aircraft manufacturers, as appropriate, (3) review of tools relative to aircraft slide evacuations available to first responders, specifically those tools available through the FAA Technical Center (4) ecommended guidance for airport operators & emergency personnel on preparing for aircraft slide evacuations that will include best practices for minimizing injury rates.
Status: This project has been completed and published in the regular ACRP Report series as ACRP Report 2, Evaluation and Mitigation of Aircraft Slide Evacuation Injuries.
11-02/Task 04 Overview of Airport Safety Management Systems - Definitions and Status
The objective of this task was to develop an overview document regarding airport safety management systems that defines what such a system is, and provides a summary of existing practice in other countries and industries.
Status: This project has been completed and published in the regular ACRP Report series as ACRP Report 1, Safety Management Systems for Airports, Volume 1: Overview.
11-02/Task 05 Quarantine Facilities for Arriving Air Travelers: Identification of Planning Needs and Costs
The objective of this task was to develop a set of criteria and guidance for use by airport operators in identifying potential quarantine facilities on or off the airport and for continuity of airport operations. The guidance was developed in consideration of and based on evaluation of requirements and constraints, including such factors as: (a) physical needs of individuals to be quarantined (e.g. beds, sanitation, security, food); (b) non-airport resources available to provide basic necessities (e.g. Red Cross); (c) structural requirements for such facilities (square footage, climate control, plumbing, etc.); (d) transportation from aircraft to facility; (e) potential existing facilities at airports or in community, including those identified in other plans (e.g. hurricane shelters, family assistance sites, etc.); (f) potential for multiple use for new facilities; (g) operational and financial impacts of identifying on-airport facilities; and (h) planning guidelines for expected maximum number of individuals to be quarantined.
Status: This project has been completed and published in the regular ACRP Report series as ACRP Report 5, Quarantine Facilities for Arriving Air Travelers: Identification of Planning Needs and Costs.
11-02/Task 06 Interagency - Aviation Industry Collaboration on Planning for Pandemic Outbreaks
11-02/Task 07 Strategic Process for Developing ACRP Research Problem Statements
11-02/Task 08 Enhanced Modeling of Aircraft Taxiway Noise - Scoping
The objective of this task was to help improve the ability to evaluate noise generated by aircraft ground operations, allowing airport staff, airport planners, and consultants to incorporate taxiway noise modeling in their evaluations systematically when needed. This capability will increase the accuracy of airport noise modeling, thus improving chances that significant noise impacts and incompatible land-uses are properly identified, and that appropriate mitigation strategies are addressed. The enhancement to the model will also enable joint assessment of both noise and air quality, resulting in more balanced and comprehensive decisions in airport planning.
Status: This project has been completed and published as ACRP Web-Only Document 9, Enhanced Modeling of Aircraft Taxiway Noise, Volume 1: Scoping.
11-02/Task 09 Visibility of Airfield Signs and Markings from Aircraft and Ground Vehicles
This task was to indentify issues associated with the visibility of airfield signs and markings.
Status: This task has been cancelled.
11-02/Task 10 Estimate of National Use of Aircraft and Airfield Deicing Materials
11-02/Task 11 How Proposed Firefighting Standards Would Impact Airports
The objectives of this research were to:
- compare the current FAA requirements for ARFF to the proposed NFPA and ICAO standards;
- provide a financial analysis of the operational costs for airports to comply with the NFPA and ICAO standards to the extent that they differ from the costs associated with the current FAA requirements; including assessments and discussions on:
- the initial cost to implement or start-up these new standards,
- the continuing cost to provide services,
- the implications for cost, by size of airport, (cost per enplaned passenger “CPE”), and
- the general implications these costs may have on air service to the community.
- provide a financial analysis of the infrastructure and equipment costs for airports to comply with the NFPA and ICAO standards to the extent that they differ from the costs associated with the current FAA requirements;
- provide an analysis of the cost and benefits of NFPA and ICAO standards compared to the cost and level of safety currently required; and
- if there are increased operational costs associated with NFPA or ICAO standards, examine the possible impact that such costs may have on small airports and their ability to retain and attract new commercial air service.
Status: The contractor's final report is available as ACRP Web-Only Document 7, How Proposed ARFF Standards Would Impact Airports. The executive summary has been published as ACRP Research Results Digest 7, A Summary of How Proposed Firefighting Standards Would Impact Airports.
11-02/Task 12 Ramp Incident Data from Selected Large and Medium Hub Airports
The objective of this task was to survey a statistically meaningful volume of large and medium hub airports to collect data on ramp incidents from both the airport and airlines resulting in a database (Access or Excel) to be made available to the airport industry.
Status: Research has been completed and data was delivered to the FAA and is available to others as requested.
11-02/Task 13 Symposium on the Tranmission of Disease at Airports and on Aircraft
The objective of this task was to have an ad hoc committee plan and conduct a public symposium featuring invited presentations on the status of research on or related to the transmission of disease on aircraft and/or in airports. The symposium's purpose was to provide an opportunity for the research community to share data, models and methods; discuss findings and preliminary conclusions of ongoing research; and identify gaps to inform future research projects.
Status: This project has been completed and published as TRB Conference Proceedings 47, Research on the Transmission of Disease in Airports and on Aircraft.
11-02/Task 14 Helping Airports Understand the Payment Card Industry Data Protection Standard (PCI DSS)
11-02/Task 15 Aviation-Industry Issue Familiarization and Training for Part-time Airport Policymakers
The objective of this project was to collect and assess material and produce a concise summary of key policy issues (A Primer), as well as (stand-alone) recommendations of best practices for conveying information to the part-time policy makers, an agenda or syllabus for presenting key policy issues, and a series of short electronic presentations that convey this information.
Status: Research is complete and the project report has been published as ACRP Report 58, Airport Industry Familiarization and Training for Part-Time Airport Policy Makers. A PowerPoint file is also available to assist airports with presenting this material to part-time policy makers.
11-02/Task 16 Analysis, Scoping, and Prioritizing ACRP Deicing Problem Statements
Status: This project has been cancelled.
11-02/Task 17 Risk Assessment of Proposed ARFF Standards
The objective of this study was to analyze the extent to which NFPA and ICAO ARFF standards beyond FAR Part 139 requirements may be expected to reduce fatalities and/or mitigate serious injuries associated with aircraft accidents on or directly adjacent to airport property.
Status: This project has been completed and published as Web-Only Document 12: Risk Asessment of Proposed ARFF Standards.
11-02/Task 18 The Carbon Market: A Primer for Airports
The objective of this research was to prepare a primer for airports that describes the carbon credit market and outlines potential opportunities for and challenges to airport participation.
Status: This project has been completed and published in the regular ACRP Report series as ACRP Report 57, The Carbon Market: A Primer for Airports.
11-02/Task 19 Symposium on Air Travel and the Spread of Disease
Status: This task has been cancelled.
11-02/Task 20 Developing Problem Statements on Information Technology Issues at Airports
ACRP facilitated a special discussion for practitioners with interest and responsibility for the oversight of IT at airports. The objective of this discussion was to identify and develop a handful of research ideas related to IT and impacting airports that could benefit from ACRP research. Participants outlined the need, objective, and preliminary scope of the research ideas that were discussed.
Status: This project has been completed.
11-02/Task 21 Innovative Airport Responses to Threatened/Endangered Species
11-02/Task 22 Best Practices for General Aviation Aircraft Fuel-Tank Sampling
The objectives of this research were to:
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Estimate the discard amounts from fuel testing samples, aircraft fuel tank vents, and others that are entering the storm water runoff system from airports and document the methodology by which the estimates are obtained.
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Develop a guidance document that provides a variety of airport and aviation best practices of aircraft fuel-tank sampling to prevent contaminants from entering the storm water runoff system.
11-02/Task 23 Alternative IT Delivery Methods and Best Practices for Small Airports
The objective of this research was to provide guidance for medium, small, and non-hub airports with limited budgets and resources on: (1) evaluating alternative IT delivery methods and types of provider options (in-house vs. outsourced), and (2) associated best practices.
Status: This project has been completed and published in the regular ACRP Report series as ACRP Report 128: Alternative IT Delivery Methods and Best Practices for Small Airports.
11-02/Task 24 ACRP Digital Delivery Format Options
The goal of ACRP Project 11-02, Task 24, was to investigate new and potentially beneficial formats for ACRP deliverables that differ from traditional research deliverables, namely printed and online Portable Document Format (PDF) reports. The objectives of this investigation were to identify the alternatives, describe criteria that can be used to determine whether an alternative format makes sense for a given project, and provide guidance to support the successful implementation of that format.
Status: This project has been completed and the final report, Alternative Research Delivery Formats: A TRB Resource Guide, as well as the 2015 ACRP Strategic Plan, are available for download from the TRB website.
11-02/Task 26 ACRP Strategic Plan
Status: This project has been completed and the final report,
2015 ACRP Strategic Plan, is available for download from the TRB website.
11-02/Task 27 Update to Models for Risk Assessment of Runway Safety Areas
11-02/Task 28 Recovering International Recyclables from In-flight Service
11-02/Task 29 Research Roadmap in the Area of Airport Operations and Maintenance
