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4/11/78 AC 150/5300-4B CHG 2 CHAPTER 2. PRINCIPLES OF APPLICATION 4. GENERAL. One of the most important decisions in the establishment of an airport is to determine its role for the present and the future. Should the airport be established to primarily serve recreational areas which are nearby or to serve the industries in the community? Should the airport serve primarily as a feeder stop for air taxi operations to the regional air carrier airport, or will it provide access to the airways from a relatively remote community? a. In most cases, the airport will serve a multipurpose role. For example, it may provide air taxi service as well as access to the airways for airplanes of a local industry. It may also serve as a reliever airport; that is, it may receive diverted traffic from a large metropolitan airport which is congested. b. In any event, the role of the airport must be carefully considered so that the initial investment is commensurate with benefits received, yet allows for adequate future expansion. Frequently airports designed to accommodate only VFR operations are required to accommodate IFR operations within a few years. 5. AIRPORT TYPE. Once the role of the airport has been determined based on future requirements of at least 5 years hence, the category of the airport can be selected. For purposes of design, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed the utility airport concept. This concept categorizes all airplanes of 12,500 pounds (5 670 kg) or less x gross weight, except turbojet airplanes, airplanes type certificated in the transport category, and airplanes tyre certificated after July 19, 1970, and having a seating configuration of 10 passenger seats or more, into three groups. Examples of airplane models accommodated by each * airport type are shown in Figure 2-1. The three groups relate to facility requirements as follows: a. Basic Utility --Stage I. This type of airport accommodates about 75 percent of the propeller airplanes under 12,500 pounds (5 670 kg). It is primarily intended to serve low -activity locations, small population communities, and remote recreational areas. Usually Stage I is only the first step toward development of a Stage II Basic Utility airport. b. Basic Utility --Stage II. This type of airport accommodates about 95 percent of the propeller airplanes under 12,500 pounds (5 670 kg). It is primarily intended to serve medium size population communities with the diversity of usage and potential for increased aviation activities. Chap 2 Par 4 Page 3