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