Florida Aviation System Plan (FASP)
Florida Aviation System Plan (FASP) Overview
In 2005, The Florida Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration and Florida’s Public Airports, through the Continuing Florida Aviation System Planning Process (CFASPP), developed the Florida Aviation System Plan (FASP). The system plan incorporates the traditional aviation system planning elements provided for in most State aviation system plans. However, the FASP 2025 includes an analysis of the Intermodal aspects of the State transportation system and a Strategic Planning element which identifies seven strategic goals and the approaches, measurements and recommendations to achieve these goals. This update to the system plan also included the development of a statewide aviation database, called the Florida Aviation Database (FAD).
Florida Aviation System Plan 2025
FASP Documentation
Regional Overviews
Airport Profiles
Florida Aviation System Plan 2025
This document was developed to provide a summary and general overview of the FASP.
FASP Documentation
2.9.6.1 Revalidate/Revisit Goals and Objectives for Florida Airports Early in the process of developing the FASP, written and verbal inputs were collected from the users, sponsors, and operators of Florida’s airports, and a vision for Florida’s system of public-use airports was drafted. Those inputs were condensed and collated into seven goals, listed below, which were to be used to help Florida fulfill its vision for the airport system and to direct the strategic planning process. A series of benchmarks for each goal was also developed. These benchmarks were to be used to determine how well the Florida airport system was meeting each of the seven goals established for the system.
2.9.6.2 Establish Florida Growth Areas
The demand for both commercial and general aviation (community airports) services is closely tied to various socio-economic and demographic factors. Two indicators that have been proven by the FAA to have a high correlation with demand for aviation services are population and employment. Current population and employment densities for counties within each of the nine CFASPP regions have played and will play an important role in determining local and regional aviation demand levels. While current population and employment densities help to explain historic and current aviation demand patterns, having an understanding of where growth is expected in the future establishes indicators that point toward areas of the state where aviation demand may grow in the future.
2.9.6.3 Establish High Growth/Capacity Constrained Airports
FDOT forecasts aviation activity at all airports in Florida. Forecasts have been developed for based aircraft, general aviation operations, commercial service enplanements, and commercial service operations. The most recent forecasts available use 2007 as the base year and are forecasted out to 2027. Statewide and regional summaries of the historic and statewide aviation activity are discussed here.
2.9.6.4 Establish Distribution of Commercial Airports by Service Category
Florida’s aviation system. Indices were assigned to 15 different airport characteristics for all airports in the state to arrive at an overall “Summary Quotient” for each airport in each service category. Using the resultant “quotient”, FDOT is able to make a judgment regarding the suitability of a given service category for a given airport and to compare services provided by neighboring airports. This section of this report summarizes the “service categories” for the commercial airports in Florida.
2.9.6.5 Establish Distribution of General Aviation Airports by Service Category
Through the Aviation Infrastructure Investment Tool, FDOT Aviation and Spaceports Office developed a systematic approach to quantifying the services provided by airports across the state. Fifteen individual airport characteristics were identified to assess airports for their ability to provide nine different “service categories”. These service categories were considered to be crucial to Florida’s aviation system. Indices were assigned to 15 different airport characteristics for all airports in the state to arrive at an overall “Summary Quotient” for each airport in each service category. Using the resultant “quotient”, FDOT is able to make a judgment regarding the suitability of a given service category for a given airport and to compare services provided by neighboring airports. This section of this report summarizes the “service categories” for the General Aviation (community) airports in Florida.
2.9.6.6 FASP Goals
Early in the process of developing the FASP, written and verbal inputs were collected from the users, sponsors, and operators of Florida’s airports, and a vision for Florida’s system of public-use airports was drafted. Those inputs were condensed and collated into seven system goals, listed below, which were to be used to help Florida fulfill its vision for the airport system and to direct the strategic planning process.
GOAL 1 – CAPACITY
Provide a diversified system of airports that is capable of meeting user demands by providing convenient air travel.
Most of Florida’s larger airports have strategic initiatives focused on attracting additional aviation related activity. Review of published strategic plans and interviews with airport personnel indicate that system airports have goals to increase their domestic passenger flights, their international passenger service, and the volume of air cargo activity they serve annually. System airports recognize increasing their scheduled commercial airline service and their air cargo activity is important to sustaining and growing not only their transportation roles but also their roles as essential economic catalysts for the communities they serve and the State as a whole. To accommodate airport specific objectives related to increasing aviation demand, system airports have identified a wide variety of airfield, terminal, parking, aircraft apron, and ground access projects that are required to meet envisioned demand levels. Strategic initiatives that are underway or that have been outlined for Florida’s larger airports are consistent with the FASP 2025 goal of providing a system of airports that is capable of meeting all facets of user demand, both now and in the future.
GOAL 2 - GROUND ACCESS
Provide an airport system that provides ease of access from the ground.
Most of Florida’s airports that have ongoing strategic planning initiatives recognize the importance of providing an integrated system of ground access that supports air transportation services. Several airports have initiatives underway to improve or to provide intermodal access opportunities. Other airports have plans to increase their accessibility by providing or improving their interface for the exchange of air cargo from the air to the ground access mode. Strategic plans that have been put in place for larger airports in the Florida airport system are consistent with and supportive of the FASP goal for providing a system of airports that is readily accessible from the ground.
GOAL 3 - AIR ACCESS
Provide an airport system that is accessible from the air by working with the FAA.
Most of Florida’s larger airports that have their own airport-specific strategic planning initiatives underway have already been equipped with the most sophisticated approaches and NAVAIDS that are currently available. Consequently, air access while important to these system airports, is not a top priority in ongoing strategic planning initiatives. The planning initiatives of larger airports in the Florida system are uniform, however, in their support of FAA improvement to airspace and airways in, to and from Florida. Airport-specific strategic plans recognize the need for airports in the Florida system to work with FAA to address airspace constraints, which have the potential to limit the growth of aviation in Florida.
GOAL 4 – COMPATIBILITY
Provide a system of airports that is reasonably compatible and balanced with the economic, human, and natural environment and issues. Almost all airport-specific strategic planning initiatives that are underway in Florida recognize that if airports in the system are to continue to operate and to expand, steps to protect the airports from encroachment (which is incompatible with the airports) is essential. Airports in the State, as part of their strategic plans, are working with surrounding communities to increase awareness and to heighten community acceptance and understanding. As part of individual strategic planning initiatives, airports are working to educate the public concerning the vital economic role that they play. Developing public education and awareness programs on the individual airport level is consistent with and supportive of the goals of the FASP 2025. On-going airport strategic plans are also working to protect airports through appropriate land use controls and through various types of zoning, including height zoning that is based on FAA guidelines contained in FAR Part 77. Successful programs for protecting aviation resources on the individual airport level may serve as a model for action items contained in the FASP 2025.
GOAL 5 – SAFETY
Provide a system of airports that can operate efficiently and safely.
Strategic planning initiatives underway at airports throughout Florida recognize that safety is the number one FAA priority for all airports. Because of their size and applicable FAA regulations, Florida larger system airports are already among the safest in the world. As part of their strategic plans, system airports do recognize that a constant vigil is required so that airport security and safety is not compromised.
GOAL 6 - FINANCIALLY SOUND
Provide a system of airports whose financial integrity is strong and supportive of the State’s economy.
Financial goals that are compatible with those of the FASP 2025 are a key part of on-going strategic plans at system airports. Most of the larger airports in the Florida system have specific goals targeted at making their operations more cost effective, thereby lowering user fees and airport rates and charges. Individual strategic plans of airports call for fiscal responsibility by identifying development plans which are within the airport’s ability to implement from a financial perspective. System airports are planning to increase their revenue generating capabilities in an effort to reduce their need to borrow money. To become more financially self-sufficient, many airport specific strategic plans call for system airports to pursue more effective means for marketing and developing both their aviation and their non-aviation related properties. From review of existing strategic plans and airport interviews that were conducted as part of the first phase of the FASP 2025 Strategic Plan, it appears that all airport specific strategic planning efforts are well aligned with this FASP goal.
GOAL 7 - WELL PLANNED
Provide a system of airports that is well planned.
Airports in the Florida system recognize the need to have coordinated, current long range plans. In their strategic plans, system airports highlight the need to identify major development projects well into the future and to take an integrated approach to planning for their approval, funding, and development. A key element of most airport specific strategic plans is the recognition that airports in Florida’s metropolitan areas function as a “system” and as such a comprehensive approach must be identified and followed to maximize the role that each airport plays in the system. Strategic plans for Florida’s airports highlight the need to regularly update long-range plans. Strategic planning initiatives that are completed or underway for airports in the Florida system are compatible with and supportive of the FASP 2025 goal for a well planned airport system. In summary, with a vision for the Florida Airport System established and goals to reach this vision identified, the next phase of the Strategic Plan will use the benchmarks identified in Phase I to evaluate Florida’s existing airport system and to identify its current adequacies and deficiencies.
2.9.6.7 Financial Needs
To ensure that Florida’s airport system can support the FASP 2025, significant investment will be needed at the private, local, state, and federal levels. As was previously discussed in this document in Section 2.9.6.6, Goal 3, when commercial airport TSA security requirements are considered, at least $7.2 billion in federal, state, and local funding will be needed over the next five years to fully respond to all needs of the Florida airport as identified in JACIP. Section 2.9.6.6 of this report contains information by CFASPP region on total funding needs by airport category and type of project for the next five years. This section focuses on FDOT funding requests by FDOT District for that same time frame. Since FDOT funding is allocated by District as opposed to CFASPP region, this funding discussion focuses on each FDOT District as opposed to each CFASPP region as has been the case in previous sections of this report. In addition, this section also compares total FDOT funds that have been allocated strictly to FDOT funding requests. All information discussed in this section is for the 2005-2009 timeframe.
Statewide Overview
The Department developed an overview of roles played by airports in the economy and lifestyle of Florida. In addition to providing information to the public about the history and economy of the State and how the aviation system is supporting the demands and needs in the State, the analysis is intended to aid local, regional, and state policymakers by identifying what the aviation system needs to do to support the projected growth across the State. The research was conducted in cooperation with the Continuing Florida Aviation System Planning Process (CFASPP).
Regional Overviews
In addition to the Statewide Overview, the department developed overviews for each CFASPP Region.
Airport Profiles
The Department developed an Airport Profile for each public-use airport in the Florida Aviation System Plan. The profile is the airport's portion of the system plan, providing detailed information about the airport. The analysis in the airport profile is intended to aid local, regional, and state policymakers by identifying airport needs in order to support projected growth in the region.
In 2005, The Florida Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration and Florida’s Public Airports, through the Continuing Florida Aviation System Planning Process (CFASPP), developed the Florida Aviation System Plan (FASP). The system plan incorporates the traditional aviation system planning elements provided for in most State aviation system plans. However, the FASP 2025 includes an analysis of the Intermodal aspects of the State transportation system and a Strategic Planning element which identifies seven strategic goals and the approaches, measurements and recommendations to achieve these goals. This update to the system plan also included the development of a statewide aviation database, called the Florida Aviation Database (FAD).
Florida Aviation System Plan 2025
FASP Documentation
Statewide Overview
Regional Overviews
Airport Profiles
Florida Aviation System Plan 2025
This document was developed to provide a summary and general overview of the FASP.
FASP Documentation
2.9.6.1 Revalidate/Revisit Goals and Objectives for Florida Airports Early in the process of developing the FASP, written and verbal inputs were collected from the users, sponsors, and operators of Florida’s airports, and a vision for Florida’s system of public-use airports was drafted. Those inputs were condensed and collated into seven goals, listed below, which were to be used to help Florida fulfill its vision for the airport system and to direct the strategic planning process. A series of benchmarks for each goal was also developed. These benchmarks were to be used to determine how well the Florida airport system was meeting each of the seven goals established for the system.
2.9.6.2 Establish Florida Growth Areas
The demand for both commercial and general aviation (community airports) services is closely tied to various socio-economic and demographic factors. Two indicators that have been proven by the FAA to have a high correlation with demand for aviation services are population and employment. Current population and employment densities for counties within each of the nine CFASPP regions have played and will play an important role in determining local and regional aviation demand levels. While current population and employment densities help to explain historic and current aviation demand patterns, having an understanding of where growth is expected in the future establishes indicators that point toward areas of the state where aviation demand may grow in the future.
2.9.6.3 Establish High Growth/Capacity Constrained Airports
FDOT forecasts aviation activity at all airports in Florida. Forecasts have been developed for based aircraft, general aviation operations, commercial service enplanements, and commercial service operations. The most recent forecasts available use 2007 as the base year and are forecasted out to 2027. Statewide and regional summaries of the historic and statewide aviation activity are discussed here.
2.9.6.4 Establish Distribution of Commercial Airports by Service Category
Florida’s aviation system. Indices were assigned to 15 different airport characteristics for all airports in the state to arrive at an overall “Summary Quotient” for each airport in each service category. Using the resultant “quotient”, FDOT is able to make a judgment regarding the suitability of a given service category for a given airport and to compare services provided by neighboring airports. This section of this report summarizes the “service categories” for the commercial airports in Florida.
2.9.6.5 Establish Distribution of General Aviation Airports by Service Category
Through the Aviation Infrastructure Investment Tool, FDOT Aviation and Spaceports Office developed a systematic approach to quantifying the services provided by airports across the state. Fifteen individual airport characteristics were identified to assess airports for their ability to provide nine different “service categories”. These service categories were considered to be crucial to Florida’s aviation system. Indices were assigned to 15 different airport characteristics for all airports in the state to arrive at an overall “Summary Quotient” for each airport in each service category. Using the resultant “quotient”, FDOT is able to make a judgment regarding the suitability of a given service category for a given airport and to compare services provided by neighboring airports. This section of this report summarizes the “service categories” for the General Aviation (community) airports in Florida.
2.9.6.6 FASP Goals
Early in the process of developing the FASP, written and verbal inputs were collected from the users, sponsors, and operators of Florida’s airports, and a vision for Florida’s system of public-use airports was drafted. Those inputs were condensed and collated into seven system goals, listed below, which were to be used to help Florida fulfill its vision for the airport system and to direct the strategic planning process.
GOAL 1 – CAPACITY
Provide a diversified system of airports that is capable of meeting user demands by providing convenient air travel.
Most of Florida’s larger airports have strategic initiatives focused on attracting additional aviation related activity. Review of published strategic plans and interviews with airport personnel indicate that system airports have goals to increase their domestic passenger flights, their international passenger service, and the volume of air cargo activity they serve annually. System airports recognize increasing their scheduled commercial airline service and their air cargo activity is important to sustaining and growing not only their transportation roles but also their roles as essential economic catalysts for the communities they serve and the State as a whole. To accommodate airport specific objectives related to increasing aviation demand, system airports have identified a wide variety of airfield, terminal, parking, aircraft apron, and ground access projects that are required to meet envisioned demand levels. Strategic initiatives that are underway or that have been outlined for Florida’s larger airports are consistent with the FASP 2025 goal of providing a system of airports that is capable of meeting all facets of user demand, both now and in the future.
GOAL 2 - GROUND ACCESS
Provide an airport system that provides ease of access from the ground.
Most of Florida’s airports that have ongoing strategic planning initiatives recognize the importance of providing an integrated system of ground access that supports air transportation services. Several airports have initiatives underway to improve or to provide intermodal access opportunities. Other airports have plans to increase their accessibility by providing or improving their interface for the exchange of air cargo from the air to the ground access mode. Strategic plans that have been put in place for larger airports in the Florida airport system are consistent with and supportive of the FASP goal for providing a system of airports that is readily accessible from the ground.
GOAL 3 - AIR ACCESS
Provide an airport system that is accessible from the air by working with the FAA.
Most of Florida’s larger airports that have their own airport-specific strategic planning initiatives underway have already been equipped with the most sophisticated approaches and NAVAIDS that are currently available. Consequently, air access while important to these system airports, is not a top priority in ongoing strategic planning initiatives. The planning initiatives of larger airports in the Florida system are uniform, however, in their support of FAA improvement to airspace and airways in, to and from Florida. Airport-specific strategic plans recognize the need for airports in the Florida system to work with FAA to address airspace constraints, which have the potential to limit the growth of aviation in Florida.
GOAL 4 – COMPATIBILITY
Provide a system of airports that is reasonably compatible and balanced with the economic, human, and natural environment and issues. Almost all airport-specific strategic planning initiatives that are underway in Florida recognize that if airports in the system are to continue to operate and to expand, steps to protect the airports from encroachment (which is incompatible with the airports) is essential. Airports in the State, as part of their strategic plans, are working with surrounding communities to increase awareness and to heighten community acceptance and understanding. As part of individual strategic planning initiatives, airports are working to educate the public concerning the vital economic role that they play. Developing public education and awareness programs on the individual airport level is consistent with and supportive of the goals of the FASP 2025. On-going airport strategic plans are also working to protect airports through appropriate land use controls and through various types of zoning, including height zoning that is based on FAA guidelines contained in FAR Part 77. Successful programs for protecting aviation resources on the individual airport level may serve as a model for action items contained in the FASP 2025.
GOAL 5 – SAFETY
Provide a system of airports that can operate efficiently and safely.
Strategic planning initiatives underway at airports throughout Florida recognize that safety is the number one FAA priority for all airports. Because of their size and applicable FAA regulations, Florida larger system airports are already among the safest in the world. As part of their strategic plans, system airports do recognize that a constant vigil is required so that airport security and safety is not compromised.
GOAL 6 - FINANCIALLY SOUND
Provide a system of airports whose financial integrity is strong and supportive of the State’s economy.
Financial goals that are compatible with those of the FASP 2025 are a key part of on-going strategic plans at system airports. Most of the larger airports in the Florida system have specific goals targeted at making their operations more cost effective, thereby lowering user fees and airport rates and charges. Individual strategic plans of airports call for fiscal responsibility by identifying development plans which are within the airport’s ability to implement from a financial perspective. System airports are planning to increase their revenue generating capabilities in an effort to reduce their need to borrow money. To become more financially self-sufficient, many airport specific strategic plans call for system airports to pursue more effective means for marketing and developing both their aviation and their non-aviation related properties. From review of existing strategic plans and airport interviews that were conducted as part of the first phase of the FASP 2025 Strategic Plan, it appears that all airport specific strategic planning efforts are well aligned with this FASP goal.
GOAL 7 - WELL PLANNED
Provide a system of airports that is well planned.
Airports in the Florida system recognize the need to have coordinated, current long range plans. In their strategic plans, system airports highlight the need to identify major development projects well into the future and to take an integrated approach to planning for their approval, funding, and development. A key element of most airport specific strategic plans is the recognition that airports in Florida’s metropolitan areas function as a “system” and as such a comprehensive approach must be identified and followed to maximize the role that each airport plays in the system. Strategic plans for Florida’s airports highlight the need to regularly update long-range plans. Strategic planning initiatives that are completed or underway for airports in the Florida system are compatible with and supportive of the FASP 2025 goal for a well planned airport system. In summary, with a vision for the Florida Airport System established and goals to reach this vision identified, the next phase of the Strategic Plan will use the benchmarks identified in Phase I to evaluate Florida’s existing airport system and to identify its current adequacies and deficiencies.
2.9.6.7 Financial Needs
To ensure that Florida’s airport system can support the FASP 2025, significant investment will be needed at the private, local, state, and federal levels. As was previously discussed in this document in Section 2.9.6.6, Goal 3, when commercial airport TSA security requirements are considered, at least $7.2 billion in federal, state, and local funding will be needed over the next five years to fully respond to all needs of the Florida airport as identified in JACIP. Section 2.9.6.6 of this report contains information by CFASPP region on total funding needs by airport category and type of project for the next five years. This section focuses on FDOT funding requests by FDOT District for that same time frame. Since FDOT funding is allocated by District as opposed to CFASPP region, this funding discussion focuses on each FDOT District as opposed to each CFASPP region as has been the case in previous sections of this report. In addition, this section also compares total FDOT funds that have been allocated strictly to FDOT funding requests. All information discussed in this section is for the 2005-2009 timeframe.
Statewide Overview
The Department developed an overview of roles played by airports in the economy and lifestyle of Florida. In addition to providing information to the public about the history and economy of the State and how the aviation system is supporting the demands and needs in the State, the analysis is intended to aid local, regional, and state policymakers by identifying what the aviation system needs to do to support the projected growth across the State. The research was conducted in cooperation with the Continuing Florida Aviation System Planning Process (CFASPP).
Regional Overviews
In addition to the Statewide Overview, the department developed overviews for each CFASPP Region.
Airport Profiles
The Department developed an Airport Profile for each public-use airport in the Florida Aviation System Plan. The profile is the airport's portion of the system plan, providing detailed information about the airport. The analysis in the airport profile is intended to aid local, regional, and state policymakers by identifying airport needs in order to support projected growth in the region.