Integrating the Airport into the Community Plan

The airport must be integrated into community planning processes if its full potential for serving the community is to be realized. Towards this end, in 1967 the airlines instituted an airport facilities planning effort called the Airport Master Plan Report Program. These reports seek to identify airport improvements required for balanced airport capabilities in four broad categories: (1) Airport utilization— including air traffic control; (2) airport capabilities—including runway capacity; (3) surface transportation—on and off the airport; and (4) terminal facilities—passenger and cargo. The findings from the reports are presented to municipal planners, who in their turn, must develop a total planning concept which integrates airports into the life of each community and of the nation.