Table Of ContentPractical Airport
Operations, Safety, and
Emergency Management
Practical Airport
Operations, Safety, and
Emergency Management
Protocols for Today and the Future
Jeffrey C. Price
Jeffrey S. Forrest
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Foreword
The global aviation industry is a complex and interconnected network of airports, airlines,
manufacturers, and air traffic control systems, all working closely together to connect people
with each other and to facilitate the transportation of goods. In 2015, it was estimated that the
global aviation industry provided over 56 million jobs globally and over $2 trillion of global GDP
(gross domestic product). As global connections grow closer every year, the aviation industry must
meet andexceedthe demands ofcurrent travelers, shippers, andcommerce.
Airportsare,ofcourse,criticaltothesuccessoftheglobalaviationindustry.Airportsprovidethe
neededinfrastructuretosafelyandsuccessfullyfacilitateaircommerceandairtravel.Unfortunately,
many of our nation’s airports are in dire need of upgrade and expansion, so the need for increased
funding, creative personnel, and innovative ideas is a “must” in order to sustain an effective
and efficient U.S. air transportation system. Like any successful industry, airport operators under-
stand they must continually adapt in order to survive. Managing an airport just five years ago
involved manydifferentdemands thanthedemands oftoday,andthattrendofchange willcontinue
into the future. Airport operators have learned that they must now think, talk, and operate as entre-
preneurs—especially as entrepreneurship relates to exceeding the overall passenger experience!
Today’sAirportManager mustcontinuously balance the challenges ofregulatoryrequirements with
offeringtherightamountofamenitiesandgrowth.Thesechallengesarewhatmaketheprofessionof
managingairportsveryexcitingandrewarding.
I would like to introduce you to an exciting career field that is neither highly known nor
well-advertised, but is rewarding, challenging, and integral to the success of the Aviation
Industry—specifically, a career in Airport Operations, Safety, and Emergency Management.
No matter the size or complexity of your airport, the components of operations (Ops), safety, and
emergency management are always present. If you are running a small airport, these functions
may be performed by one or two people. In contrast, large-hub certificated airports may employ up
to 100 staff to ensure that duties are performed correctly. As airports continue to grow and air
travel increases, airports will be looking for qualified candidates who can help face the many
related challenges that are coming.
The material in this book has been carefully researched and reviewed. It is presented in a way
that enables the reader to achieve maximum retention. Whether this is your first course in airport
management or you are a seasoned professional, you will find the material in each chapter very
helpful in preparing you for an amazing career or enhancing your current abilities in the field. The
chapters and their order have been carefully selected to help readers build their base knowledge
and understand what is needed to run a safe, secure, and efficient airport operation—an airport
operationthat current and future travelers will expect.
If you have ever wondered how airports are owned, how they fit together into a larger system,
how they are funded, how airports are regulated, orhow safety is incorporatedinto the airportenvi-
ronment, then this book is perfect for you. You will learn about the role the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) plays in airports, the different components of an airfield, including taxiway,
runway, and supporting navigational aids used for the safe operation ofaircraft.
xv
xvi Foreword
Some of the topics identified in this book have evolved from recent events, changes in technol-
ogy, or federal mandates and are important to understand and keep abreast of. For example, Safety
Management Systems (SMS) is something that has been around for many years in various indus-
tries, including aviation. However, the FAA is now mandating SMS-related efforts into the airport
operatingenvironmentandis requiring new skillsandknowledgeoftheairportemployee.Theinte-
gration of technology and process improvement into Emergency Management is something that
continues to evolve, whether it is coordinating the response of firefighters to a burning aircraft or
supporting a response to a natural disaster in the community. In addition, the use of the National
Incident Management System and Incident Command System is rather new for airports. This book
also discusses technologies that are innovative to the industry, like the use of Unmanned
Aeronautical Vehicles (UAVs) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) on or near airports; responses
to laser sightings; andNextGen improvements.
As an aviation professional, I am excited and encouraged to see students and industry profes-
sionals learning the contents of this textbook. The topics and supporting material are relevant to the
issues we face today in the airport industry. The field of Airport Operations, Safety, and
Emergency Management is becoming a highly desired career choice and one that is well embraced
and supported in the aviation industry. I have enjoyed a very rewarding and challenging career in
this field and look forward to the excitement and viability of Airport Operations in the coming
years.Thistextbook willnotonlyassiststudentsinlearningthebasicmethods,techniques, andsys-
tems used to run an airport, but will also be a reference guide for those who, like myself, are cur-
rently inthe industry.
The authors of this textbook, Jeffrey Price, M.A., C.M., and Jeffrey Forrest, Ph.D., have done a
fabulous job researching and writing in preparation for writing this text. They are both extremely
credible professionals within the industry and have a historyof producingrelevant,meaningful, and
educational publications that have been used throughout the world. For example, together they
authored Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats, Second Edition
(2013), a widely used and well-referenced text in the aviation industry. They also authored the
American Association of Airport Executive’s (AAAE) Certified Member Body of Knowledge mod-
ules, which have assisted aviation professionals throughout the United States in obtaining their pro-
fessional rating as a Certified Member of AAAE. The contribution made to the industry by these
two skilled authors is invaluable. The air transportation industry is thankful to have well-written
materialthat is relevant,meaningful,and useful ineveryday settings.
Finally, I support you in expanding your knowledge about the great career of Airport
Operations, Safety, and Emergency Management. The journey ahead is rewarding and I want to
personally thank you for reading this text. The industry is in need of individuals with this knowl-
edge, and we anxiously await an increased pool of qualified and motivated people to join us in
runningthe world’s airports.
Dan Sprinkle, A.A.E.,MBA
Vice President(cid:1)AirportOperations
Denver International Airport
Preface
In 1968, author Arthur Hailey’s novel, Airport, went to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers
list. Airport described a fictional “day-in-the-life” of an Airport Manager trying to keep the airport
running safely and efficiently despite a huge variety of operational, security, and emergency prob-
lems. Hailey’s work depicted 12 hours of Airport Operations that could easily serve as a menu of
typical problems airport operators continue to face to this day, including: blizzards, internal airline
and airport politics, noise complaints, air traffic control challenges, stowaways, disgruntled passen-
gers and impatient pilots, aircraft operational problems, personality issues, and threats to security.
To some extent, modern Airport Operations Managers might refer to many of the situations
presentedin Airport asperhaps a “typical Monday”!
Airport Operations was not especially well-known as a career opportunity when Airport was
published. Early Airport Operations personnel were typically staffed, by default, with former pilots.
There were few aviation or airport management training or educational programs during this era,
and pilots were the best qualified resource for servingin airport management and operations. It was
also common for most to assume that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the airlines
operated public airports. To this day, many individuals are surprised to learn that usually a city
or county serves asthe employers ofairport operational personnel and is responsible for the day-to-
day operations oftheir local airport(s).
Today, there are dozens of colleges and universities offering varying levels of degree programs
designed for those seeking a career in aviation operations or aviation management. Correspondingly,
there is a growing body of published work, including textbooks, certification training programs, and
industrypublicationsaddressingthemanyaspectsandchallengesofAirportOperations,or“Ops.”
In modern educational and professional Airport Operations training programs, and other texts
on the subject, much emphasis has been placed on “passenger throughput modeling.” Modeling is
extremely useful in Ops, especially in aiding in the development of efficient terminal design.
However, much of this effort focuses on terminal or airfield design concepts as related to opera-
tions. In contrast, this text addresses the day-to-day practical requirements of Airport Operations
needed to ensure the efficient and effective flow and air transportation of passengers, baggage, and
cargo.
Practical Airport Operations, Safety, and Emergency Management targets the current and future
Airport Operations professional charged with ensuring that all functions of an airport are safely,
securely, and effectively executed. Airport Operations personnel are on the “front lines” at our
nation’s airports, solving safety and security problems, ensuring compliance with regulations, being
ambassadors to the general public, serving as peacemakers between tenants and airlines, and
responding to human-made and natural disasters. These and many more operational responsibilities
are described in this book, and in ways that enhance the reader’s ability to protect passengers, and
to protect the airport from risk and liability. While several chapters of this book relate to the opera-
tion of Part 139 commercial service “certificated” airports, the information presented is also highly
relevant to general aviation airport operators who want to be informed about best practices and
regulatory requirements of operating an airport. Regardless of airport size or classification, under-
standing how to implement effective operational processes helps all airport authorities to comply
xvii
xviii Preface
with FAA grant assurances, while also reducing operating costs and legal exposure. Most impor-
tantly, effective and safe operational policies and processes save lives. Therefore, Practical Airport
Operations, Safety, and Emergency Management explores these policies and processes in great
detail, providing the reader with foundational knowledge necessary for operating a safe and effec-
tive airport service.
Chapters 1 to 3 provide the context for Airport Operations personnel, addressing the physical,
regulatory,and politicalenvironment that Ops personnel mustunderstand tobe successful.
Chapters 4 and 5 focus on Safety Management Systems (SMS) as an international safety stan-
dard that is being adopted by airports throughout the world. SMS is now considered an essential
element to an airport safety culture. SMS can help reduce accidents and the severity of accidents
and identify the highest priority risks and hazards so that funding for operations and safety can be
moreeffectively budgeted.
Chapters 6 to 8 focus on Part 139 operations and relate to commercial airfield safety. More than
just a recital of the regulations, these chapters are combined with best practices from a variety of
areas including the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA), and other references to form a construct for developing an effective airfield
safetyprogram.
Chapter 9 focuses on terminal and landside operations. While airfield safety is a regulatory
responsibility, it is the terminal and landside operations that bring in a tremendous amount of reve-
nue tothe airportand are alsoimportant touchpoints tothe passenger experience.
Chapters 10 to 12 focus on emergency management at airports. The Airport Emergency Plan,
incident management systems, and handling specific hazards, such as aircraft crashes, natural disas-
ters, and hazardous materials, are addressed.
Chapter 13 discusses future operational challenges to Airport Operations, including Unmanned
AerialVehicles and spaceports.
Ultimately, it is our desire that this text be used to increase overall efficiency and safety in
operations at airports. We also strongly believe that this text provides the aspiring student of avia-
tion management a solid foundation for understanding and embracing Airport Operations as a pro-
fession. Practical Airport Operations, Safety, and Emergency Management is highly accessible to
the new or aspiring airport management professional. The text is also of great value to the experi-
enced Airport Operations Manager as a day-to-day reference for administering effective and safe
AirportOperations.
(Note: Practical Airport Operations, Safety, and Emergency Management is a companion to our
first textbook, Practical Airport Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats, Second
Edition [Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013].)
Jeffrey C.Price and Jeffrey S. Forrest
Denver, Colorado, 2016
Acknowledgments
As with any extensive and challenging team project, there are numerous people to thank
for their assistance and dedication. Our fear is that someone will be forgotten, so here is our
best effort at including everyone who assisted in the production of this book. Our sincerest
thanks and appreciation go to all these individuals and any that may have been inadvertently
unnamed.
We would like to acknowledge, first and foremost, our wives, Jennifer Price and Betsy Forrest,
who suffered tremendously, particularly in the final months as we were up against deadlines. They
not only had to take on the extra load of getting things done, but also “putting up” with us. Jeff
Price would like to thank his kids, Austin, Alex, and Ashton, who graciously gave up a lot of dad
time this past year so he could get the book done, and to his parents, Zig and Dianne Price, who
did a lot of the heavy lifting in filling in for dad when the kids and Jen needed help. And to
Marion Shelley (Nana) who helpedfoster alove of airports inJP.
A huge thanks goes out to Megan Jones and Dawn Escarcega, who were critical to the
entire process, working on edits, reviews, citations, chasing down photos, and just about
anything else we asked them to do on short notice and always with a deadline of yesterday.
Special thanks also goes to Chris Hardaway, J.D., for his critical analysis of many of our
passages and pointing out viable legal resources to integrate into the text. Without Megan,
Dawn, and Chris, this book would not have been possible. Also, a very special thanks to our
team at Elsevier, including Hilary Carr, Sara Scott, Pam Chester, and Punithavathy
Govindaradjane for your flexibility, encouragement, and patience!
For this book, we wanted to include industry essays to provide the reader with “real-world”
perspectives. As a result, many professionals took time out of their busy schedules to write for
us or to give us one-on-one interviews. Thank you to our contributors, Tim Barth, Martha Edge,
Meredith Champlin Eaton, Alex Gertsen, Robert Olislagers, Tim O’Krongley, Justin Overholt,
John Paczkowski, Zechariah Papp, Jim Payne, Jim Schell, Rosemary Rizzo, Dave Ruppel, Dan
Sprinkle, Jason Taussig, and Steve Thompson, and to Jessica Birnbaum, Nick Meacher, and
William Payne for their contributions of time and expertise.
A very special thanks to Alfonso Denson, President/CEO-Birmingham Airport Authority Board,
and Jim Payne, Director of Operations & Planning at the Birmingham/Shuttlesworth International
Airport (BHM). BHM is very progressive in the training and development of its operations and
maintenance staff and a lot of the material in the operations and emergency management sections
of this text was either developed, trained, or tested during training sessions conducted by J. Price at
BHM. BothAlfonso andJim are true leaders in ourindustry!
Thank you also to the American Association of Airport Executives for its long-standing support
ofairport training at airports throughout the United States, and toAirports CouncilInternational.
We would also like to thank Shaun Sederberg and Alex Gertsen for sharing some of their
excellent photography. Additional thanks go out to Kim Day and Stacey Stegman at Denver
International Airport, who gave permissions to use photographs and also allowed several members
ofthe Denver International Airportteam tocontribute their personal essays.
xix
xx Acknowledgments
Others who contributed in ways they may not even have realized, but did so through support,
side work, friendship, and professional guidance, are: Sherilyn Kadel (JP’s source of inspiration
and encouragement, may she never be forgotten), J. David Rigsby, Starla Bryant, Alex Sweetman,
Greg Donovan, Kevin Matthews, Steve Runge, Steve Davis, Dawson Frank, Ron Fano, and
Stephen Flynn—and Arthur Hailey, author of the novel Airport, for inspiring a generation of
Airport Managers and operators. Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Sandra Haynes, Dean of the
College of Professional Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver, for providing support
and latitude toouralready busy schedulesas we producedthis book.
CHAPTER
1
AIRPORT OPERATIONS, SAFETY,
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Airportairside“Ops”atDenverInternationalAirport,CO,TerminalA.
ImagebyShahnSederberg,courtesyColoradoDivisionofAeronautics,2013.
PracticalAirportOperations,Safety,andEmergencyManagement.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800515-6.00001-9 1
©2016ElsevierInc.Allrightsreserved.
