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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22182.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22182.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22182.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22182.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22182.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22182.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22182.
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A I R P O R T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M ACRP REPORT 129 TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2015 www.TRB.org Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration Subject Categories Aviation  •  Planning and Forecasting Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports Maria J. Muia Woolpert, Inc. Indianapolis, IN Mary E. Johnson purdue unIversIty West Lafayette, IN

AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in trans­ portation of people and goods and in regional, national, and inter­ national commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal respon­ sibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Coopera­ tive Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near­term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study spon­ sored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Coopera­ tive Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Pro­ gram. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, mainte­ nance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport opera­ tors can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100­Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary participants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International­North America (ACI­NA), the American Associa­ tion of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Airlines for America (A4A), and the Airport Consultants Council (ACC) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research orga­ nizations. Each of these participants has different interests and respon­ sibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by iden­ tifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel, appointed by the TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport pro­ fessionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels pre­ pare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooper­ ative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the intended end­users of the research: airport operating agencies, service providers, and suppliers. The ACRP produces a series of research reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other interested parties, and industry associations may arrange for work­ shops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by airport­industry practitioners. ACRP REPORT 129 Project 03­27 ISSN 1935­9802 ISBN 978­0­309­30843­4 Library of Congress Control Number 2015932786 © 2015 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not­for­profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB or FAA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not­for­profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The members of the technical panel selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance. The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research Council, and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. Published reports of the AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.national­academies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. The Transportation Research Board is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council. The mission of the Transporta- tion Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individu- als interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org www.national-academies.org

C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The ACRP Project 03­27 research team was led by Woolpert, Inc. Subconsultants on this project were Purdue University’s Aviation Technology Department and Hybrid­3, Inc. Maria J. Muia, Ph.D., senior aviation planner for Woolpert, Inc., was the project director and principal investigator. Mary E. Johnson, Ph.D., professor for Purdue University, was the authority on the statistical analysis. The aforementioned were contributing authors of the final report. Other individuals who contributed to the project through field testing, statistical analysis, surveying, and literature review were (listing here does not imply authorship of this document): Ryan McCroskey and Brad Cozza of Woolpert, Inc.; Joyce Brummett, Hybrid­3, Inc.; Anthony Erstad, Brian Dillman, Stewart W. Schreckengast, Jennifer Kirschner, Steven M. Leib, Scott R. Winter, Yue Liu, Denver Lopp, and Chien­tsung Lu of Purdue University; and Marcus Dial, Indiana Department of Transportation. The research team would like to thank the following airports for participating in this study: Indianapo­ lis Executive Airport (TYQ); Purdue University Airport (LAF); Eagle Creek Airpark (EYE); and Paoli Municipal Airport (I42). CRP STAFF FOR ACRP REPORT 129 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Michael R. Salamone, ACRP Manager Joseph D. Navarrete, Senior Program Officer Terri Baker, Senior Program Assistant Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Margaret B. Hagood, Editor ACRP PROJECT 03-27 PANEL Field of Policy and Planning Jack E. Thompson, Jr., C&S Companies, Orlando, FL (Chair) Kerry L. Ahearn, Boulder City Airport, Boulder City, NV John J. Barker, City of Lee’s Summit Missouri, Lee’s Summit, MO Peter D. Buchen, Minnesota DOT, Roseville, MN Richard Lanman, Auburn-Lewiston Airport, Auburn, ME Kay A. Thede, Clapsaddle-Garber Associates, Inc., Ames, IA Tommy Dupree, FAA Liaison Richard A. Cunard, TRB Liaison

F O R E W O R D ACRP Report 129: Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports provides a thorough review of techniques and technologies for estimating aircraft operations at airports without air traffic control towers. The report documents the indus­ try’s first comprehensive evaluation of the most common traffic estimation methods and is especially valuable to practitioners seeking to develop a statistically defensible estimate of aircraft activity for their non­towered airport. Aircraft operations counts are used as input for determining funding and design criteria at the nation’s airports. They are also needed for developing the forecasts used to prepare airport master plans, aviation system plans, and environmental studies. Yet most airports don’t have accurate activity records because they do not have an air traffic control tower, or because the tower does not operate 24 hours per day. Various techniques have therefore been used to obtain activity estimates at these facilities, including generic operations­per­based­aircraft ratios, guest logs, fuel sales, visual observation, automatic counters, acoustical counters, and video data capturing devices. However, no systematic review of these techniques has been undertaken. Research was needed to evaluate aircraft operations­counting estimation techniques and tech­ nologies and to develop guidance to assist airport practitioners in selecting and using the most appropriate methods given available resources, accuracy requirements, and airport layout. The research, led by Woolpert, Inc., built on the results of ACRP Synthesis 4: Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports by reviewing recent literature and identifying new technologies. The research team then reached out to stakeholders to identify how oper­ ations data are used, confirm the criteria practitioners consider when selecting a counting method, and determine the most common counting methods used by the industry. Next, a testing program was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of three methods, including: • Multiplying based aircraft by an estimated number of operations per based aircraft, • Applying a ratio of FAA flight plans to total operations, and • Expanding a sample count into an annual estimate through extrapolation. For the sampling method, the testing program also looked at the accuracy of different aircraft traffic counting technologies, including: • Automated acoustical counter, • Sound­level meter, • Security/trail cameras, and • Video image detection with a transponder receiver. By Joseph D. Navarrete Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

The testing program involved installing counting systems at four airports for extended time periods to test their accuracy, reliability, and ease of use within the safety and opera­ tional constraints typically found at airports. The research also evaluated sampling plans and methods of expanding samples to produce estimates of annual activity. The report summarizes the need for accurate aircraft operations counts and the chal­ lenges to obtaining these counts at many airports. It describes the research approach used to identify, test, and evaluate various aircraft operations counting techniques. The report then presents the research findings and suggests areas for further research. The report includes appendices that provide statistical backup for the research effort, an example of estimating aircraft operations from sample counts, a copy of Statistical Sampling of Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports (FAA­APO­85­7), and graphics illustrating where tested technolo­ gies were placed at the study airports to help practitioners in positioning equipment at their facility. The research found that methods of estimating aircraft operations using ratios of based aircraft or instrument flight plans, while simple and inexpensive, could not be supported by the test results. Basing operations estimates on actual samples of activity produces results that are significantly more accurate and defensible, with the most accurate sampling approach based on four 2­week samples (i.e., one in each season). Finally, the research found that the selection of a counting technology needs to consider the airfield layout and fleet mix, among other factors.

C O N T E N T S 1 Summary 5 Chapter 1 Introduction 5 Statement of Problem 5 Purpose of Study 6 Chapter 2  Research Approach 6 Tasks 11 Limitations and Assumptions of the Study 12 Chapter 3  Research Findings 12 Methods for Estimating Annual Airport Operations 23 Aircraft Traffic Counters Evaluated 50 Chapter 4  Conclusions and Suggested Research 50 Conclusions 56 Suggested Research 57  Works Cited 58  Bibliography A-1 Appendix A  Supporting Statistical Information for Chapter 3 B-1 Appendix B   Example of Estimating Operations from  Sample Counts Using Forms from  FAA-APO-85-7, Statistical Sampling of Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports C-1 Appendix C   FAA-APO-85-7, Statistical Sampling of Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports D-1 Appendix D  Airport Diagrams

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TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 129: Evaluating Methods for Counting Aircraft Operations at Non-Towered Airports reviews techniques and technologies applied at airports without air traffic control towers to estimate aircraft operations.

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