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1 Purpose of the Guidebook Efficient and effective aprons are critical to the safety of aircraft and ground support equipment (GSE) operations, employees, and passengers on and around aircraft parking areas. Although aprons are most typically understood in the context of terminal facilities, they also encompass hold pads, cargo areas, hardstand positions, deicing areas, maintenance areas, heliports, and other airport facilities and operations. Aprons are among the most active and, at times, congested areas at an airport. Aircraft taxi to and from aprons, while GSE used for aircraft servicing, fueling, deicing, and cargo and baggage loading and unloading operate in close proximity to aircraft in the apron environment. Additionally, there is potential for aircraft congestion and interaction, particularly at busy airports during periods of concentrated aircraft activity and in physically or operationally constrained areas. In addition to the dynamic aspects of the apron environment, facilities and equipment also influence apron planning and design. This is particularly true where the facility geometry/footprint is unique or constrained and at facilities with significant apron equipment (passenger loading bridges, hydrant fuel pits, and related items). All apron areas must be appropriately configured and sufficiently delineated to protect the safety of aircraft occupying these areas: to enable personnel and equipment to safely and efficiently move to, from, and among aircraft to service them between operations; and to accommodate the safe, secure, and orderly transfer of passengers, baggage, and cargo among aircraft and facilities. Aprons must also provide sufficient area for the safe and efficient maneuvering of aircraft without significantly affecting adjacent parked aircraft or aircraft taxiing through or near apron areas. Apron planning considerations reflect the role of each airport in the national aviation system as well as the size and operational capabilities of aircraft reasonably expected to operate at each airport in the near term and in the longer term future. Clear definition of specific areas of the apron (for aircraft parking, GSE staging, aircraft taxiing, aircraft pushbacks, vehicle service roads, and other specific functions) is critical to maximizing the safety and efficiency of operations. Technical apron requirements include the application of appropriate industry standards for apron layout, marking, and lighting; access for emergency vehicles; and fixed or mobile services for aircraft servicing. Aircraft apron areas must provide safe and economical facilities while main- taining the flexibility to accommodate reasonably anticipated changes in a dynamic industry. Evolving trends in aircraft types and characteristics, such as regional jets and new large aircraft (FAA Airplane Design Group [ADG] VI), devices mounted on wingtips, and related requirements must be evaluated in planning and designing apron facilities, in addition to new technologies for aircraft handling and servicing. C H A P T E R 1 Introduction
2 Apron Planning and Design Guidebook As the aviation industry continues to evolve (equipment, operational practices, technological advancements, etc.) and as more emphasis is placed on optimizing the use of airport infrastructure, incorporating flexibility into apron planning and design becomes a fundamental consideration. Accomplishing this requires specific evaluation and analysis during the planning and design process to ensure future options are not unnecessarily constrained by near term decisions. Apron planning and design guidance is available, but the guidance is not typically compre- hensive, fully inclusive of all apron types, or robust, but rather is most often available as discrete elements of other related industry guidance. This lack of consolidated, cohesive, consistent, and thorough guidance challenges planners, designers, airlines, airport operators, and others to plan, design, mark, light, and sign apron facilities with the necessary safety, commonality, and flexibility that meets the needs of apron users. This guidebook is intended to describe best practices for comprehensive apron planning and design to assist planners, designers, airport operators, and other stakeholders in enhancing the operational efficiency, safety, and flexibility of aprons. The guidance presented in this document is not intended to standardize apron planning, but rather to provide planners and designers with an understanding of the apron environment, the planning process, and planning and design guidance that will enable them to use solid professional judgment in apron planning and design. Given the unique physical, environmental, and operational nature of individual airports, it is critical that planners and designers interpret and apply the best practices in this guidebook in a thoughtful and appropriately creative manner to maximize the objectives of each project, while prioritizing the safety, flexibility, and efficiency of aprons in accommodating aircraft, equipment, employees, and passengers. Use of the material in this guidebook does not relieve the planner or designer of the need to thoroughly understand the operating environment at a specific airport and in the vicinity of a proposed project and to coordinate appropriately with operators on the apron, and other stake- holders when warranted by the specific nature of an individual project. In fact, this guidebook encourages those approaches to maximize the safety and effectiveness of apron projects. It is important to recognize that the applicability of this guidance, both in scope and level of detail, will vary based on the nature of specific projects. Projects can range from high level master planning, in which the goal is to ensure that sufficient analysis is performed to provide for long-range needs to be accommodated within an available development envelope, to detailed facility design, in which subsequent project implementation is expected. It is up to the user of this guidebook to determine the optimal use of, or alignment with, the information presented herein. Organization This guidebook is organized in four chapters that provide guidance for apron planning or design projects, developing an understanding of the apron environment, and incorporating detailed guidance on planning considerations and design implications. More specifically, the guidebook consists of the following: ⢠Chapter 1, Introduction: This chapter presents background on the research project and explains the organization of the guidebook. ⢠Chapter 2, Apron Planning and Design Process: This chapter describes the general apron planning and design process and provides guidance on initiating the planning and design of aprons, including incorporating stakeholder and agency involvement. This chapter also explains the typical steps necessary for planning and designing operationally efficient, flexible, and safe apron facilities.
Introduction 3 ⢠Chapter 3, Understanding the Apron Environment: This chapter summarizes the different types of aprons, activities (aircraft, passengers, employees, vehicles) that occur in apron envi- ronments, and GSE used to support these activities. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of operations and other activities that occur on and around aprons so that the reader is aware of the factors and influences that warrant consideration when planning and designing apron facilities. ⢠Chapter 4, Apron Planning and Design: This chapter provides detailed guidance on various apron planning considerations, design implications, and related regulations/guidance. Given the number of sources that provide guidance on various aspects of apron planning and design, relevant sources of information are provided at the end of certain sections to provide the reader with easily identifiable references to more detailed information relating to specific topics. Users of this guidebook are encouraged to review these sources for additional apron planning and design guidance. Additional Guidance Airport Cooperative Research Program, ACRP Report 96: Apron Planning and Design Guidebook, 2013.
