Preventive Maintenance at General Aviation Airports Volume 2: Guidebook (2015)

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1 1.1 Background General aviation airports play an important role in the nation’s aviation system. They provide access by air and serve the aviation needs of local communities. They have a significant economic impact on their community, region, and state. However, it is costly to properly operate, maintain, and develop an airport. Also, many airports have aging facilities, changing demands, and few rev- enue sources. Unfortunately, airport preventive maintenance (PM) is often neglected and given little to no priority when establishing local budgets or schedules. A sound maintenance program is critical for extending the life of airport facilities and to keep the airport as safe and efficient as possible. A lack of preventive maintenance can result in premature failure of infrastructure and additional costs that would not otherwise have been the case. This guidebook provides hands-on information to help with the development and execution of an airport PM program for general aviation airports. The companion primer (Volume 1 of this report) provides basic information about airport infrastructure and PM programs. These docu- ments were developed using the knowledge and experience of the authoring team along with a review of literature, industry outreach, and on-site visits and interviews involving a diverse group of airports and state aviation agencies from around the country. Appendix A contains a list of the airports and state aviation agencies that provided information to help with the development of this guidebook. The following airport infrastructure systems are introduced in the primer and are discussed in detail in Chapter 4 of this guidebook: • Airfield electrical vault, • Airfield lighting, • Airfield markings, • Airfield pavements, • Airfield signs, • Airfield visual and navigational aids, • Airport-owned utilities, • Deicing facilities, • Drainage systems, • Fencing and gates, • Fueling facilities, • Hangars, • Landside infrastructure, • Maintenance equipment, • Maintenance and equipment storage buildings, • Obstructions to imaginary surfaces, C H A P T E R 1 Introduction

2 Preventive Maintenance at General Aviation Airports • Terminals and administration buildings, • Turf and safety areas, and • Vehicles. 1.2 Purpose of Guidebook The purpose of this guidebook is to help airport management, maintenance staff, fixed-base operators, tenants, consultants, state aviation officials, and maintenance service providers with their airport maintenance responsibilities. This guidebook provides: • An overview of PM, why it is important, and some principles of a PM program; • Information about the key elements of a PM program; • PM procedures for specific airport infrastructure systems; • Comprehensive checklists for scheduled PM; and • References for additional information and help. 1.3 How to Use the Guidebook This guidebook primarily targets airport management and staff and provides guidance on the why, where, when, and how of PM programs. The primer is primarily directed toward airport governing officials, policy makers, and airport managers who are responsible for approving airport resources, budgets, staffing levels, and strategic plans for their airports. This guidebook’s organization flows from an overview of PM, what it is, why it is important, the general principles of a sound program, and how to establish a PM program, and then moves to specific guidance and generic checklists for each airport infrastructure system. Key questions for airport management, staff, and others to ask and where answers may be found in the guidebook are shown in Figure 1.1. In addition, Appendix B provides a list of useful sources of information about airport infrastructure and preventive maintenance. Each airport is unique. The actual program and activities that occur at airports differ signifi- cantly based on the complexity and age of an airport’s infrastructure and the available resources. Although this guidebook cannot specifically address the unique needs of each airport, it will help the reader better understand the important elements of a PM program, and it provides generic checklists for each infrastructure system that may be adapted to each airport based on varying infrastructure, staff levels, budgets, and other resources. The intended audiences and how they may use this guidebook are: • Airport management and staff are generally interested in the development of the overall PM program. Their focus is typically on identifying requirements, establishing a good program, and executing it on a daily basis. This audience will primarily benefit from Chapters 3 and 4. • Airport owners and policy makers, such as board members, elected officials, economic devel- opment staff, and community leaders, need a good understanding of general aviation, general aviation airport services, and facilities that provide those services. This knowledge will in turn help them make budgets, adopt community visions, recognize funding opportunities, and understand the importance of preventive maintenance. This audience will primarily benefit from Chapters 2 and 3 of this guidebook as well as the primer. • Airport tenants such as FBOs lease areas or facilities provided by the airport, but some develop their own facilities or participate in the airport owner’s preventive maintenance program. This audience will benefit from Chapter 4.

Introduction 3 • Local/state/federal agencies will benefit from all chapters depending on the staff’s role with airports and preventive maintenance. • Airport consultants are normally familiar with general aviation airports, their infrastructure systems, and the principles that make up a good PM program. This audience will primarily benefit from Chapters 3 and 4. This guidebook and the companion primer supplement other guidance that is available, such as FAA Advisory Circulars and orders, state aviation agency guidelines, and maintenance manu- als for specific equipment or vehicles. Many of these publications are listed in the bibliography in Appendix B. • What is the purpose of the guidebook? • How is it organized and how is it used? • What is PM? • Who is involved with PM? • Why is PM important and what are the basic principles of a sound PM program? • What are the key elements of a PM program? • How does an airport establish a PM program? • What are the various infrastructure systems at an airport and components that need PM? • What are checklists/schedules for PM of each infrastructure system? • What are safety considerations? • What are construction tips to make PM easier? • What are the key points presented in this guidebook? • Where does one go for more help? Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Overview of PM Chapter 3 An Airport PM Program Chapter 4 PM Procedures Chapter 5 Summary Figure 1.1. Guidebook content.