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5 chapter two STUDY METHODOLOGY Before data from airports on the topic of airport advisories was gathered for this synthesis, the literature on this topic was reviewed. Specifically, a search was conducted on the topic of airport advisories through Google, Google Scholar, TRID database [records from TRBâs Transportation Research Information Services Database and the Joint Transport Research Centreâs International Transport Research Documentation Database of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)], FAA website, and OneSearch (powered by EBSCO). Next, the population for this synthesis was clearly defined. Because of the focus on airport advi- sories, only non-towered airports were included. In addition, a minimum number of annual aircraft operations of 50,000 was established. The Airport Master Record database (GCR n.d.) was used to define the specific study population of airports, which numbered 204 (see Appendix A). As of May 2015, there were 204 airports in the United States that met the criteria (non-towered with at least 50,000 annual aircraft operations); they represent each of the nine FAA regions and 38 states (see Table 1 and Figure 1). To gather the intended data, a telephone interview script was developed (see Appendix B). To ensure a higher response rate and rich data collection, the telephone interview was chosen rather than a more typical online or mailed survey. It was thought that speaking with participants in an open-ended fashion likely would enable greater insight than would the use of an instrument with close-ended questions. The interview script was intended to gain insight into current practices at these non-towered airports regarding airport advisories. The script was developed with insight from the project panel. The airport manager of each airport selected for the study was contacted by telephone during June, July, or August 2015. The interview script was used to guide each phone call. If the airport manager answering the call indicated that the FBO, flight school, or other organization was responsible for issuing airport advisories, that entity was contacted. A total of 165 responses were obtained, resulting in an 81% response rate. In addition to the initial telephone interviews, the study included a second phase in which a few willing and interested participants were contacted a second time, and a case example interview script was used (Appendix C). These airports were selected in a purposeful way. They represent a geographically diverse set of airports of various sizes (based on operations) and those with stand- alone UNICOM or combined CTAF/UNICOM frequency. The goal during this second phase was to gain more insight into successful airport advisory practices at some of the participating airports and determine lessons learned and most effective practices used.
6 Nevada 4 Western-Pacific Nebraska 1 Central State Number of Airports (Non-towered and at Least 50,000 Annual Operations) FAA Region Alaska 3 Alaskan Alabama 9 Southern Arkansas 5 Southwest Arizona 7 Western-Pacific California 25 Western-Pacific Colorado 6 Northwest Mountain Florida 18 Southern Georgia 3 Southern Idaho 3 Northwest Mountain Illinois 6 Great Lakes Indiana 1 Great Lakes Kansas 1 Central Kentucky 1 Southern Louisiana 8 Southwest Massachusetts 3 New England Maryland 1 Eastern Maine 1 New England Minnesota 4 Great Lakes Missouri 2 Central Mississippi 1 Southern North Carolina 9 Southern New Jersey 4 Eastern New Mexico 1 Southwest New York 6 Eastern Ohio 14 Great Lakes Oklahoma 4 Southwest Oregon 5 Northwest Mountain Pennsylvania 3 Eastern South Carolina 4 Southern Tennessee 5 Southern Texas 11 Southwest Utah 4 Northwest Mountain Virginia 4 Eastern Washington 12 Northwest Mountain Wisconsin 4 Great Lakes Wyoming 1 Northwest Mountain Total 204 TABLE 1 AIRPORTS TO BE SURVEYED BY STATE AND FAA REGION
7 FIGURE 1 Surveyed airports by FAA region.
