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46 C H A P T E R  4 This synthesis provides 125 examples of airport facilities provided by airports for use by their local communities and is the first report of its kind to provide such a basic collection of information on the subject. The original objective of this synthesis was to âcompile programs that airports have instituted to provide space in their interior and exterior facilities for com- munity groups or individuals to use as conference rooms, meeting areas, [and] hangar access grounds, etc.â Partway through the project, however, it became apparent that, for a number of reasons, it would not be possible to obtain a history of those facility uses or a detailed explanation of their benefits. Those reasons include the following: (a) the community uses of airport facilities appear to arise most often on an ad hoc basis and tend not to be part of an organized effort or program; (b) such uses also tend not to be initiated or carried out by a single person or department within the airport; (c) the uses of many community use airport facilities (such as a meeting room by a nonprofit or a hangar by a community-based educa- tional institution) tend to be treated in a manner similar to other transactions using the same or similar contractual terms and rates; (d) many community uses of airport facilities (such as parks, recreation, and museum uses) have been in place for a number of years and the institu- tional knowledge of their details has often been lost; and (e) the interviews conducted as part of this study found that the benefits of the community use of airport facilities are perceived and articulated in generalized terms that mirror the goals found in FAAâs Sustainability Pilot Program (discussed in Chapter 2). As a consequence of the principal investigatorâs midpoint assessment of the progress of the project, the project panel agreed to alter the focus of the synthesis to obtaining the broadest possible identification and compilation of the kinds of facilities that airports provide for use by community groups or local nonprofit organizations. Interviews with 56 U.S. and Canadian airports were used to construct 22 tables listing the 125 community facility uses at the surveyed airports with additional narrative examples of the uses (see Chapter 3). Appendix B summarizes the findings regarding the kinds of facilities airports provide for community use. The data con- tained in the tables and narrative examples in the synthesis provide a basis for further research into this developing subject matter area. This study has identified little published material related to the community use of airport facilities and, hence, a number of gaps exist in the current state of knowledge about the subject. Following are five recommendations for further research in order to fill these gaps in knowledge. 1. The review conducted as part of this synthesis suggests a lack of a consistent policy at many airports regarding the community use of airport facilities. Some airports (usually smaller airports) regard such uses as a source of marketing and revenue; larger airports tend to see the facility uses in terms of marketing and public relations purposes but tend not to be as concerned with revenue generation from such uses. Conclusions and Further Research
Conclusions and Further Research 47Â Â It would be helpful to understand the motivation of airports in allowing the community use of airport facilities and whether airport size is a predictor of how airports perceive such uses by their communities. 2. Local communities are undeniably important to airports. One of the assumptions underlying this study was that community use of airport facilities would be part of an airportâs social and economic sustainability plans. This did not seem to be true among many of the surveyed airports. Even among some airports with sustainability plans, it was difficult to find an admin- istrative focal point for the use of airport facilities by community groups and a connection to the airportâs sustainability goals. A more in-depth report would help to examine whether airports view community use of their facilities as a way to build relationships with their communities and whether those efforts are viewed as part of an airportâs social and economic sustainability plan. It would also be helpful to understand how airports connect with local institutions (such as medical providers, universities, and nonprofits) and how they perceive the value of these connections and relationships. 3. In many cases investigators for this synthesis found it difficult to locate the airport manager or administrator primarily responsible for an airportâs economic and social sustainability program and with overall responsibility for the community use of airport facilities. It would be helpful to understand how airports, especially those with sustainability plans, organize their sustainability programs and the use of their facilities by community groups. A case example approach to such a report would seem to be most beneficial for airports interested in organizing such programs. 4. This study revealed a significant number of airports that provide airport space for use by educa- tional institutions. These educational facilities seem to have existed on airports for many years, with host airports apparently receiving some benefit from the facilitiesâ location on airport prop- erty. Several airports explained that the educational institutions with which they have relationships provide workers for on-airport employers or for employers in the airportâs geographical region. It would be helpful to understand with more detail how the airports and the educational institutions benefit from the presence of an academic institution on an airport, how the pro- grams were or are initiated and managed at specific airports, and the economic and other benefits that accrue from such partnerships. It would also be helpful to explore the history of such programs and to understand whether the educational programs preceded the demand for aviation-related graduates or whether employers in the area or region fostered the airportâs interest in establishing an educational partnership with a public institution. 5. A study of how and why airports provide facility space for community use that also focuses on the benefits of such use would be particularly helpful to airports and program managers. Interviews with administrators at the surveyed airports suggest that community outreach efforts and programs for the use of airport facilities by community organizations may have many potential benefits. Community facility use at airports may (a) provide the community and other interested parties with a better understanding of the airport, its operations, and the constraints under which an airport operates; (b) assist the airport in obtaining community support for its programs and users; (c) help the airport gather information about local needs, concerns, and interests; (d) offer the opportunity for an airport to provide services (as allowed by the airportâs sponsor, its mission, and the statutes and regulations under which it operates) to satisfy community needs and interests; (e) establish the airportâs credibility as a resource for accurate and timely information, and its reputation for being fair and honest; and (f) generate goodwill for the airport, its sponsor, and airport users. It would be helpful to understand the history of benefits obtained by airports from community use of airport facilities. Further study is needed in order to identify airports that can serve as case examples of these benefits. Such a report should also investigate and explain how airports developed such benefits and identify the kind of investments that were required to produce them.
