Airport Planning Books

(Updated 1 Feb 2014)

I had done a post on the first Airport Planning Books I encountered.  I thought I would do a post about current Airport Planning Books and Airport Management Books that you might want to consider reading.  I have divided the selection into books suitable for US and Non-US audiences.

Books suitable for US and Non-US readers (covers both ICAO and FAA standards, US and non-US airports)

1.  Airport Engineering (Ashford) - Very readable with coverage of both ICAO and FAA standards.  The last edition was in 1992 so I am pleased that it has finally been updated.  This edition was published in 2011.

2.  Airport Operations (Ashford) - I enjoyed reading the 2nd edition published in 1999.  This 3rd edition was published in 2012. 

3.  Airport Systems (de Neuville) -  FAA and American Airport references are the majority in this book but there is still a sizable amount of ICAO and non-US references.  This book is written from an operations research perspective.  It is not easy to read for a novice. Click here for a webinar by the author.

 Books primarily for non-US audience (ICAO and non-US standards)

4.  The Air Transport System (Hirst) - This is not an airport planning book but provides an airport planner with base knowledge of the air transport system. Written by a British author.

5.  Managing Airports (Graham) - This book is not about airport planning but might be useful for airport planners to understand how airports are managed.  Written by a British author.

6.  The independent airport planning manual (Bradley) - I have not read this book but the blurb for the books says that the author was the editor for the IATA Airport Development Reference Manual.

Books primarily for US audience (FAA and US airport-centric)

7.  Airport Planning and Management (Young, Wells) - This is a very readable book and an easy read, good for beginners.  It is updated regularly.  However, it is written for a US audience so a reader outside the US might not find all the information in the book applicable for their context.

8.  Planning and Design of Airports (Horonjeff) -  This is a classic for Airport Engineers.  I have not read it recently but based on my memory, it was heavy on the civil engineering side. 

9.  Airport Planning A Practical Guide for Planners and Airport Managers (Bezilla) - This book was written by the former Director of Planning and Environmental Services of Baltimore Airport.