Airport Planning and Management Online Courses / Learning Options

There are two online learning options with regards to Airport Planning and Management that I would like to highlight - ANTN Digicast and ACI Online Training Centre (OLC).

In the United States, the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) has an online video training program called ANTN Digicast.  Click here for more information.

Many airports in the US have subscriptions to it.  This allows their employees to log on and watch various training videos from Part 139 to SIDA (Security Identification Display Area) Training to Movement Area Driver Training etc.  As with other aspects of airport planning and management, the videos are focused on FAA and US airports so it does not directly deal with ICAO or non-US airport aspects.

It operates on a monthly subscription model that ranges from $110 for a General Aviation Airport to $795 for a large hub airport.  There is also a non-airport (corporate) rate of $99.  ANTN has also recently established a pay per view option.

The second online learning option is the Online Learning Centre established by ACI.  Click here.  It is operated by Ceventas, a company based in Melbourne, Australia and Montreal, Canada.  This option would be more relevant for people working at non-US airports.  It operates on a pay-per-view model.

Ceventas was originally a subsidiary of Lochard, an Australian company that I was familiar with because of their noise monitoring equipment. 

They also provide training solutions for Queensland Airport and Canadian Airports through the Canadian Airports Online College supported by Winnipeg Airport Authority.  Click here.

Denver Airport (DEN) South Terminal Redevelopment

Denver International Airport South Terminal Redevelopment

Rail Approach (from video)

Airside view (from video)

Aerial View (from video)

Rail Station (from video)

9 TSA Security Screening Lanes (from video)

Estimated Cost: US$500million
Construction period : 2011-2015

The original design concept was by Santiago Calatrava. (news article by Denver Post) The current design shown is including the amendments by Gensler and Anderson Mason Dale Architects.  This brought the projected from US$650m to US$500m.

- 500 room Westin Hotel and Conference Center
- Public Transit Center, including an RTD East Rail Line Station and improvements to existing concourse baggage and train systems
- Public Plaza for community programming and events, plaza also connects development to existing Jeppesen Terminal

Click here for the video animation (no sound)

Aerial views (DIA website)

Passenger Drop off and Plaza (DIA website)

Train Platform (DIA website)

Source: DIA website and video

Managing Utility information at Airports (ACRP Synthesis Report 34)

Are there critical utilities that run through this airport project area that need to be diverted?
Where is the nearest electrical or water tap off point for this new airport building?
Why was the electrical cable serving the airport terminal cut off accidentally by the contractor?

These are just some of the questions that an Airport Planner might ask with regards to subsurface utilities at the airport.

Airport Utilities run throughout the airport campus.  The information for these utilities (water lines, electrical cables, communications fiber, wastewater, gas etc. is normally found in the as-built drawings of the particular project that constructed it.  This means that there is a need to refer to a number of drawings scattered throughout the Plan room or a number of CAD files on the Airport CAD server.  Keeping track of this information is important to save time on new projects and reduce the risk of accidental damage to existing subsurface utilities.

This ACRP Synthesis report brings together existing information about how airport manage this information and provides some ideas on how to do this better.  Click here for this report.

ACRP Synthesis Report 34 - Subsurface Utility Engineering Information Management for Airports (2012)
No. of pages: 60
Duration of Research: 1 May 2011 - 31 May 2012
Research Agencies: J. H. Anspach Consulting and Grafton Technologies, Inc.
Cost: $30,000

What is the report about?
- "It identifies ways in which information on subsurface utilities is collected, maintained and used by airports, their consultants, and the FAA to enhance safety during infrastructure development programs at airports.  It compares the current state of technology and effective processes from other industry sectors with what airports do today, allowing airports to consider areas for improvement."

What did I like about the report?
1.  It provided information on how information on subsurface utilities is collected and maintained by airports.
2.  Airport have difficulty collecting, maintaining subsurface utility data and providing it to consultants in an easy manner.  This report helps airports to identify cost effective ways of managing the problem.  CAD, print etc.
3.  Introduces the concept of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), technology etc.

Which parts of the report are useful for planners?
- This report is useful for planners who maintain utility information or are responsible for updating current airport utility maps.
- The concept of Utility Quality Level (QL) that incorporates origin, qualifications, technology, and trust/accountability.  ASCE's Standard Guidelines for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data, CI/ASCE 38-02. 

"QL is broken down into the following four levels:
• Utility quality level A (QLA)—Information obtained by the actual exposure (or verification of previously exposed and surveyed utilities) and subsequent direct measurement of subsurface utilities, usually at a specific point.
• Utility quality level B (QLB)—Information obtained through the application of appropriate surface geophysical methods to infer the existence and approximate horizontal position of subsurface utilities. QLB data should be reproducible by surface geophysics at any
point of their depiction. The horizontal locations are surveyed to the horizontal positional accuracy requirements of the project or any required statute.
• Utility quality level C (QLC)—Information obtained by surveying and plotting visible utility features and by using professional judgment in correlating this information to quality level D information.
• Utility quality level D (QLD)—Information derived from existing records or oral recollections."

Source: ACRP Synthesis Report 34

Airport Signage Handbook (ACRP Report 52)

A must-read if you are involved in Airport Terminal or Landside Signage.  I wish it was published when my airport was going through our signage upgrade exercise.  It would have saved the airport and the consultant we engaged a lot of time.  Click here for the report.

ACRP Report 52 - Wayfinding and Signing Guidelines for Airport Terminals and Landside (2011)
No. of pages: 255
Duration of Research: 21 Aug 08 - 2 Mar 11
Lead Research Agency / Principal Investigator: Gresham, Smith and Partners / James R Harding
Cost: $250,000

What is in this report?
"- Single, up to date resource for airport operators as they review, update, enhance or develop their airport wayfinding and signing plan.
- Focused on 4 areas:
     1.  Roadways (on-airport, off-airport)
     2.  Parking
     3.  Curbside & Ground Transportation
     4.  Terminal
- Guidelines that discuss how to develop a wayfinding strategy"

What did I like about this report?
1.  Updated resource for Airport Signage in Terminal & Landside.  The previous resource was updated in 2001.
2.  Lots of examples and pictures of signs
3.  Comprehensive resource
4.  Airports don't have to experiment (save time and money) now that they have an updated handbook.
5.  Guide to provide to local signage consultants who are not used to airport environments.
6.  Write-up about Dynamic Signage (Changeable Message Signs) on the Airport Campus

What parts of the report are useful for planners?
The whole report is useful for planners involved in signage projects:
- Airport Roadway Signage
- Airport Parking Signage
- Airport Curbside Signage
- Airport Terminal Signage

Is this report useful for non-American Airports?
Yes, since signage guidelines are quite universal. 

There are of course some unique elements that pertain to the US Airport Industry like 'Cell Phone Lot Signs'.  These are essentially waiting areas for drivers who wait in their cars till they get a call from the passenger they are waiting to pick up.  These lots are popular in the US because it gives drivers a place to wait rather than waiting on the terminal curb. 

There is also a need to convert the American English signs to the English term that your airport and community uses. 

Jet Blast and Air Traffic Controller / Pilot Blogs

LAX Air Traffic Control Tower (built 1996, 277ft/84m)

'View from the Tower' Blog

This post is a slight departure from my usual posts showing Airport Master Plans and ACRP reports but I thought it was relevant as it offers perspectives of other aviation professionals, specifically Air Traffic Controllers and Pilots.

I was searching on the internet for information about 'jet blast' and came across this LAX Air Traffic Controller's blog "View from the tower".  It features lots of pictures of aircraft at LAX and views from the Tower.  It also gives insight into an Controller's life.  With regards to Jet blast, I learnt about the terrible trio - B777-300, A340-600 and the A380. (click here for that post)

'Flight Level 390' Blog

From there, I was linked to a pilot's blog "Flight Level 390 - America from the Flight Deck".  (click here) This blog is by a commercial pilot that has good writing skills.  A good read.

'Daddy...Daddy come home' blog

This linked me to "Daddy...Daddy come back!" by a pilot's wife.  I read about pilot shifts and how it affects the family.  I enjoyed the post written by her husband, the pilot.  "A Pilot Father" (Click here).

Airport Planning Blog in different languages using Google Translate widget

I have just installed a Google translate widget on the left that will translate my blog into different languages.  I know that the translation will not be perfect but I thought it's cool.


Information for other language users
English
Airport planning blog.  To translate this blog into your language, Please use the Google translate button on the left.

Arabic
مطار التخطيط بلوق. لترجمة هذا بلوق إلى لغتك، الرجاء استخدام زر جوجل ترجمة على اليسار.


Chinese
机场规划博客。这个博客翻译成你的语言，请使用谷歌翻译按钮左侧。

French
Blog planification Aéroport. Pour traduire ce blog dans votre langue, S'il vous plaît utiliser le bouton Google translate sur la gauche.


Russian
Блог аэропорта планирования. Чтобы перевести этот блог на ваш язык, пожалуйста, используйте Google Translate кнопку слева.

Spanish
Aeropuerto blog de la planificación. Para traducir este blog en su idioma, por favor utilizar el botón de Google Translate en el lado izquierdo.

A Selection of Books for an Airport Planning Library

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.

Publication Date End-2012

2.  Airport Operations (Ashford) - I enjoyed reading the 2nd edition published in 1999.  It has not been updated since then.  This 3rd edition is anticipated to be published at the end of 2012.  I am looking forward to reading the new edition.

Publication Date 2013, current 1st edition (2003)

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.

 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 & 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 & 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.