# Presentation: 212688

## Patrick J. Sullivan, P.E.
Federal Aviation Administration
patrick.sullivan@faa.gov
April 2005

**Federal Aviation Administration**
- _[patrick.sullivan@faa.gov](mailto:patrick.sullivan@faa.gov)_
**April 2005**

- COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION AND NPIAS AIRPORTS NORTHWEST/MT. AIRPORT CONFERENCE

## Background

- Traditionally, commercial space vehicles used dedicated launch sites (i.e. Cape Canaveral)
- There is increasing interest by industry in adapting airports for space vehicle launch and recovery
- Use of airports made possible by introduction of horizontally-launched, reusable space vehicles
- Commercial space industry has expressed interest in joint use of some NPIAS airports

## Launch Licenses

- The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) issues licenses for:
- Entities doing space launches
- Operators of the launch sites
- AST and the FAA Office of Airports (ARP) have agreed to ARP reviews of license applications that involve NPIAS airports
- Contact Points in FAA Office of Airports:
- Management- Dennis Roberts 202-267-8775
- Planning- Patrick Sullivan 202-267-3707

## Environmental/Planning

- Issuance of a license is considered a major Federal action under National Environmental Policy Act
- AST is the FAA lead organization for the environmental review for launch licenses
- The FAA regional Airports divisions and ADO perform a coordination role under NEPA
- Regional Airports divisions and ADO ensure that the environmental documentation includes the Federal airports actions such as ALP review and land release
- FAA airports offices handle ALP issues

## Miscellaneous

- AST coordinates license applications with the FAA Air Traffic Organization and Flight Standards Office to ensure safe and efficient use of airspace and safety of flight
- Airport sponsor required to submit form 7460-1 for new construction to regional Airports division or ADO
- Land used for construction of new facilities must comply with terms of an obligated airport’s grant agreement

## Inquiries on Commercial Operations at NPIAS Airports 

- FAA regional Airports divisions, ADO(S) and airport sponsors may received inquiries on commercial space operations from:
- Airport sponsor
- State agency
- Launch applicants
- AST
- An inquiry from a launch applicant should be referred to the airport sponsor
- Provide to airport sponsor copy of FAA Office of Airports memorandum of November 3, 2004

## Questions to ask Proponents of Commercial Space Launches- 1 

- Is the airport sponsor aware of the proposal?
- What questions does the airport sponsor have?
- Is the applicant in pre-application consultation with AST?
- What type of launches and launch vehicles are expected?
- Will the launch vehicle be recovered at the airport? Is so, describe how it will be recovered.
- How many launches are expected in 1, 3, 5 years?

## Questions to ask Proponents of Commercial Space Launches- 2

- Are there special airfield and taxiing requirements?
- Are there special security requirements?
- Are there any hazardous materials or special fueling requirements for the launch and day-to-day operation of the facility?
- Will any land or fixed facilities be required at the airport?

## Questions for Follow-Up Meetings 

- Will an ALP revision be required?
- Are there special airspace requirements for launch and recovery?
- Are there special environmental resource requirements or impacts?
- What if the status of the environmental process for the licensing action?

## Questions

- 						?