FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS: SUBCOMMITTEE ON AIRPORTS

SPRING 2015 MEETING

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | MARCH 31-APRIL 1, 2015

The Subcommittee met on March 31 and April 1 in the Director’s Conference Room at 

the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (the Tech Center) in Atlantic City with 

representatives from the Airport Technologies Research Branch as well as select 

representatives from the FAA Office of Airports. During the meeting the Subcommittee 

reviewed the ongoing progress Branch staff have made on the varied airport safety, 

planning, design, and pavement projects within the Branch’s research portfolio and 

reviewed the Branch’s proposed FY2017 budget.

The following section summarizes the Subcommittee’s major findings, and 

recommendations.

FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Finding 1: The Subcommittee generally accepts and supports the Airport Technologies 

Program’s FY2017 budget. However, research needs identified by FAA staff in the field 

of Airport Planning (RPD 132) appear to exceed the amount allocated to this research 

project area. These identified needs include modernizing the FAA’s runway exit design 

interactive model (REDIM), research to support improved FAA guidance regarding 

critical design aircraft designations, and developing training and guidance materials to 

support the FAA’s new runway simulator model.

Recommendation 1: The Subcommittee recommends that the FAA review the RPD 

132 budget and determine if sufficient funding exists to meet FY2017 needs as well as if 

ongoing planning projects need to be reprioritized in light of new planning research 

needs.

Finding 2: Although the Subcommittee supports many of the proposals for new 

environmental research projects that will be funded within the Airport Technologies 

Research Program (RPD 157), we note that both safety and capacity must be 

considered included when assessing new types of noise mitigation techniques that can 

be applied to flight procedures, particularly higher glide slope approaches, delayed 

deceleration approaches, and the use of displaced arrival thresholds for noise 

abatement. Safety and operational risk assessments should be integral to the 

assessment of all of these techniques. Such assessments should involve subject matter 

experts from the pilot, air traffic, flight standards, and airport operator perspectives.

Recommendation 2: The Subcommittee recommends that the FAA take steps to 

incorporate safety and capacity assessments into the RPD 157 research program as 

well as better define how the aforementioned perspectives from the pilot, air traffic, flight 

standards and airport operator communities will be incorporated onto its research plan.

DRAFT (14-Apr-14)
Finding 3: The Subcommittee appreciates that the proof of concept work associated 

with the low cost ground surveillance systems (LCGSS), particularly the optical 

surveillance system that has been pilot tested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 

However, given the ongoing development of alternative surface surveillance systems, 

continuing reductions in the costs associated with automated dependent surveillancebroadcast (ADS-B) transponders, and the oncoming 2020 ADS-B equipage deadline, 

the Subcommittee is interested in understanding the role LCGSS are likely to play at 

airports if and when they are available for implementation before significant additional 

research into these systems is conducted.

Recommendation 3: The Subcommittee recommends that Branch staff develop a 

concept of operations that defines the roles and applications of the LCGSS in the 

National Air Transportation System given other surface surveillance programs and 

technology deployments that are underway, particularly surface surveillance systems 

that rely on ADS-B technology. The concept of operations should consider what unique 

capabilities or deployment opportunities would exist for LCGSS as well as those 

capabilities that are likely be duplicated by ADS-B based surface surveillance systems.

Finding 4. The Subcommittee continues to be pleased by the progress Branch staff are 

making to manage risks and reduce uncertainties associated with RPD 147, Aircraft 

Braking Friction. These efforts include addressing safety issues associated with the test 

aircraft, enhancing the test aircraft’s braking systems to better represent those currently 

in use, and securing the services of a highly qualified test pilot. Branch staff have 

responded positively to Subcommittee concerns about the project and the 

Subcommittee believes that the Branch be in a good position to collect high quality data 

in early FY2016. 

DRAFT (14-Apr-14)