Promoting General Aviation Transportation in Community Economic Development Through General Aviation Public Airport Managers and State Department of Aeronautics Officials

Abstract

It is very difficult to pinpoint the specific Wtransportation development needs of general aviation airports and their surrounding communities. Often, insufficient management expertise at individual airports, coupled with the state's occasional unfamiliarity with specific community problems, hinders the state's effective administration of airport assistance programs. Therefore, state officials would benefit from the airport administrators' opinions concerning how state programs might be modified to best meet individual airport needs. This paper describes a study which reveals wdifferences in perceptions· between the Alabama Department of Aeronautics (DOA) and individual general aviation public airport managers. This study examines qualitative perceptions of 15 airport factors, such as paved runway length, adequate taxiways, approach aids, hangar/tie-down space, and strong airport management, plus community support areas, such as nearby hotel/motel, industrial park, and ground transportation. Airport managers judged these factors at their own airports, ideal airport, and at several chosen as a control mechanism. Airport managers were also asked to reveal sources and amounts of funding received for capital projects and operational needs. When compared with funding data from official sources, significant discrepancies were observed. Data were obtained through a mail survey. Of the 79 strictly general aviation public airports surveyed, 54 responses were returned (68% response rate). Analysis revealed many significant differences in perception factor scores. Not only were there differences in perceptions between airport managers and DOA officials, but also between the managers' perceptions of their own airports versus the widea1 airportW revealing 10 areas where improvements are recommended (including the perception factor of strong airport management).