FAA Updates Airport Design Guidance

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration updated its advisory circular on Airport Design that provides guidance to airport sponsors and airport consultants designing and developing airports around the country.

“The advisory circular provides a critical roadmap for the aviation industry when planning, designing and developing the nation’s airports,” said FAA Associate Administrator of Airports Shannetta R. Griffin. “This update contains the latest information the industry needs as we work collaboratively to build safe, sustainable and accessible airport infrastructure to safely transport passengers, goods and services.”

This advisory circular outlines the FAA’s recommended standards for an acceptable level of safety, efficiency and capacity when designing and implementing projects at airports to meet the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 139 Certification of Airports. Airport sponsors that receive federal funding from the Airport Improvement Program and the Passenger Facility Charge Program are required to fully comply with the advisory circular.

The updates to the advisory circular include restructuring the document, explaining the meaning of terms used, expanding information in certain chapters and adding graphics to support information in the circular.

This advisory circular takes effect immediately and cancels the prior version, dated September 28, 2012.