Airport operators are defined by their initiative to implement a broad spectrum of operational strategies that would ensure an interrupted mobilization of people and cargo in and out of the port location. The entire airport operation encompasses several levels of operational standards geared towards a specific function. However, airport operators are also facing relevant issues that have an immense impact to their entire operation. In 28th of December 2012, a powerful winter storm unleashed about 30 centimeters of snow on the Northeastern part of United States. In addition, fierce winds wrecked havoc as it hit New England resulting to the cancellation of 548 flights in all affected cities (Reuters).
Airport operators are responsible for traffic (passengers and cargo) handling services at North America airports. Do you agree with this statement, why or why not?
Airport operators are have different scope of responsibilities as compared to the other operating organizations within the port. Those responsibilities include security and safety of the facilities, managing finances, facility development, terminal management, airfield management, aviation marketing, ground transport, security and law enforcement, utilities and fire and rescue. The question of whether the airport operators are responsible to for cargo and passenger traffic including handling services at North America airports are not part of the defined scope of responsibilities of the airport operators.
How airports in the United States are classified in National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS)? Please provide a short explanation for each category.
These roles vary according to the classification of the airport under the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). It is an inventory of aviation infrastructures in the United States and their guidelines stipulates categorizing airports in the country. There are three main categories of airports in the US. First is the commercial service airport, which is identified as publicly owned airports that has a minimum passenger volume of 2.500 every year. The second category is called a cargo service airport that caters to cargo transport in combination with other air transportation services. These types of airports are expected to have a minimum of 100 million pounds of total landed weight every year. The term landed weight refers to the transported weight of cargo coming in and out of the airport. The third type is called reliever airports, which are designated by FAA to support congestion in commercial service airports. Lastly, airports that are not specifically fall under any of the Title 49 USC are generally called as generally aviation airports. The majority of airports in the United States are classified as general aviation airports because it largely comprises the airport systems in the United States.
What type of airports need to be certified under FAR Part 139 ? and how they are certified?
Operating an airport in the United States constitutes complying with the standards and requirements of Sec. 139 Federal Aviation Administration. According to Part 139, the establishment and certification of an airport involves compliance to the requirements such as serving and operating air carrier schedules. In addition, the aircraft carriers should be designed to at least accommodate a minimum of nine passenger-seats to a maximum of 31 seats (faa.gov). Under Part 139, airports are classified in four categories such as Class I or airports serving scheduled operations of large aircrafts. Class II category is serving small aircrafts with scheduled operations of unscheduled large carriers. Class III is airports limited to the operations of scheduled small passenger aircrafts alone. Class IV on the other hand serves only unscheduled passenger operation of large aircrafts (American Association of Airport Executives). Acquiring certification also means complying with the regulations outlined in Part 139. The rules include strict inspection of activities, operational structure and airport site. The rules also require airport operators to furnish portions of ACM to the personnel that would be responsible to the entire operation and implementation (American Association of Airport Executives).
Works Cited
American Association of Airport Executives. "Airport Operations And Federal Aviation Regulation Part 139—Certification." AAAE Accreditation and Certification Programs (2005): n. pag. Print.
Faa.gov. "Airport Categories - Airports." FAA: Home. Federal Aviation Administration, 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 Jan. 2013.
Reuters. "Storm unleashes travel chaos in northeast US - Times Of India." The Times of India. The Times of India, 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Jan. 2013.
Wilding, James A. "The Role of Today’s Airport Operator." Issues Ownership: Today's Operator (2008): n. pag. Print.
