Introduction

• What is an Airport Master Plan (AMP), and Why?
• Who is doing the plan?
• How much will it cost, and who pays?
• What will be done?
• What is the timetable?
• How is the public involved?
• Who approves the master plan?

What is an Airport Master Plan (AMP), and Why?

• An airport master plan (AMP) is comprised of a comprehensive overview of an airport, an inventory of its facilities and services, forecasts of future activity, future facility requirements to meet air traffic demand, alternative plans to meet future demands, and environmental issues associated with each development alternative. 
• An airport master plan represents the airport “owner’s” needs, desires, and vision for “development” of an airport.  Development sometimes means major physical expansion, but it also often means safety improvements and modernization of existing facilities.
• AMPs are used by the airport owner to guide “the future” of the airport.  The “future” might entail growth in size, facilities, and capacity; or it might entail qualitative improvements in the airport and it’s surroundings.
• AMPs document an airport’s present situation, gather data and forecast future demands on the airport, estimate future facility needs, recommend alternative ways to meet future needs, and present viable financial and chronological ways to meet arising needs.  Each of the alternatives is accompanied by a discussion of environmental impacts of that alternative.
• AMPs are updated whenever predecessor plans are considered by an airport’s constituency to be out of date, plans do not reflect reality, or do not represent community needs.
• The decision to undertake an AMP study is solely that of the airport owner, in this case, Brevard County.

Who is doing the master plan?

• The Brevard County Commission contracted with Florida Institute of Technology’s Center for Airport Management and Development (FIT-CAMD) to conduct the planning.



• The mission of the Center for Airport Management and Development is to conduct research, studies, consultation, and technology transfer to enhance aviation education and industry progress on all aspects of airport planning, design, development, operations and management.
• The Center draws upon faculty, graduate students, research staff, and industry specialists to conduct its activities. Information and technology developed by the Center is transferred to a variety of federal and state agencies, local government, industry, and academia via reports, studies, briefings, workshops, and short courses.
• The Center is sponsored by Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics. Florida Tech is a private university which focuses on education and research in engineering, science, aeronautics, business and psychology. The university’s main campus is located in a high technology community near Cape Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast. It offers fine Bachelors of Science degrees in aeronautical sciences, aviation computer science, and aviation management, to include flight training options. It also offers Master of Science, and in Airport Development and Management, Aviation Sciences, and Cognitive Human Factors.
• CAMD’s director, Dr. Ballard “Mike” Barker, will be project manager for the Valkaria Airport Master Plan Update.  
• CAMD will be responsible for producing the master plan, but the Valkaria Airport manager and other county staff will be integrally involved in the process; and will comprise the “Planning Team.”  Of course, the Planning Team will rely heavily on public input to the process.

What will it cost, and who pays?

The contracted cost of the Valkaria Airport Master Plan Update is $59,013. Florida Department of Transportation has awarded Brevard County a grant for 80% of the cost, too be paid from state aviation fuel taxes. Brevard County will be responsible for the balance of $11,803, to be paid from the Valkaria Airport Reserve Fund.

What will be done?

• Scope of Services

What is the timetable for completing the AMP update?

Brevard issued a “Notice-to-Proceed” on March 28, 2006; and it is estimated that it will take ten months to complete the study, to include public and governmental reviews of key steps. The completion might be extended slightly in the event of delays caused by scheduling of public meetings or waiting for and responding to governmental reviews. The contract term is one-year, unless extended by mutual agreement between Brevard County and FIT-CAMD.

Why and how is the public involved?

• The public is integrally involved in airport master planning in general because of state and federal laws requiring public participation in transportation planning.
• In the case of Valkaria Airport, there was added emphasis on the importance of effective public involvement because of strong public interest in  the airport’s future, and the feeling that public input to the 1990 AMP was largely absent.  The Brevard County Commission made it crystal clear when they approved this AMP study that they wanted an effective Public Involvement Program (PIP) from beginning to end. 

Who approves the AMP?

An AMP is only “approved” by the airport owner or sponsor. In the case of Valkaria Airport, the owner and sponsor are the same—Brevard County. The Brevard County Commissioners have the executive power to approve or not. People sometimes loosely refer to FAA or FDOT “approval,” but that is in error. FDOT and FAA will review and “accept” AMPs for record and future reference if the AMP is submitted to them, but neither has “approval/disapproval” powers.

• Federal Aviation Administration