Reaching New Heights: Landside Development at Airports
Written by Rebecca Argo, Ryan Toner, PE, and Duane Dana, PE
The words “airport engineering” often bring to mind runways and taxiways, aprons, curbside check-in, parking lots, airfield electrical design, and related projects. Yet publicly owned land at airports also offers enormous potential as prime real estate for private aviation developers. This landside development is an arrangement in which the airport leases land to a private client that bases their operations at the airport, which benefits both parties by generating revenue, creating jobs, and expanding the type of operations that take place at the airport. From commercial and general aviation (GA) airports to aerospace companies, tourism, the military, and flight schools, the aviation industry continues to experience high demand for these types of facilities. Developing privately owned facilities on airport property is key to expanding the private aviation industry and growing an airport’s operations and revenue.
Types of Clients
Although landside development has not historically been a main focus for many airport development teams, Dibble has partnered in recent years with private developers who wish to begin or expand operations at public airports. Due to recent booms in the economy, many private clients have decided to expand their operations to accommodate a greater customer base and gain a higher technical advantage in the industry.
Private aviation companies are becoming creative about business ventures and where they establish them. Some companies are opting to develop at smaller airports that have a large amount of land available or at GA reliever airports where they do not have to contend with the hustle and bustle of large international airports. However, most developers are not interested in small rural airports that are miles away from any significant population. After all, they are running a business and need to be profitable.
Dibble’s landside developer clients include the following:
- Cutter Aviation provides aircraft fueling, charter, and aircraft maintenance services to the public, with operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Prescott Regional Airport (PRC), and other airports in the Southwest.
- Ascent Aviation Services offers full fleet maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services primarily at Pinal Airpark, with operations also at Tucson International Airport and Roswell International Air Center.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) offers a first-rate education in the fields of aeronautics and aviation, with flight operations at PRC.
Landside Projects
From aircraft hangars and parking ramps to landside improvements, expanding landside services at an airport requires intentional planning and design. Some clients may desire to expand or rehabilitate their aircraft movement and parking areas for increased efficiency. Other clients may want to build new hangars, which involves all the associated infrastructure, such as ramps, pavement, utilities, vehicle parking, drainage, sidewalks, and connectivity to the airfield. No matter the project, each type of improvement requires significant planning, an airfield analysis, preliminary layouts, environmental review, and thoughtful design.
Cutter Aviation | Apron and Parking Lot Improvements | PRC
As the oldest family-owned and operated FBO network in the nation, Cutter Aviation decided to expand their aircraft parking space at PRC. Dibble was proud to work with Cutter Aviation on this project. Our design included expanding the airside apron to maximize the lease area and expanding the landside parking lot. The Dibble team provided planning for the proposed development, completed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Form 7460, updated the Airport Layout Plan (ALP), and prepared the Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) required by the FAA. Our team designed grading and drainage improvements, asphalt concrete pavement for the apron and parking lot, Airport Operations Area (AOA) fencing improvements, new pavement markings, and aircraft tie-downs. Dibble also provided bid and construction phase services. Future construction phases will include two new hangars (20,000 square feet and 10,000 square feet), expansion of the terminal building, and new utilities.
Ascent Aviation Services | Hangar Development | Pinal Airpark
Ascent Aviation Services provides a multitude of heavy MRO services to owners, operators, and lessors of aircraft. Dibble worked with Ascent Aviation Services to complete schematic and final design for the construction of two new 90,000-square-foot hangars at Pinal Airpark. Our design included final layouts for a new aircraft apron and a connector taxilane to the airfield. Dibble provided pavement design, stormwater detention/retention design, and water/sewer/fire suppression design. Our team also provided geotechnical, survey, structural, hazardous materials, environmental, and electrical design services. We worked in close partnership with Ascent Aviation Services’ contractor (Constructable), architect, and structural engineer on this project. The Dibble team also provided initial planning for the proposed development, completed FAA Form 7460, updated the ALP, and prepared the CATEX required by the FAA. This project was delivered on an expedited schedule to support additional airport users.
ERAU | Strategic Academic Flight Education (SAFE) Complex Development | PRC
As a national leader in aerospace and aviation, ERAU has earned top distinctions for workforce training and discovery. Dibble worked with ERAU on the SAFE Complex at PRC. This project included a new 20,000-square-foot, multi-purpose building, a new aircraft ramp that accommodates 44 aircrafts for flight training, protective shelters, utilities, drainage, and a new parking lot. The Dibble team has provided important assistance to ERAU through planning, airspace analysis, and engineering services as they expand their operations at PRC and consider reorganizing their operations for better accessibility and efficiency. Our team prepared detailed construction plans, assisted in bidding, and provided construction phase services. The Dibble team also provided initial planning for the proposed development, completed FAA Form 7460, updated the ALP, and prepared the CATEX required by the FAA.
Conclusion
Developing landside facilities at publicly owned airports offers enormous potential for aircraft charters, MRO companies, flight schools, aerospace companies, and other private aviation companies to expand their operations. In turn, this landside development also offers significant economic benefits to the airport and to the larger community through increased revenue and jobs.
Developing privately owned facilities on airport property involves numerous engineering challenges to ensure connectivity from the airport ramps to the client’s buildings, as well as functional use of the leased area. Part 2 of this series will explore how private developers can overcome these challenges for successful landside development projects.
Ryan Toner, PE
