National Transportation in Indian Country Conference
Aviation Panel + Presentation Best Practices | Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | 3:30 to 5 pm
Developing, Maintaining and Operating Tribal and Rural Airports
Panelists: Arlando Teller, Navajo Nation; Kyler Erhard, FAA – FAA ADO Assistant Manager;
Mary Ortega-Itsell, Genesis Aviation, Manager Partner
Moderator: Ryan Toner, PE, Dibble, Airport Development Business Unit Leader
Setting the Foundation
Discussion:
- Organizational structure and staffing – department accountability
- Communications to/from airport
- Airport data (5010) current?
- Do you have a handle on current infrastructure conditions? (Asset management)
- Do you have a development plan? (Master Plan and ALP)
- What is it and for what is it good?
- Supporting initiatives and documents?
- Business Plan
- Emergency Response Plan
- Marketing Plan, etc.
- Noise abatement
Resources:
Federal Aviation Administration – FAA Form 5010
https://adip.faa.gov/agis/public/#/public
The “official” record for the airport. It describes who owns the airport, its use (public or private), and details about the facility such as runways, runway length, obstructions, and other pertinent information.
Transportation Research Board (TRB)- ACRP Report 69 – Asset and Infrastructure Management for Airport
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/22760/chapter/1
This report provides a primer and guidebook for airport managers and staff on asset and infrastructure management applicable to all areas of the operation of an airport.
Federal Aviation Administration – Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5070-6B Airport Master Plans
Provides guidance for the preparation of airport master plans that range in size and function from small general aviation to large commercial service facilities.
Development Planning
Discussion:
- Establishing and programming capital priorities/projects – ACIP
- Safety/standards -> maintenance -> capacity/expansion
- Project timing and programming
- Project funding opportunities – FAA, state, business investment
- FAA regions/offices
- State department responsible for funding airport projects (e.g., DOT)
- Grant applications, management and administration
- NPIAS – How to understand and how to get in? ASSET Study.
- Federal compliance – DBE Plan, FAA grant assurances, airspace/7460’s, fair business practices/opportunities
- Consultant selection and integration
- Environmental analysis and requirements
- Tribal authority vs. FAA authority
- Stakeholder engagement – Community presence and spokesperson identification
Resources:
Federal Aviation Administration – Airport Improvement Program Sponsor Guide
https://www.faa.gov/airports/central/aip/sponsor_guide
Users of this guidance shall note that requirements for AIP participation are established within
applicable United States Code, Public Law, Federal Regulations and official FAA policy. The supplemental guidance and best practices provided within this guide is not intended to create
additional participation requirements over and above that established by statute, regulation or
official FAA policy.
NPIAS – National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) identifies nearly 3,300 public-use airports that are included in the national airport system, the roles they currently serve, and the amounts and types of airport development eligible for Federal funding under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) over the next 5 years. The FAA is required to publish a 5-year estimate of AIP eligible development every other year.
Airport Environmental Programs
https://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental
The Airport Environmental Programs help airports implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Federal environmental laws and regulations. This includes airport noise compatibility planning (Part 150), airport noise and access restrictions (Part 161), environmental review for airport development.
Community Involvement in Airport Planning
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/150-5050-4A-Community-Involvement.pdf
This AC is intended to advise airport sponsors, planners, and the public on the benefits of early public participation in airport planning, and the methods by which this participation may be achieved. It should also be used by FAA personnel when advising airport sponsors and planners on public involvement matters.
Executing Projects
Discussion:
- Architectural and engineering design
- FAA standards
- CSPP’s/safety, security and accessibility
- Review processes
- Construction procurement methods and bidding
- Construction – pre-construction planning, operations and safety (NOTAM’s), contract document compliance and quality
- Impacts on operations during construction
- Close-out – memorializing what was accomplished
- Grant management and administration
Resources:
Federal Aviation Administration – Advisory Circular 150/5100-14E
This AC provides guidance for airport sponsors in the selection and engagement of architectural, engineering, and planning consultants. It also discusses services that normally would be included in an airport grant project, types of contracts for these services, contract format and provisions, and guidelines for determining the reasonableness of consultant fees
Federal Aviation Administration – Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5320-6G – Airport Pavement Design/Evaluation
This AC provides guidance to the public on the design and evaluation of pavements used by aircraft at civil airports. For reporting of pavement strength, see AC 150/5335-5, Standardized Method of Reporting Airport Pavement Strength – PCR.
Maintaining and Operating the Airport
Discussion:
- Training/cross-training for partnering departments on operating on an airport
- Communications with users (NOTAM’s)
- Routine detailed inspections of the entire field
- Wildlife control
- Everyday safety and access
- Pavement maintenance and preservation – establishing and executing a plan
- FOD control
- Airfield lighting and signage maintenance
- Vegetation and dust control
- Record keeping
Resources:
Airport Council International – Airfield Maintenance Handbook
https://store.aci.aero/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Airfield-Maintenance-PUB.pdf
The content of this handbook includes a repository of airfield maintenance practices, including data collection and analysis to allow for data-driven decision-making, information on the new ICAO pavement classification rating (ACR/PCR), and best practices on maintenance programs for pavement, signs, markings, and electrical systems.
FAA AC 150/5340-26C: Maintenance of Airport Visual Aid Facilities
FAA AC 150/5340-26C: Maintenance of Airport Visual Aid Facilities
This advisory circular (AC) provides the FAA-recommended guidelines for the maintenance of airport visual aid facilities. It provides system maintenance information for establishing a preventive maintenance program for airport visual aid facilities. The information provided is for the following systems: airport lighting vault and series lighting
Aviation Vertical Mobility
Discussion:
- What is aviation vertical mobility – It starts with vertical lift – also known as vertical flight – an area that encompasses the design, innovation, and testing of a class of vehicles (VTOL) that can take-off and land vertically without a runway.
- The name includes traditional rotorcraft (helicopters and tilt rotors) as well as unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and electric powered eVTOL.
Resources:
Native American Airports Air Mobility Strategy
NATA (National Air Transportation Association) and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) announced a partnership providing the structure for the further development of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)/Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem.
Vertical Mobility
Vertical Aviation International – Global leaders in advocating for the vertical flight industry and the unique benefits it offers communities. VAI is evolving and expanding, just as the industry is exploring new territories in vertical mobility.
Federal Aviation Administration – Advisory Circular AC 150/5390-2D, Heliport Design
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_150_5390_2D_Heliports.pdf
A detailed guidance on site selection, FATO and TLOF design, safety areas, approach/departure paths, markings, lighting, and more.
Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering
https://www.ae.gatech.edu/vertical-lift-and-urban-air-mobility
The Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering supports multiple faculty and research efforts in the area of vertical lift and urban air mobility.