Arlington Municipal Airport Development Plan Arlington Airport Development Plan | Page 188
AVIATION LAND USE PLANNING
Land use planning is a very common practice for communities across the country. The primary pur‐
pose of land use planning is to adequately plan for future needs in an organized, efficient, and benefi‐
cial manner. Airport planning also commonly considers land use planning concepts to ensure that de‐
velopment is orderly, efficient, safe, and maximizes available land inventories.
This planning effort will utilize common land
The primary purpose of land use plan‐
use planning methods to delineate available
ning is to adequately plan for future
property by types of use. In doing so, the long
needs in an organized, efficient, and
term growth of an airport will adequately seg‐
beneficial manner.
regate aviation uses and users by similar types,
thereby, enhancing operational efficiency and
maximizing development potential. For avia‐
tion purposes at Arlington Municipal Airport, land use types can be segregated as Airfield Operations,
Aviation Industrial, Aviation Commercial, Aviation Residential, and Non‐Aviation Related. Segregation
of these activities/uses is important because grouping similar uses together will increase operational
efficiencies of each user group.
The Airfield Operations land use category is designated simply to delineate areas available for landside
development. This area has been established based on existing airfield conditions and includes safety
areas associated with each runway, as well as the clearances needed for taxiways. This area should
remain clear of objects except for those fixed by navigational function. If changes are made in line with
airside alternatives previously discussed, the Airfield Operations land use area would change, thereby
potentially changing landside use options as well. However, since Arlington Municipal Airport is only
served by one runway and has established parallel taxiways, any changes to the airside system will like‐
ly not impact landside use activities.
Aviation Industrial uses are best defined as those activities related to aircraft manufacturing, modifica‐
tion, flight testing, overhaul, and heavy maintenance. This type of use typically entails a large property
footprint and can consist of several large hangar facilities and apron areas. Aviation Industrial entities
require their facilities be located in a concentrated area to improve and maintain operational efficien‐
cies. At Arlington Municipal Airport, Bell Helicopter leases approximately 60 acres on the west side of
the Airport and would be considered an Aviation Industrial activity. In addition, AgustaWestland oper‐
ates out of a large conventional hangar on the east side of the Airport and conducts extensive aircraft
manufacturing and flight testing. Its activities would also be considered Aviation Industrial for purpos‐
es of this planning study.
Aviation Commercial includes users that provide more limited aviation services or house corporate
flight departments. A good example of this type of use is a FBO or SASO. These users will generate a
moderate to high activity level on both the airside and landside, including based aircraft and itinerant
aircraft traffic. Facilities typical of commercial uses range from executive to larger conventional hang‐
ars. These users, however, are more commonly those that only have one primary hangar facility and
are best suited for immediate flight line access. There are a wide array of Aviation Commercial activi‐
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