Arlington Municipal Airport Development Plan Arlington Airport Development Plan | Page 98

• Touch-and-Go Activity – Current local operations account for approximately 40-45 percent of total
annual operations. Local operations are forecast to account for approximately 45 percent of total
annual operations by the long term.
• Peak Period Operations – For the airfield capacity analysis, average daily operations and average
peak hour operations during the peak month are utilized. Typical operations activity is important in
the calculation of an airport’s ASV as “peak demand” levels occur sporadically. The peak periods
used in the capacity analysis are representative of normal operational activity and can be exceeded
at various times throughout the year.
CAPACITY ANALYSIS CONCLUSIONS
The 2008 Airport Master Plan calculated an ASV of over 200,000 annual operations. The input factors
used during this study are still consistent with the current operational activities and layout on the air-
field. The ASV does not indicate a point of absolute gridlock for the airfield; however, it does represent
the point at which operational delay for each aircraft operation will increase exponentially. The cur-
rent operational level for the airport represents approximately 35 percent of the airfield’s ASV. By the
long term planning period of this study, total annual operations are expected to represent 40 percent
of the airfield’s ASV.
FAA Order 5090.3B, Field Formulation of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), indi-
cates that improvements for airfield capacity purposes should begin to be considered once operations
reach 60 to 75 percent of the annual service volume. This is an approximate level to begin the detailed
planning of capacity improvements. At the 80 percent level, the planned improvements should be
made. While no significant capacity improvements will be necessary over the next 10 years, options to
improve airfield efficiency will be considered and evaluated in Chapter Four of the Development Plan.
AIRCRAFT/AIRPORT/RUNWAY CLASSIFICATION
The FAA has established several aircraft classification systems that group aircraft types based on their
performance (approach speed in landing configuration) and on design characteristics (wingspan and
landing gear configuration). These classification sys-
tems are used to determine the appropriate airport
The selection of appropriate FAA de-
design standards for specific airport elements, such
sign standards for the development
as runways, taxiways, taxilanes, and aprons.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
and location of airport facilities is
based primarily on the characteristics
of the aircraft which are currently us-
ing or are expected to use an airport.
The selection of appropriate FAA design standards
for the development and location of airport facilities is based primarily on the characteristics of the air-
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