Before you begin, download the Innovation & Growth Workbook. It includes the Module 5 quiz and serves as a helpful reference throughout this module.

By the end of this module, you will complete:

• Innovation activity
• Airport Layout Plan (ALP) – Part 5
• Module 5 quiz (in the Innovation & Growth Workbook)
• Add future growth features to your airport in Minecraft

At this point, your virtual airport should closely resemble the real airport you selected. In this module, you will explore how your airport could expand or modernize in the future.

You may choose to:

• Research your airport’s master plan and incorporate planned improvements, or
• Explore innovative ideas used at other airports and adapt them to your design.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate creativity while thinking realistically about airport operations, safety, sustainability, and community needs.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify where different types of aircraft operate (airplanes, helicopters, unmanned aircraft systems, etc.)
• Describe technologies that improve airport safety, environmental sustainability, and community impact
• Explain how passengers and goods move through and around your airport

Airport Development Tasks:

• Determine whether your airport has a master plan or an Airport Layout Plan (ALP), and identify any planned improvements.
• Identify innovative features or upgrades you could add to support future growth.

As you build, refer to the information on this page and in the Innovation & Growth Workbook.

Innovation means finding new or better ways to solve problems, improve systems, or meet changing needs. Airports innovate to improve safety, efficiency, sustainability, and passenger experience.

Watch the video below to learn more about what innovation means and why it matters.

Many innovations are already being implemented at airports around the world, while others are still emerging.

As you consider how your airport might grow, think about:

• Whether your airport may need new or expanded facilities (terminals, hangars, towers, ARFF facilities)
• Opportunities to improve lighting, navigation systems, and safety infrastructure
• Ways to reduce environmental impact or improve energy efficiency
• How technology could improve passenger experience and airport operations

If available, review your airport’s master plan to understand what improvements are already planned.

FAA engineers support the design, testing, and implementation of new technologies that improve airport safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Watch the video below to learn how engineering professionals help bring innovation to aviation.

FAA's From the Flight Deck video series shows real runway approaches and taxi operations using cockpit-mounted cameras, combined with diagrams and visual graphics that highlight hot spots and other safety-sensitive areas.

Students in the Airport Design Challenge can use these videos to better understand how airports look and operate from a pilot’s perspective.

Watch this example video featuring Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Illinois.

The aviation industry continues to evolve, creating new technologies and career opportunities. Consider what role you might want to play in aviation or aerospace in the future and why that career interests you.

Next, plan how your airport could grow or improve. Add your future concepts to your Airport Layout Plan (ALP). These changes may be realistic (such as runway extensions or new facilities) or creative (new services, passenger features, or sustainability upgrades).

When complete, take a clear photo of your updated ALP and email it to avsed.challenge@faa.gov. Include your name (or team name) and airport in the subject line.

Example:

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