Before you begin, download the Innovation & Growth Workbook (K-6)! 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 (K-6))
• Add future growth features to your airport in Minecraft

By now, your Minecraft airport should look a lot like a real one! Now, you can think about how your airport can grow and change in the future. This is your chance to be super creative and show how much you love your airport!

Think about new and exciting ideas that can help airports. See which ideas work best for your airport, then add them!

Learning Objectives

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

Where do different aircraft take off and land (helicopters, UAVs, etc.)

What kinds of technologies are implemented at airports, improve safety, the environment, and the community?

How are passengers transported around your airport?

Airport Development Tasks:

• Find out if your airport has a Master Plan or an Airport Layout Plan. What ideas for growth do they have planned?
• What kinds of innovative new ideas can you implement to help your airport grow in the future?

As you build, use the information on this page and in the Innovation & Growth Workbook (K-6).

You will begin this module by learning about innovation. What is it? Why is it important?

How will innovation affect your airport in the future?

Check out this great video for a better understanding of innovation.

Image

Airports are always getting better and trying new things! When you think about how your Minecraft airport can grow, imagine what new things it might need.

Does it have a tall tower for air traffic control? What about special trucks to help in emergencies, called ARFF? Can you make the lights brighter or fancier?

If you learn about your airport's big plan, you can find out what changes are already planned. Have fun thinking about how to make your airport even cooler!

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 is quickly growing and changing, and with those changes, new jobs are being introduced. If you were to work in aviation/aerospace, what is your dream job? Why? Write a couple of sentences or a short paragraph and share your ideas with us!

Now is your chance to plan for the future of your airport!
Consider the changes and draw them into your airport layout plan. These changes could be real (runway extensions, new buildings, etc.) or more creative (what would make your airport more fun?)

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: