The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) is an industry-driven, applied research program that develops practical solutions to problems faced by airport operators. Funding more than 20 projects a year, ACRP focuses on issues that other Federal research programs do not address. So far, ACRP has produced more than 400 practical resources and tools for airport practitioners and makes them available for free.

ACRP is managed by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies and sponsored by the FAA.

On this page …

• ACRP Webinars
• Recently Released Publications
• Does the FAA Use ACRP Publications and Tools?
• Notice About Links on This Page

ACRP Webinars

ACRP regularly hosts free webinars for airport practitioners that present the results of ACRP projects. Moderated by industry experts, ACRP’s webinars are organized by theme and cover a wide range of topics of value to the industry. Many webinars offer continuing education or certification maintenance credits. Advanced registration is required.

• Upcoming ACRP Webinars
• Archived ACRP Webinars

Recently Released Publications

• Impacts on Practice 182: Redesigning the Communications Center at Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport

  Published: November 20, 2019 12:49 PM

  As a reliever airport for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport must keep track of information for nearly 300,000 aircraft operations and 1.4 million passengers a year. To meet this challenge, the airport developed an innovative, digitally connected solution with the help of ACRP Research Report 182: Guidancefor Planning, Design, and Operationsof Airport Communications Centers. …

• Legal Issues Relating to Airports Promoting Competition

  Published: November 19, 2019 6:44 AM

  TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) LRD 37: Legal Issues Relating to Airports Promoting Competition explores permissible means and methods of encouraging and accommodating competition at U.S. airports. It discusses the history of how competition has been addressed by government and airports and provides the context of the concentration of air carriers and fixed-base operators (FBOs), the accommodation of air carriers with differing business models, and avoiding the grant of exclusive rights when aeronautical service providers merge.…

• Integrating Sustainability Planning and the Environmental Review Process

  Published: November 18, 2019 12:20 PM

  Environmental regulations have long required airports to undertake review of many actions associated with planning and development. More recently, airports have embraced sustainability as a means for ensuring the long-term viability and community benefits of their facilities. …

View all ACRP Publications

Does the FAA Use ACRP Publications and Tools?

The FAA does not just fund ACRP projects, we also use the results! ACRP findings have helped shape successful initiatives, such our Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) program, and recent guidance, including AC 150/5360-12F, Airport Signing and Graphics, which incorporates the recommendations and guidelines from ACRP Report 52, Wayfinding and Signing Guidelines for Airport Terminals and Landside. Many other FAA ACs and Orders cite ACRP reports as useful references, and on many of our web pages, you will find links to related ACRP materials.