Airport Airspace Analysis (AAA)

The navigable airspace is a limited national resource. Navigable airspace is defined as the airspace at or above the minimum altitudes of flight that includes the airspace needed to ensure safety in the takeoff and landing of aircraft. Congress has charged the FAA with administering this airspace in the public interest as necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and its efficient use.

All proposed development on public-use airport property is subject to an airport airspace analysis (AAA) and is commonly processed as a non-rulemaking airport (NRA) case regardless of Federal funding participation. The appropriate FAA regional Airports Division is responsible for initiating the coordination of NRA aeronautical studies, which consist of:

  • Evaluating the effect of the construction or alteration on existing and planned operating procedures
  • Determining the potential hazardous effect of the proposed construction on air navigation
  • Identifying mitigating measures to enhance safe air navigation

Under Federal Regulation Title 14 Part 77, Safe, Efficient Use and Preservation of the Navigable Airspace (Part 77), which went into effect on January 18, 2011, an AAA is not conducted for private-use airports unless the airport is operated by a Federal agency or the Department of Defense (DoD), or if the private-use airport has at least one FAA-approved instrument approach procedure. Private-use airports are subject to the notification requirements under Part 157, Notice of Construction, Alteration, Activation, and Deactivation of Airports.

Resources

Contacts for Proposed Construction On or Off an Airport
If construction is … Contact …
On an airport Nearest FAA Airports Regional Office
Off an airport Nearest FAA Air Traffic Contact

Regional Supplemental Guidance

Additional guidance on this topic is available for the following regions of the country:

Last updated: Wednesday, October 5, 2022