Airport Planning & Capacity
Airport planning encompasses capacity, master and regional planning, aviation forecasting, and airspace planning. Activities include providing planning guidance, producing the biennial National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, developing capacity studies, and collecting boarding and cargo data to determine airport categories.
- Accessible Airport Facilities
- Airport Capacity Profiles
- Compatible Land Use
- General Aviation Airports Reports (ASSET 1 and ASSET 2)
- Joint Civilian/Military (Joint-Use) Airports
- National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS)
- Non-Federally Owned Air Navigation Aids
- Passenger & All-Cargo Statistics
Advisory Circulars (ACs)
Airport Master Planning
Airport Passenger, Cargo, & Operations Data
- Air Traffic Activity Data System (Historic Airport Operations)
- Airport Data and Information Portal (ADIP)
- Airport Passenger and Cargo Data
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- FAA Fact Book: Airports
- NAS Data
Aviation Forecasts
- Terminal Area Forecast (TAF)
- Forecasting Aviation Activity by Airport (MS Word)
- Forecast Review and Approval Instructions (8/2024) (PDF)
Guidance & Policy
- ACC/FAA Best Practices, 2008 (PDF)
- Bulletin 1: Best Practices-Surface Access To Airports (PDF)
- Initial Instructions to Airports District Offices and Regional Office of Airports Employees Regarding Airport Layout Plan Reviews and Projects Potentially Affected by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (added 10/4/2024)
- Interim Guidance on Mineral Extraction and Request for Data Update (PDF)
- Interim Guidance on Proposed Commercial Space Facilities and Operations at Federally Obligated or Part 139 Airports (PDF)
- Orders
- Formulation of the NPIAS and ACIP, Order 5090.5 (September 3, 2019)
- Policy Guidance on Approach and Departure Surface Protection (added 9/2022)
NextGen for Airports
Tools & Resources
- Airport Categories
- Airport Data and Information Portal (ADIP)
- Airport Diagrams
- Airport Reports: Capacity Planning
- Airport and Air Carrier Addresses
- Design and Engineering Standards
- Instrument Flight Procedures Gateway
- Navigation Programs - Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)
- runwaySimulator Airport Capacity Model
Regional Supplemental Guidance
Additional guidance on this topic is available for the following regions of the country:
- Central (IA, KS, MO, NE)
- New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
- Northwest Mountain (CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY)
- Southern (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VI)
- Southwest (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
Planning Forms
| Subject/Title | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All-Cargo Carrier Activity Report Form | 5100-108 | Visit the All-Cargo Reporting page for additional information and sample forms. Instructions included with form. |
| Airport Activity Survey | 1800-31 | Visit the Airport Activity Survey page for forms, instructions, additional information, and samples. |
Last updated: Monday, October 7, 2024