Susan Zellers, P.E., AAE
At Hanson, our employees rely on a variety of guidebooks, stylebooks and manuals for the projects we work on — whether it involves designing a major highway, commissioning a new building or developing a proposal for a new project. In addition to accessing the useful and practical information available in guidebooks, Hanson’s employees have also helped write, create and edit guidebooks for numerous clients and professional groups that we’re a part of in our industry.
Our newest opportunity involves working with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) to update a guidebook for managers of small airports. The TRB is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and facilitates innovation and progress through research.
Guidebook tackles big issues for small airports
As the prime consultant, Hanson is conducting the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) project for updating “ACRP Report 16: Guidebook for Managing Small Airports.” The ACRP published Report 16 in 2009 to provide a guide to small-airport managers who have a variety of experience and backgrounds. Small airports for this project are defined as general aviation, non-hub commercial service and facilities with limited staff, volunteer staff or both. Small-airport managers are responsible for activities such as financial management, safety and security, compliance with regulations, facility maintenance and capital improvements.
Since the publication of the initial report, the industry is facing new challenges, and new research has been conducted that could benefit small airports. The updates to the guidebook will make it more user friendly and create an online repository of data that small-airport managers can easily reference. Hanson reached out to the small-airport community across the country to identify key issues to address or expand upon in the guidebook. An industry panel serves as a focus group, especially during the research portion of the project.
“The improved guidebook will provide background and guidance on issues to small-airport managers and serves as a how-to guide with up-to-date information,” said Susan Zellers, P.E., AAE, a senior aviation planner at Hanson’s Indianapolis office who serves as the principal investigator for this project. “The addition of the online repository will give them access to related materials in a few clicks.”
The $350,000 study is scheduled to be completed in 2018.
For more information about the study, contact szellers@hanson-inc.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.