Airports and Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Volume 2: Incorporating UAS into Airport Infrastructure— Planning Guidebook
Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Incorporating UAS into Airport Infrastructure—Planning Guidebook
i
Contents
1
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 10
Background ...................................................................................................................................................... 10
Guidebook Organization ............................................................................................................................... 11
2
UAS Terminology and Classifications ............................................................................. 12
3
Current Conditions ........................................................................................................... 14
Current Regulations ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Current UAS Forecasts of Industry Demand ............................................................................................ 16
UAS Airport Design Guidance Summary .................................................................................................. 17
3.3.1
United States’ Airfield Design Standards and UAS ............................................................................................. 17
3.3.2
International UAS Infrastructure Standards ......................................................................................................... 18
Recent Examples of UAS Infrastructure Planning ................................................................................... 20
3.4.1
UAS Infrastructure Planning at Airports .............................................................................................................. 20
3.4.2
Droneport Planning ................................................................................................................................................. 21
4
Airport Opportunities, Issues and Challenges ................................................................. 23
Opportunities .................................................................................................................................................. 23
4.1.1
Benefits to Airport Owners and Operators .......................................................................................................... 23
4.1.2
Benefits to Airport Customers and Tenants ......................................................................................................... 23
4.1.3
Benefits of Fixed and Multi-Rotor UAS ............................................................................................................... 24
4.1.4
Potential Opportunities to Enhance Airport Revenue ....................................................................................... 25
Issues and Challenges..................................................................................................................................... 25
5
Airport Infrastructure Planning for UAS .......................................................................... 26
UAS and Airport Planning Documentation ............................................................................................... 26
5.1.1
UAS Integrated Airport Master Plan ..................................................................................................................... 26
5.1.2
UAS Planning Study ................................................................................................................................................ 27
Initial Needs Assessment and Pre-Planning ............................................................................................... 27
Suggested Planning Document(s) Scope .................................................................................................... 30
Airport Strategic Vision and Objectives. .................................................................................................... 31
Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................ 31
Forecast Process ............................................................................................................................................. 32
Determining Critical Aircraft ........................................................................................................................ 34
Airport Capacity Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 36
UAS Facility and Infrastructure Needs ....................................................................................................... 36
5.9.1
Airfield ....................................................................................................................................................................... 37
5.9.2
Airport Landside Facilities, UAS and Autonomous Vehicles ............................................................................ 51
