During the COVID-19 pandemic, airports faced challenges such as implementing health protocols, accessing trusted information, accommodating social distancing, and using effective technologies to control the spread of the virus. Public health officials interviewed for this report acknowledged a potential conflict between sustaining airport operations and promoting travel on the one hand and the need to implement certain health protocols to prevent disease transmission on the other. They also noted that pu...

The main wireless applications at airports—passenger connectivity and airport staff communications—are imposing increasing demands on wireless capacity. Demand for passenger mobile connectivity is skyrocketing as high-speed-capable devices proliferate, and passengers require enhanced connectivity either for work or entertainment during dwell times, including location-based services for a custom travel experience. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 242: Transformation in W...

The threat of wildlife strikes with aircraft is increasing due to larger bird populations and quieter aircraft. The challenge of managing this risk has prompted the development of Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMPs) by airport operators, which are required to be reviewed regularly. However, there is little guidance available to assess the effectiveness of these plans over time. ACRP Research Report 250: Program Evaluation Report Card Tool for Wildlife Hazard Management Plans: User Guide , from TRB's...

Investments in baggage handling systems are crucial to airport operations and customer satisfaction, yet decisions are often made solely based on initial capital investment without considering the total cost of ownership (TCO). A TCO analysis could lead to cost savings and opportunities for innovation, energy efficiency, and automation. ACRP Research Report 252: Airport Baggage Handling System Decision-Making Based on Total Cost of Ownership , from TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program, is designed ...

The travel experience can vary greatly for people embarking on the same journey. In particular, travelers with disabilities and older adults usually experience more challenges journeying through the airport. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 239: Assessing Airport Programs for Travelers with Disabilities and Older Adults provides the industry with resources and tools to enhance existing programs and services and develop new ones. The report also provides effective assess...

Human trafficking has emerged as a critical public concern, with tens of millions of global victims who are moved across international borders and between states using various forms of transportation, including buses, trains, and airplanes, among others. Traffickers may be transporting victims through airports, or victims may be traveling of their own accord, unaware that the job opportunity at the end of their journey is not legitimate. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report...

An airport’s insurance program is just one component of its overall risk management program. An insurance program can be quite complex, addressing types of coverage, limits, retention amounts, and legal and contractual issues, among other factors. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 248: Airport Insurance Requirements provides best practices for airports developing an insurance program, including requirements for contracts with third parties doing business at the airport. ...

Urban Air Mobility (UAM), or its generalized version, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), is an emerging aerial transportation approach that involves the operation of highly automated aircraft for a safe and efficient system to transport passengers or cargo at lower altitudes of airspace within urban, suburban, and exurban areas. UAM initiatives are advancing in many communities and will likely bring many societal changes. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 243: Urban Air Mobili...

An aviation system is composed of airports that are publicly owned and open for public use within a defined geographic area—a region, a state, or multiple nearby states. For example, a metropolitan region may have an airport serving commercial airlines and several general aviation (GA) relievers or other GA airports that cater to nonairline traffic. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 244: Advancing the Practice of State Aviation System Planning is intended to serve as a c...

Developments in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology and the seemingly endless applications of this technology offer society a broad spectrum of enhancements and solutions to many problems. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 238: Airfield Design for Large Unmanned Aircraft Systems—A Guide provides a fundamental understanding of large UAS (L-UAS) and their typical supporting infrastructure needs, which will assist airport sponsors with determining potential enha...