Virtual ramp control (VRC) implementations have increasingly been occurring at airports over the past 5 years. More airport operators are interested in potentially implementing a VRC system as the technology proves viable. ACRP Research Report 256: Virtual Airport Ramp Control Operations Facilities: A Guide , from TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program, aims to develop a guide that provides...

Airports face increasing regulatory and technical challenges for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found on or near their facilities. Sources of PFAS may be attributable to activities such as the use of aqueous film forming foam during aircraft rescue and firefighting activities or from airport neighbors who use products that contain PFAS. ACRP Research Report 255: PFAS Sour...

People experiencing homelessness have been increasingly seeking shelter in airports. Homelessness at airports is a complex issue with no easy solutions. Airports and local communities need to work together to provide support for people experiencing homelessness, while also ensuring the safety and security of airport operations. ACRP Research Report 254: Strategies to Address Homelessness at Air...

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 ...

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 ...

Airports are facing increasing difficulty in meeting funding needs via traditional revenue sources. New digital tools can be used to generate new revenue opportunities and enhance existing relationships with stakeholders. However, there has been little research on identifying and applying these new synergistic revenue-generating opportunities at airports. ACRP Research Report 251: Digital Marke...

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 Resear...

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...

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 developi...

Airfield markings are critical visual cues and are vital for runways and taxiways. During airfield construction projects, it is often required to remove or obliterate the existing pavement markings and apply temporary markings. These methods can leave scarring that is visible on the airfield for years. Such traces of former markings can be mistaken for active airfield markings by pilots and gro...

Despite dedicated efforts involving changes in technologies and procedures, the number of annual runway incursions in the United States has shown little to no improvement. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 246: Airside Operations Safety: Understanding the Effects of Human Factors provides a review of the current state of human factors research and the related r...

Airports across the United States are owned and operated by a wide variety of governance structures, each with their own features and historical legacies. As the common refrain from airport professionals goes, if you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport. Similarly, if you’ve seen one airport’s governance structure, you’ve seen one airport’s governance structure. The TRB Airport Cooperat...

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'...

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 ...

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...

Periodically, airports want to redesign their workforce and organizational structure. They are seeking to be responsive to their current and emerging business needs, which can change over time. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 240: Primer for Airport Organizational Redesign provides guidelines for airport leaders on strategies and steps as they navigate the pr...

As technology continues to evolve, airports are seeking opportunities to create a touchless experience along the passenger journey. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to eliminate many common touchpoints, which are potential points of disease transmission. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 241: Toward a Touchless Airport Journey presents solutions f...

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...

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 t...

Airports use Noise and Operations Monitoring Systems (NOMSs) to collect, manage, analyze, and communicate data such as flight tracks and procedures, aircraft identification, noise measurements, noise abatement program performance, and weather. NOMSs are also used to respond to community noise complaints and provide stakeholders with information about aircraft activity and noise, thus fostering ...