|
To view this page ensure that Adobe Flash Player version 9.0.124 or greater is installed. Airports that exclusively serve GA vary widely in terms of their proximity to densely populated areas, their levels of activity, and the types of operations conducted. To illustrate, consider Peachtree - Dekalb County Airport (PDK), a busy general aviation reliever located near Atlanta, Georgia. According to the FAA, PDK experiences an average of 639 operations per day, 64% by transient GA aircraft. According to a recent survey, PDK ranks 20th among the busiest GA airports in the United States.11 While PDK has an air traffic control tower, even at this relatively busy airport, the tower closes during late night and early morning hours. Almost 600 aircraft are based on the field including 56 jets and 13 helicopters. Contrast this with Red Stewart Airfield (40I) in Waynesville, Ohio – a 2,400 foot long grass strip located roughly midway between Dayton and Cincinnati. The airport – considered an “uncontrolled field” because it has no operating control tower – sees less than 50 operations per day. The airport is home to only 44 aircraft – 40 small single-engine airplanes, 2 ultralights, and 2 gliders – that account for most (89%) of the flight activity at the airport. Most security experts agree that applying identical or inflexible security measures at GA airports that vary so widely in their characteristics is likely to yield an unsatisfactory solution that could either overburden small airport operators or fail to mitigate potential vulnerabilities unique to specific airports or specific types of airports. Therefore, a risk-based strategy implementing security measures tailored to the unique characteristics and vulnerabilities of specific airports is generally thought to be preferable and has been advocated by aviation security experts and representatives from the GA industry.12 The Economic Impact of General Aviation |
