STUDY OF FAA NATIONAL AIRPORT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The FAA requested a study be made of the requirements for their field organization conducting the federal funding assistance for public airports. This study embraced the FAA's regional and district offices as well as the training center at Oklahoma City and the research center (FAATC) at Atlantic City, NJ.

Inspection visits were made to the field offices, interviews were conducted with the personnel engaged in the airport development program, and the work-load measured using federal standard guidelines for performance/time determinations. The work done in the field offices embraced the procedures used in preparation of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), the liaison with states and cities to have them initiate projects deemed necessary for an adequate national airport system, the adherence to federal standards in the design and construction of airports, and the enforcement of federal regulations in the continuing maintenance, operation and management of the public airport. Past records and policies were reviewed to determine the impact of technical and administrative changes to the nationwide airport development program.

The results of this Study were used by the FAA to support budget requests for the field and headquarters staffing essential for the accomplishment of the airport development program. The system established in the Study for work-load measurement is currently employed for up-dating the requirements of the field organization, and is supported by the FAA human resources and budget offices.