... on the role of GA airports in disaster relief, and along the way uncovers some interesting results. Most notable, says James Smith of the American Public University System, may be the fact that general aviation airports often are not included in disaster management plans, even though aviation operations are.
Dr. Smith, who is also president of the airport/disaster consulting firm Smith-Woolwine Associates (www.swith-woolwine.com), next week will present his preliminary findings at the AAAE General Aviation Issues & Security Conference in Morristown, NJ. He says he has completed two of three parts of the study – an initial survey of some 331 airports, which drew a 10 percent response; and site visits at some ten GA facilities, which will conclude with his visit to Morristown Municipal Airport.
Comments Smith, “The way I wanted to do it was to look at historical involvement and current capabilities and current wishes. And then try to see which states had done any planning that included GA airports --planning for disasters, not airport construction type sort of planning.
“I started looking at national and state plans that I had come across for my previous work with the [Part] 139 airports, and I found no mention at all of GA airports. They’re just invisible. Yet, for most of the country, a GA airport is the only airport within 50 miles geographically. There are whole swaths of this country without a commercial airport within 50 miles.â€
One conclusion, says Smith, is there needs to be some way to communicate more effectively with GA airports. “At nearly all the airports I surveyed and visited,†he relates “more than three-quarters say they are active in state aviation planning, but far fewer in disaster planning.†He points to Louisiana as one example in which the state coordinates disaster and planning among various stakeholders, including GA airports.
“I’d like to see an expansion of the role of the state aviation offices to enable wiser use of airports in disasters. This means there has to be some kind of funding found. It won’t be free but it won’t be very expensive.â€
Another conclusion, says Smith, is that he’d like to see GA and Part 139 airports more thoroughly brought in on national plans. “It’s worked out at local levels … brilliantly in Florida,†he comments. “Often, it’s informal. Every place I went [in Florida], the airport and the local government have a good working relationship and are highly aware of each other’s capabilities and needs.
“There needs to be an awareness and a commitment.â€
Look for an expanded report on Dr. Smith’s efforts in the upcoming July edition of AIRPORT BUSINESS magazine.
Thanks for reading. jfi