Practices in Preserving and Developing Public-Use Seaplane Bases

Abstract

Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in transportation of people and goods and in regional, national, and international commerce. They are where the nation's aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal responsibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principle means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Cooperative Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Program. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, maintenance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport operators can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary participants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), and the Air Transport Association (ATA) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research organizations. Each of these participants has different interests and responsibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by identifying the highest prior...

Exploratory analysis of seaplane operations in Greece: insights of a survey and SWOT analysis

“…The rest of the year demand depends on residents and business activities and the recurrence of travel will be more limited. In the winter months, the flight schedule will also be shorter as there is earlier nightfall and there are risks of flying at that time impacting on the service schedule (Gobbi et al, 2011;Quilty et al, 2015).…”

“…Some seaplane types, like the amphibious, are equipped with a landing gear that allows them to land not only on water but also on land (Gobbi et al, 2011;Odedra et al, 2004) enabling them to use multiple transport infrastructure types. The required infrastructure is minimal compared to the other modes since in addition to the landing and take-off runway, which is located on water, it is only necessary to connect the seaplanes to the shore and a water lane to allow their take-off and landing manoeuvres (Federal Aviation Administration, 2018;Odedra et al, 2004;Quilty et al, 2015). Compared to ferries, even though emissions per minute are higher for seaplanes, the journeys are done in a significantly shorter time ending up being less pollutant overall (Gobbi et al, 2011).…”

“…Compared to ferries, even though emissions per minute are higher for seaplanes, the journeys are done in a significantly shorter time ending up being less pollutant overall (Gobbi et al, 2011). Quilty et al (2015) identified as possible contributions of seaplane operations, their potential to enhance the national transport system, the offering of an alternative transport mode to the users and finally, the opportunity to foster the development of local economies with a particular emphasis on remote regions.…”