ACRP IdeaHub Research Projects

This research seeks to capture the extent to which airports are facing the need for and engaging in organizational redesign across the industry and how airports can address the cultural challenges and impacts from redesign on their workforce. It will focus on identifying and providing airports with resources that are crucial to creating agile, innovative, and inclusive organizations for the future of air travel.

This research will study the concept of 'induced demand' for general aviation airports and provide a comprehensive guidance of this phenomenon, specifically for airports.

ACRP 03-56 WebResource provides a variety of airside planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance resources. ACRP Project 03-56 created an electronic resource library known as the Airside WebResource, which provides a web-based library of various ACRP, FAA, and other author documents related to airside planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. The Airside WebResource is anticipated to... more »

Cancelation of flights should be an independent airport decision rather than waiting for the government

Using FEMA emergency management core capabilities and CDC's public health preparedness capabilities as models, this ACRP proposed project will help airports across the country expand existing emergency management programs through the development of industry specific capabilities and metrics for increasing resiliency, preparedness, recovery, planning, and more.

The airport industry is very dynamic, due to changes in technology, regulations, and travel behavior.  Recognizing this, ACRP has developed a process for systematically reviewing its research products to identify those in need of update.  This proposed project would fund a review of ACRP's Policy & Planning products and conduct research to update those most in need of it.

The "touchless journey" results in significant changes that have been long-coming, but is now on an accelerated path resulting from the pandemic. Depending on the nature of the individual, new (especially technology) solutions bring both satisfaction and fear - all of which bring out a growing need for research and guidance on cultural and social behavioral shifts.

Research is recommended to see how to better capture benefits stemming from proposed projects when conducting BCAs for GA airports.

ACI and IATA recently issued guidance on restarting the aviation industry post-COVID-19. However, there is currently no single measure that could mitigate all the risks of restarting air travel. ACI and IATA suggest that an effective implementation should be an outcome based and layered approach, and a range of measures as the most effective way of balancing risk mitigation with the need to unlock economies and to enable... more »

Flight shaming, a social pressure more common in Europe, may gain traction in the United States under a new administration focused on environmental sustainability. With air travel for tourism being the main target, the flight shaming movement could ultimately negatively impact air service and economic recovery, especially in small communities. Airports that have historically relied on the leisure traveler to boost passenger... more »

Airport can support carbon reduction projects that support either aircraft fuel burn reduction or site-related emissions. This revenue could generate funding for airports and shift resources that are going to non-aviation carbon options.

Airport employees face many challenges that can create stress, and if employee stress levels are not addressed, employee health and well-being suffers. While many airports do offer employee well-being programs to address these stress and health needs, additional research is needed to ensure that the well-being programs meet the needs of all employees (e.g., varying shifts, generational differences) and that the outcomes... more »

The purpose of this research is to support the airport industry in building a pipeline of talent that will result in skilled, long-tenured airport employees. This will be accomplished through a focus on recruitment and hiring practices that improve awareness of the industry, increase the number of interested and qualified applicants, and focus on increasing diversity and inclusion within the workforce pipeline.

Included in USDOT's Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) regulation (49 CFR Part 23) is the requirement for many airports to set ACDBE goals for participation in traditional concessions activities (such as food/beverage/retail) and non-traditional concessions activities such as car rental, advertising, internet access, cable television, and customer amenities. While the effort by airports to set... more »

Interstate certification regulations at 49 CFR Part 26.85 intend to reduce the burdens for DBEs to be certified in multiple states. However, the wide differences in implementation among certifiers and the multiplying effect of complying with information requests may actually result in an increased burden; impacting DBE resources and opportunities and USDOT recipients' attainment.