An Airport Master Plan is a comprehensive study that is used to determine the development plans of an airport. The Airport Master Plan acts as guidance in planning future airport facilities over a 20-year period. It considers future aviation demand, available funding, environmental components and airport needs that are associated with current demand as well as future growth.
The primary goal of an Airport Master Plan is to provide guidance for future airport development. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Aeronautics Division require airports to maintain a current Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan (ALP) to remain eligible for federal and state grant funds. Typically, Master Plans are updated every 7-10 years. COS’s last Master Plan was completed in 2013. Master Plans establish guidelines and timelines for development, so projects are completed in-line with demand forecasts. While Master Plans can be complex documents, they are important tools that ensure fiscal responsibility, identify and address industry uncertainties, and help balance airport improvements with local concerns.
Airport Master Plan components are established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The COS Master Plan will include the following:
The completion of the master planning process will result in the following two products:
An ALP is a technical drawing that focuses on proposed improvements on and around the subject airport. It highlights features unique to the airport and identifies potential construction projects and other possible development. The inclusion of a future project on an ALP does not guarantee that the project will be funded and/or implemented— it simply ensures that the proposed project is consistent with federal airport design standards. Even if the projects are not implemented, including them in the ALP provides a baseline for future efforts and preserves the projects’ design. The broader term “Airport Layout Plan Drawing Set” describes several pages of drawings that serve as a graphical representation of a wide range of information and details related to airport facilities, proposed development, airspace, land use concerns, and property holdings. Drawing sets are prepared in accordance with strict Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines and approved by the FAA’s local Airports District Office.
Master Plan updates are necessary due to the dynamic nature of the aviation industry and the airport’s community concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends updating airport master plans every 7-10 years. COS last updated it’s Master Plan in 2013. Airport Master Plans serve as a platform to help ensure safe and efficient airport operations, while also addressing potential airport improvement needs and community concerns.
The timing of this Airport Master Plan allows the consulting team to study the changes in aviation industry trends and how those relate to COS’s service area. The Master Plan will help airport administration collect information about airport user needs and community interests for consideration as solutions are formulated.
Community participation and input lies at the center an Airport Master Plan, and a community engagement process is being conducted for COS that solicits and considers input from a wide variety of sources. Interested parties such as airport users, tenants, local businesses, residents from the surrounding communities, stakeholders, airport operators, passengers, and local representatives are included in the process. It is important that each party provides input so the Airport Master Plan will ultimately reflect the needs and desires of the various communities that it serves.
Key issues for this Master Plan include:
The Colorado Springs Airport is committed to promoting a sustainable future that not only meets its most immediate needs, but also preserves the potential to effectively meet those needs yet unforeseen. Decisions made will minimize negative environmental and social impacts, and respect nature and the well-being of the Airport’s surroundings. The Airport’s work towards sustainability is a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment while ensuring the Airport provides appropriate functionality, safety, and service to the community.
Development of the Airport Master Plan is expected to take 12 months. The FAA approval of aviation demand forecasts, the creation and evaluation of alternative strategies, and the finalization of the Airport Layout Plan are major milestones during this project. Formal adoption of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) is anticipated in the winter of 2022. The complete project schedule can be seen on the Schedule page.
An Airport Master Plan, including the Airport Layout Plan (ALP), is produced following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines and regulations found in FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-6, Airport Master Plans. The COS Airport Master Plan and ALP will ultimately be approved by the City of Colorado Springs (the Airport’s legal sponsor). The FAA does not technically approve the entire Master Plan, but reviews and approves two key components: the airport forecast and the ALP drawing. The FAA’s approval indicates the plan complies with the agency’s safety, efficiency, and utility standards. Note that additional federal, state, and local approvals and other steps would be required for any project identified within the Airport Master Plan to move forward into the design and construction phases.
Local entities such as the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and the surrounding municipalities are encouraged to incorporate the approved plan into local planning.
The Airport Master Planning process is, by nature, interactive. A multi-faceted community engagement program is being implemented so that interested parties will have an opportunity to participate at various points throughout the course of the study. During the Airport Master Plan, the Airport will engage the community at open houses, community meetings, and through airport and tenant surveys. Please see the project schedule for approximate timing of these events.
The cost of developing the US National Airspace System and portions of public use airports is paid for by the users of our air transportation system. These users include consumer air freight, airline passengers, and corporate aircraft users. Like the national highway system, much of airports’ infrastructure is paid for with user taxes on airline tickets, air freight, and aviation fuels.
Typically, federal funding is provided by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP), and state funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Aeronautics Division. AIP funds are derived from taxes on national and international travel, air cargo taxes, and noncommercial aviation fuel, which are deposited in the federal aviation trust fund for the purpose of improving the nation’s aviation infrastructure. Ultimately, the airport users fund the local share for improvements through rent, fees, passenger facility charges, and purchases at COS.
The simplest way to participate is through this website. Community ownership is a key objective of this initiative. Use this site to review the latest information and share your comments on the Contact page. Public meetings will be announced in advance of meeting dates. Important dates, meetings, conclusions, and project status/updates will be posted on this website.
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