Page 60 - Planning and Design of Airports

38 Airp o r t Pl anning

operation of the nation’s civil aviation system. The FAA is headed by
the chief executive known as the administrator who is appointed by
the President. The FAA performs the following functions:
1. Encourages the establishment of civil airways, landing areas,
and other air facilities
2. Designates federal airways and acquires, establishes, oper-
ates, and conducts research and development and maintains
air navigation facilities along such civil airways
3. Makes provision for the control and protection of air traffic
moving in air commerce
4. Undertakes or supervises technical development work in the
field of aeronautics and the development of aeronautical
facilities
5. Prescribes and enforces the civil air regulations for safety
standards, including:
a. Effectuation of safety standards, rules, and regulations
b. Examination, inspection, or rating of airmen, aircraft
engines, air navigation facilities, aircraft, and air agencies
c. Issuance of various types of safety certificates
6. Provides for aircraft registration
7. Requires notice and issues orders with respect to hazards to
air commerce
8. Issues airport operating certificates to airports serving air
carriers
The FAA develops, directs, and fosters the coordination of a
national system of airports, the National Plan of Integrated Airport
Systems [22], an aviation system capacity enhancement plan, the
Aviation System Capacity Plan [9], a plan to modernize and signifi-
cantly upgrade the air traffic control system, the National Airspace
System Plan [21], and oversees funding for airports through the Air-
port Improvement Program and PFC Program. In this connection it
performs the following functions:
1. Provides consultation and advisory assistance on airport
planning, design, construction, management, operation, and
maintenance to governmental, professional, industrial, and
other individuals and agencies.
2. Develops and establishes standards, government planning
methods and procedures; airport and seaplane base design
and construction; and airport management, operation, and
maintenance.
3. Collects and maintains an accurate record of all available air-
port facilities in the United States.