The FAA Airports GIS Program's Benefits to Airports

The FAA has released new tools in 2015 for the FAA Airports GIS program that have significant benefits to airports. These tools include the Surface Analysis and Visualization tool for airports to electronically coordinate with regional flight procedure teams to review, visualize, analyze, and mitigate obstacles that are penetration to 20:1 design surfaces. Another tool is the Modification of Standards tool that allows airports to submit electronic requests for modification of construction and design standards and get electronic approvals. The most significant tool is the electronic Airport Layout Plan that allows airports to submit survey and planning data to have the Airports GIS program generate six standard sheets for, approval and generate a PDF. In addition, the FAA has migrated to authoritative sourcing of digital and geospatial data for airport data. When fully implemented the data submitted by airports will be used as the authoritative airport data in all lines of business within the FAA and will be used for instrument procedure development and aeronautical charting publications.