Airport Layout Plan

The airport layout plan (ALP) is a set of drawings that shows the near-, intermediate-, and long-term facilities for an airport. The ALP is prepared in conformance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, “Airport Master Plans.” Other information that is typically included are plan sheets that show runway details and data, approach and departure profiles, airspace protection surfaces, obstruction information, meteorological data, terminal area plans, land-use information and airport property maps.

Airport layout plans are prepared either as first time planning documents, formal revisions based on changes to the airport, or informal revisions based on minor improvements to the airport. Informal revisions, often referred to as pen-and-ink revisions (now accomplished electronically), can be made to individual sheets of the ALP drawing set, although the responsibility for review and approval must still be coordinated with the FAA. These and other requirements are discussed in FAA Order 5100.38, Airport Improvement Program Handbook.

Individual sheets that comprise the airport layout plan set will vary with each planning effort. The ALP preparer, airport sponsor, FAA and any other approving agency must determine which sheets are necessary during the project scoping activities. Many state aviation agencies also have specific ALP requirements. Some of the drawings that might be included in the airport layout plan drawing set are described below:

• Cover sheet – A separate cover sheet, with approval signature blocks, airport location maps, and other pertinent information as required by the local FAA airports office.
• Airport layout plan – A drawing depicting the existing and future airport facilities. The drawing should include required facility identifications, description labels, imaginary surfaces, runway protection zones, runway safety areas and basic airport and runway data tables. It may be necessary to include the data tables on a separate sheet.
• Airport airspace drawing – 14 CFR Part 77, Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace, defines this as a drawing depicting obstacle identification surfaces for the full extent of all airport development. It also should depict airspace obstructions for the portions of the surfaces excluded from the inner portion of the approach surface drawing.
• Terminal area drawing – This plan consists of one or more drawings that present a large-scale depiction of areas with significant terminal facility development. Such a drawing is typically an enlargement of a portion of the ALP. At a commercial service airport, the drawing would include the passenger terminal area, but it also might include general aviation facilities and cargo facilities.
• Inner portion of the approach surface drawing – Drawings containing the plan and profile view of the inner portion of the approach surface to the runway and a tabular listing of all surface penetrations. The drawing will depict the obstacle identification approach surfaces contained in 14 CFR Part 77, Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace. The drawing also may depict other approach surfaces, including the threshold-siting surface, those surfaces associated with United States Standards for Instrument Procedures (TERPS), or those required by the local FAA office or state agency. The extent of the approach surface and the number of airspace obstructions shown may restrict each sheet to only one runway end or approach.
• Land-use drawing – On and off airport drawings that depict the land uses within and adjacent to the airport property boundary.
• Airport property map sheet – A drawing depicting the airport property boundary, the various tracts of land that were acquired to develop the airport, and the method of acquisition.