Chapter 2.5 Aviation Facilities And
I-87 Multimodal Corridor Study AVIATION FACILITIES & OPERATIONS Existing Corridor Conditions & Opportunities 2.5. AVIATION FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS 2.5.1. Aviation Analysis Area Aviation systems somewhat resemble Interstate highways, as access is provided at fixed, predetermined locations. Each airport in a system essentially functions as a highway interchange. Like interchanges, airports can substantially influence the economic development of the communities surrounding them. Speed, time, cost, and complexity distinguish aviation from other transportation modes. Aircraft provide the fastest means for the transport of people, and thus, are primarily used for longer trips (e.g., over 300 miles). However, airline service often requires passengers to spend over an hour at an airport during both arrival and departure. Thus, the amount of time that an individual saves by flying must compensate for the amount of time spent at the airport. For transportation within the I-87 corridor, aviation does not typically provide the most cost- or time-efficient method of travel. However, air travel is typically the only mode of transportation considered for trips over 1,000 miles. The airports along the I-87 corridor provide daily non-stop flights to tourist and business destinations (e.g., Florida, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Las Vegas, etc.), with connecting flights to any destination worldwide. For air cargo, cost plays a primary role in choosing aviation over other transportation modes. The air cargo industry predominantly transports goods of low weight, high value, and/or high time sensitivity, such as documents, mail, and small packages. The time sensitivity of business- related packages has grown in recent decades, creating marked growth in the overnight document industry (e.g., UPS, FedEx, etc.).
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