MASTER PLAN UPDATE CHATTANOOGA METROPOLITAN AIRPORT VOLUME 1 OF 2: Technical Report Prepared For CHATTANOOGA METROPOLITAN AIRPORT AUTHORITY Chattanooga, Tennessee July 2010 FINAL REPORT Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Master Plan Update TABLE OF CONTENTS (Volume 1 of 2) INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. i CHAPTER 1 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM ...................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Committees ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Public Information Workshops ..........................................................................................1-1 1.4 Timing ............................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.5 Issues ................................................................................................................................ 1-2 1.6 Public Meetings of May 11, 2009 ......................................................................................1-3 1.6.1 User’s Group Comments on the Airport Development Concepts .............................. 1-3 1.6.2 The Technical Advisory Group Comments on the Airport Development Concepts ... 1-3 1.6.3 Public Information Workshop Number One ............................................................... 1-4 1.7 Public Information Workshop of June 1, 2010 ..................................................................1-4 CHAPTER 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ......................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Background ....................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Airfield/Airspace ................................................................................................................ 2-2 2.3.1 Runway 2-20 ..............................................................................................................2-2 2.3.2 Runway 15-33 ............................................................................................................2-2 2.3.3 Navigational Aids .......................................................................................................2-2 2.3.4 Taxiway System .........................................................................................................2-4 2.3.5 Apron Areas ...............................................................................................................2-4 2.3.6 Airspace Environment ................................................................................................2-5 2.3.7 Instrument Procedures ..............................................................................................2-5 2.4 Commercial Passenger Terminal Area ............................................................................. 2-8 2.4.1 Commercial Service Passenger Terminal ................................................................. 2-8 2.4.2 Access, Circulation, and Parking ...............................................................................2-9 2.5 General Aviation Facilities ..............................................................................................2-14 2.5.1 Fixed Base Operator ................................................................................................2-14 2.5.2 Other General Aviation Facilities ............................................................................. 2-15 2.6 Cargo Facilities ............................................................................................................... 2-15 2.7 Support Facilities ............................................................................................................ 2-15 2.7.1 Air Traffic Control Tower ..........................................................................................2-15 2.7.2 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Facility ................................................................ 2-16 2.7.3 Airport Maintenance Facilities ..................................................................................2-17 2.7.4 Utilities ..................................................................................................................... 2-17 2.8 Regional Setting and Land Use ......................................................................................2-17 2.8.1 Airport Land Use ......................................................................................................2-17 2.8.2 Airport Height Zoning Restrictions ...........................................................................2-21 2.9 Environmental Overview .................................................................................................2-21 2.9.1 Floodplains ..............................................................................................................2-21 2.9.2 Wetlands ..................................................................................................................2-21 CHAPTER 3 AVIATION FORECASTS .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Historical Activity Review .................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2.1 Regional Commercial Service Airports ...................................................................... 3-2 3.2.2 Location and Other Characteristics of Regional Airports ........................................... 3-3 3.2.3 Airlines Providing Service ..........................................................................................3-4 Table of Contents TOC-i FINAL REPORT Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Master Plan Update 3.2.4 Domestic Airlines Serving Regional Airports ............................................................. 3-4 3.2.5 Markets Served ..........................................................................................................3-5 3.2.6 Airport Efforts to Improve Air Service ........................................................................3-6 3.2.7 Market Share .............................................................................................................3-7 3.2.8 Annual Enplaned Passengers ...................................................................................3-7 3.2.9 Annual Aircraft Operations .........................................................................................3-9 3.3 Factors Affecting Future Aviation Demand ..................................................................... 3-11 3.3.1 Impact of September 11, 2001 ................................................................................3-11 3.3.2 National Economic Conditions .................................................................................3-12 3.3.3 Identification of the Air Service Area ........................................................................ 3-12 3.3.4 Local Socioeconomic Conditions .............................................................................3-13 3.3.5 Major Employers ......................................................................................................3-15 3.3.6 Airline Hubs in Atlanta and Nashville ....................................................................... 3-17 3.3.7 Airfares ....................................................................................................................3-17 3.3.8 Low Cost Airline Access to Atlanta .......................................................................... 3-18 3.3.9 Airline Competition ...................................................................................................3-18 3.4 Enplaned Passenger Forecast ........................................................................................3-18 3.4.1 Market Share Analysis .............................................................................................3-18 3.4.2 Trend Analysis .........................................................................................................3-22 3.4.3 Regression Analysis ................................................................................................ 3-25 3.4.4 FAA Terminal Area Forecast ...................................................................................3-28 3.4.5 Indexed TAF ............................................................................................................3-30 3.4.6 Presentation of the Enplaned Passenger Forecast ................................................. 3-32 3.4.7 The Preferred Forecast ............................................................................................3-34 3.5 Air Cargo ......................................................................................................................... 3-36 3.5.1 Industry Developments ...........................................................................................