Master Plan

What will an airport master plan do for the Kent State University Airport?
The primary goal of an airport master plan is to determine what is needed to meet the current and future needs of the airport. The master plan will be technically sound, practical, compatible with the environment, and economically feasible. The following objectives will serve as a guide in the preparation of the master plan:

• Consider the effect of recent national and local aviation trends on the 2006 airport master plan.
• Identify the existing capacity of airport infrastructure and determine if there is a need to maintain or improve facilities.
• Understand the issues, opportunities, and constraints of the airport.
• Interact with, and retrieve input from, the public and other stakeholders on airport issues and plans.
• Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Specific outcomes and products of the study will include:

• A report discussing the recommendations that is concise, descriptive, and easily understood by local residents and the public agencies charged with the approval, promotion, and funding of any proposed improvements.
• An airport layout plan showing the recommendations developed as part of the process.
• A schedule of priorities and funding sources for proposed improvements.

Why does the airport need another master plan?
Even though a master plan was completed in 2004 and updated in 2006 (see 2006 document on the Documents page), a new master plan is needed for several reasons:

1. Kent State wishes to reconsider the previous decision to decommission the airport. In the 2004 master plan (and its 2006 update), Kent State recommended closing the airport and transferring operations to a nearby airport. The university is reconsidering this recommendation, both because it envisions a strong future for the airport and because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) felt that closing the airport would conflict with earlier assurances from Kent State that the airport would remain open and in public use.
2. An FAA-approved airport master plan is required in order to receive federal funding to improve and maintain airport facilities. The last substantial investment at the airport was more than 10 years ago, and many of the facilities are more than 80 years old or were intended as temporary structures.
3. The FAA has issued new airport design standards affecting the development of airport master plans. In October 2012, a new advisory circular was released that provides guidance on the geometric layout and engineering design requirements for runways, taxiways, aprons, and other airport facilities.