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Airport Owner/Sponsor Role 47
3.6.1 The Airport Role in the Community
Airports may be perceived differently from one community to the next, so the role the airport
plays within its respective community may be unique. Some communities view their airports as
generators of noncompatible development and a detriment to their growth, though airports are
seen in most communities as valuable resources and a vital part of the infrastructure. Some com-
munities view their airports as important attributes to attracting industry and jobs; others rec-
ognize their community airport as a link to the world's air transportation network. Perhaps the
community places its airport in high esteem because it supports emergency response activities in
times of natural disaster or helps provide access to time-critical medical care.
Regardless of the rationale for perspective, or the combination of perspectives and public sen-
timent, airports should have a solid understanding of the role they are expected to play within
their respective communities before embarking on airport development. This is an important
point because the airport sponsor may encounter an unexpected response when the intent to
begin an airport development becomes public, especially if the airport is out of tune with the com-
munity perceptions. Participation in comprehensive planning exercises and an overall engage-
ment in community discussion can position the airport sponsor for a solid understanding of the
role it is expected to play. Regardless of the approach, the airport sponsor needs to be seen as a
member of the community, not as a visitor or an adversary.
3.6.2 Community Relations
Ongoing and quality community relations can have a significant impact on airport develop-
ment. An airport sponsor that has a clear vision, a well-defined set of development goals and that
is adept at building community consensus to support those goals is positioned for success in car-
rying out its development initiatives. Community relations are vital to the mission of articulat-
ing the vision of the airport sponsor, correcting any misperceptions, and building support for
the initiatives undertaken by the airport sponsor.
Elected officials, in many cases, have a role to play in an airport development project, can pro-
vide resources, and are eager to take leadership and ownership of the project. When afforded the
opportunity to take a center-stage leadership role, providing support and being an advocate in
the policy arena, elected officials can play a valuable role. When overlooked, avoided, or circum-
vented, elected officials can be an unnecessary adversary that can certainly influence the success
of the project.
3.6.3 The Economic Development Role
Because the vast majority of public-use airports are owned by public entities, social and politi-
cal externalities can have a significant effect on airport development. Most communities perceive
their airports as an economic engine and an important thread in the economic fabric of the
economy. In cases where the airport is owned by a public entity (e.g., a county, a city, a state, or a
stand-alone authority that may be governed by a board appointed by some combination of the
aforementioned public-sector entities), social agendas and political influences bear economic con-
sideration. This is particularly true when a development project has the potential for providing the
community with significant economic benefits (such as new employment and/or tax revenues).
Sometimes an airport development project may stimulate an abundance of enthusiasm within
the sociopolitical arena, bringing those pressures to get the project done and setting the stage for
inappropriate involvement or application of incentives by the airport sponsor. In these cases, it
may be appropriate to enlist appropriate parties (such as state and/or local economic develop-
ment agencies) to proactively provide incentives through sources such as EDA grant funds and
