Improving Ground Support Equipment Operational Data for Airport Emissions Modeling (2015)

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3C H A P T E R 1 This chapter provides an overview of the purpose of ACRP Project 02-46 as well as this resul- tant guidebook, including its intended audience, what this guidebook contains, and how this guidebook is suggested to be used. 1.1 What Is the Purpose of this Guidebook? Emerging concerns over the potential effects of airport-related air emissions on human health and the environment have made the intersection between aviation and air quality a matter of increasing importance to airport operators, regulatory agencies, and the general public. As a result, a number of ACRP initiatives and publications have focused on the various sources of emissions associated with airports and the methods by which they are evaluated. The subject sources of these research efforts have included (but are not limited to) aircraft main engines,1 auxiliary power units (APUs),2 aircraft brakes and wheels, ground access vehicles (GAVs),3 and construction activities.4 Assessment methods subject to ACRP research have included air quality monitoring,5 emission inventories,6 and atmospheric dis- persion modeling.7 In keeping with this ongoing and wide-ranging undertaking to advance what is known about airport-related sources of emissions and how they are assessed, this ACRP research and resultant guidebook are aimed principally at advancing how emissions associated with airport GSE are evaluated in emission inventories. This overriding goal is achieved by formulating an improved and standard- ized approach for how airport-specific GSE emissions inventories are planned, organized, and conducted. Realizing that GSE emission inventories may be intended for diverse purposes; that availability of data may be different from case to case; and that manpower, time, and budget resources may be limited for some inventories—the approach must be flexible in identifying optional methods to accommodate these potential differences. In summary, this goal is achieved accomplishing the three objectives identified and delineated in the call-out box. Introduction and Background Guidebook Objectives The principal objectives of this guidebook are three-fold: 1. Guide the preparation of an airport-specific GSE emissions inventory; 2. Provide a protocol by which GSE operational data can be collected for an inventory; and 3. Recommend “default” input data to use if airport-specific GSE data collection is not desired or possible. 1 ACRP Report 6 (02-04), Research Needs Associated with Particulate Emissions at Airports 2 ACRP Report 97 (02-17), Measuring PM Emissions from Aircraft Auxiliary Power Units, Tires and Brakes 3 ACRP 02-63 (Pending), Quantifying Airport Ground Access Vehicle Activity for Emissions Modeling 4 ACRP Report 102 (02-33), Guidance for Estimating Airport Construction Emissions 5 ACRP Report 71 (02-08), Guidance for Quantifying the Contribution of Airport Emissions to Local Air Quality 6 ACRP Report 84 (02-21), Evaluation of Airport Emissions within State Implementation Plans 7 ACRP 02-43 (Active), Development of a NOx Chemistry Module for EDMS/AEDT to Predict NO2 Concentrations

4 Improving Ground Support Equipment Operational Data for Airport Emissions Modeling Airport GSE comprise a wide assortment of equipment and vehicles that provide essential support services to aircraft when they are on the ground. Other common GSE functions pertain to the service and maintenance of airport terminal buildings and other infrastructure. Emissions inventories are a valuable and commonly used technique for quantifying the types and amounts of emissions from airport-related sources and activities, including those associated with GSE. 1.2 Who Should Use this Guidebook? This guidebook was specifically prepared for use by stakeholders involved in preparing emis- sions inventories that may include, or be focused on, airport GSE. In each case, the incentives for preparing an emissions inventory for GSE and the intended application of the results likely differ somewhat. These principal participants mainly include the following: • Airport owners and operators—These include airport managers and staff involved in man- aging air emissions associated with their airports (including those associated with GSE) for regulatory, planning, and environmental purposes. • GSE owners and providers—These include passenger airlines and air cargo carriers that uti- lize GSE to provide the necessary ground-based services to their aircraft and other support facilities. This group also includes GSE service providers who contract their services to airlines and cargo carriers. • Governmental agencies—These include the following on the federal, state, and local levels: – FAA–Responsible for ensuring that airport-related emissions (including those from GSE) are appropriately represented in environmental assessments prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) (i.e., the General Conformity Rule). The FAA is also involved in the development of models and guidebooks for the computation of airport emissions—again, including those associated with GSE. – U.S. EPA—Responsible for setting exhaust emission standards for both on- and nonroad motorized vehicles and equipment (including airport GSE). – State and local agencies—Responsible for the development of State Imple- mentation Plans (SIPs) in designated nonattainment/maintenance areas that encompass airport-related emissions (including those associated with GSE). In addition to these principal stakeholders, others with an interest in improving how airport GSE emissions are evaluated comprise various non- governmental organizations (NGOs) that represent the aviation industry, envi- ronmental consultants that prepare airport emissions inventories, academic institutions involved in airport air quality research, and others with an interest in ensuring that GSE emissions are appropriately quantified and evaluated. 1.3 Benefits of Using this Guidebook The overriding aim of this ACRP initiative and guidebook is to provide an improved and consistent approach that will advance how airport GSE are assessed in emission inventories. This objective is achieved by preparing a practical guide on how to conduct the inventory, which includes a methodology on how airport-specific GSE emission data can be obtained for such inventories. The guide also includes recommend default data when these GSE data have not been collected. Inherent benefits toward improving GSE emission inventories from using the protocol in this guidebook include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following: • Identifies appropriate data—Conducting an airport GSE emissions inventory requires a spe- cific set of input data unique to airport environs and this emission source, which are identified in this guidebook. Reminder—In addition to airports, airlines, and other GSE providers, non-governmental organizations, consultants, and academia can also benefit from the information contained in the guidebook.

Introduction and Background 5 • Increases levels of accuracy—Using airport-specific GSE data and/or updating the former default data can generate more accurate emissions inventories for this source, both of which are objectives of this research project. • Fosters consistency—The application of the suggestions contained in this guidebook for collecting and applying GSE data will help to promote greater consistency and comparability between emissions inventories under different airports, years, and/or scenarios. • Reduces costs and enhances safety—The in-the-field collection of GSE data can be a potentially hazardous undertaking given the locations and operational conditions under which these equipment and vehicles typically maneuver. Without an informed strategy, the manpower, time require- ments, and costs can also become disproportional to the returns and, in some cases, may be prohibitive. The data collection methods contained in this guidebook are designed to reduce these costs and risks. • Promotes stakeholder coordination—There are a number of potential par- ticipants with an interest, or stake, in the preparation of airport GSE emis- sions inventories (i.e., airport owners/operators, GSE owners/providers, regulatory agencies). The use and outcomes of this guidebook will help to unify their interests, objectives, and approaches to assessing this source of airport emissions. How the guidebook is used will depend in large part on the expertise of the users. In some cases, it is expected that some users may possess a high level of knowledge and experience related to computing emissions for airport sources. In other cases, some users may only have a general understanding of airports and are comparatively less accomplished at conducting emission inventories. In both instances, their experience with, and understanding of, airport GSE are also expected to vary. Other important variables that are expected to govern how this guidebook is used involve the type and size of the airport(s) for which emission inventories are prepared, the level of activity at the airport(s), the degree of accuracy and precision required in the emissions inventory, and the availability of appropriate input data. 1.4 Contents of this Guidebook The contents of the guidebook are organized around five chapters that follow this introduc- tion and build upon one another in a progressive fashion. However, for those that wish to focus on particular topics of interest, the Topic Quick Lookup Guide provides an index of the most commonly cited subject matter. • Chapter 2: GSE Types, Functions, and Emissions—Describes the types and functions of airport GSE, their emissions characteristics, and a brief description of how GSE emissions are currently assessed in emissions inventories using available emissions models and tools. • Chapter 3: GSE Emissions Inventories—Outlines and describes the types of GSE emissions inventories that one might prepare and advises the user on how to structure a GSE inventory based on inventory purpose. Establishes and elaborates upon inventory input data requirements. • Chapter 4: GSE Data Collection Protocol—Provides a consistent and systematic protocol to collect GSE operational and inventory data to satisfy emissions inventory input requirements outlined within Chapter 3. Special attention is given to safety and security measures and regulations specific to airports, statistical methods with which to calculate a sufficient sample size for data collection, and quality assurance checks and procedures necessary to ensure the collected data are appropriate for use. References—Guidebook users should learn about other ACRP publications pertaining to airports and air quality. These include the following: – ACRP Report 11: Guidebook on Preparing Airport Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories – ACRP Report 71: Guidance for Quantifying the Contribution of Airport Emissions to Local Air Quality – ACRP Report 78: Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Emission Reduction Strategies, Invention, and Tutorial – ACRP Report 102: Guidance for Estimating Airport Construction Emissions

6 Improving Ground Support Equipment Operational Data for Airport Emissions Modeling • Chapter 5: Modifying and Using Default GSE Emissions Model Data— In the event that in-the-field data collection cannot be taken due to time or resource constraints, or if GSE equipment data are not available, this chapter specifies suggested default data to be used for the purposes of emissions calculation. Additionally, suggestions are provided on how to adjust these defaults if limited site-specific information is available or if it is otherwise conducive to the selected inventory strategy. • Chapter 6: Coordination Best Practices—Identifies a series of coordina- tion steps useful in securing GSE equipment inventory data from airline fleet owners and station managers, contract fleet owners and operators, ground handlers, and other stakeholders. To aid in the comprehension of this material, a glossary and lists of refer- ences, acronyms, and abbreviations are provided at the end of the guidebook. A compilation of frequently asked questions and answers is also provided to help the user answer questions that might arise in the course of reviewing and applying the information contained in this guidebook. Finally, the follow- ing appendices are intended to augment the materials presented within the guidebook for users that require additional details, examples, and/or further explanations: – Appendix A: Example Health, Safety, and Security Plan; – Appendix B: Data Collection Forms and Resources; – Appendix C: Aircraft Size Classifications; – Appendix D: Technical Support Document for the Derivation of Revised AEDT Defaults; and – Appendix E: Proposed New Default TIM for Passenger Aircraft GSE Fleet Mix for Small-Sized Airports. 1.5 ACRP Report 78 Throughout this report, reference will be given to ACRP Report 78: Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE): Emission Reduction Strategies, Inventory, and Tutorial, prepared by CDM Fed- eral Programs Corporations, KB Environmental Sciences, Inc., and Ricondo & Associates, Inc. ACRP Report 78 provides important supplementary information that supports the guidance provided in the guidebook. ACRP Report 78 had a three-fold approach to assessing and mitigating the contribution of GSE on air quality impacts at airports. First, an inventory of GSE at airports was provided. Sec- ond, potential strategies to reduce emissions from GSE were developed. Third, a tutorial that describes GSE operations and emission reduction technologies that may be employed by GSE owners and operators was included. The GSE inventory developed in ACRP Report 78 supported this project by providing details that otherwise would not have been known about GSE fleets throughout the country. Applica- tions and assumptions can be made from this inventory that can help to improve emission modeling results. The findings of ACRP Report 78 can also be consulted and integrated where applicable, specifically regarding GSE horsepower, fuel type, population, and load factors. Finally, ACRP Report 78 also provides a methodology for estimating GSE fleet size based on airport activity levels. As a result, ACRP Report 78 could be used as supplementary guidance and support to this project. Topic Quick Lookup Guide Topic Chapter/Appx. • Aircraft Classifications ..................C • Cargo Aircraft ...............................5 • Coordination .................................6 • Data Collection Forms ..................B • Data Collection Protocol ..............4 • Default Data ................................ 5 • Deicing GSE .................................. 5 • Emissions Inventory Approaches ...3 • Emissions Inventory Data Needs ...3 • FAA’s VALE Program .................... 2 • FAA’s EDMS/AEDT ........................ 3 • GSE Emissions Standards ............. 2 • GSE Emissions Inventory .............. 3 • GSE Emissions ............................... 2 • GSE Fuel Types ............................. 5 • GSE Population ............................ 5 • GSE Types ..................................... 2 • Health & Safety Plan....................A • Operating Times .......................... 4 • Passenger Aircraft ....................... 5 • Quality Assurance ........................ 4 • Stakeholders ................................ 6 • Technical Support Materials ........D