Understanding Impacts to Airports From Temporary Flight Restrictions (2020)

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1 Understanding Impacts to Airports From Temporary Flight Restrictions This report documents and presents the results of ACRP Project 02-86, “Understanding Impacts to Airports from Temporary Flight Restrictions.” The goal of this research project was to identify financial and other ramifications of a temporary flight restriction (TFR) at or near an airport. Factors that affect the size of these impacts were identified, and an electronic tool that can estimate the financial ramifications of a TFR for a specific airport or related business was developed. Proposed steps that can be taken by airport stakeholders to potentially mitigate these impacts are identified. Some pilots in the general aviation (GA) community have noted the increasing preva- lence of TFRs since their use was expanded after September 11, 2001. The restrictions on traffic imposed as a result of TFRs result in lost revenue; however, that had never been quantified. Due to far more reaching impacts from presidential travel as opposed to other TFRs including other VIP related TFRs, the focus for this report is on presidential TFRs. Research showed that: • TFRs can be implemented for several reasons, including security, hazards, space oper- ations, special events, and VIP travel. Details on the historical use of each type are in Chapter 2. • VIP TFRs, specifically presidential TFRs, have much greater impact than other types of TFR because they encompass a larger geography, are longer in duration, and may have little advance notice. TFRs with longer duration, or that recur often, are much more impactful than shorter or one-time events. • Specific data documenting the financial impact of TFRs on businesses was scarce. How- ever, the range of airports studied is broad enough to cover most cases. The number of flights unable to operate during a TFR, combined with the value of each operation to a specific business—quantities known best by each individual stakeholder—determine impact. • Using the guidelines in this report, airports and other businesses can better anticipate and prepare for impacts of TFRs for future presidential travel. Chapter 5 contains sugges- tions for ways to mitigate the impact of TFRs. S U M M A R Y