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3.5. Airport Engineering (APE)

This knowledge area encompasses the planning, geometric and pavement design, operations, and regulatory compliance of airports, from system-level master planning through airside, landside, and safety management.

Knowledge Area (KA)	Core Tier1	Core Tier2
3.5.1 Airport Planning and Demand Forecasting	Elective
3.5.2 Airside Geometric Design	Elective
3.5.3 Airfield Pavement Design and Evaluation	Elective
3.5.4 Airfield Drainage, Lighting, and Visual Aids	Elective
3.5.5 Terminal and Landside Design	Elective
3.5.6 Airspace and Air Traffic Operations	Elective
3.5.7 Airport Safety, Security, and Regulation	Elective

3.5.1. APE/Airport Planning and Demand Forecasting ↑ Back to top

Airport master planning process, site selection, integration within regional airport systems, aviation demand forecasting, and airport capacity analysis.
Topics:
Core

• Airport master planning process and site selection
• Airport system planning within the regional and national context
• Aviation demand forecasting methods
• Airport capacity analysis and level of service

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Describe the airport master planning process and site selection criteria [Familiarity]
2. Integrate an airport within a regional airport system plan [Usage]
3. Forecast aviation demand using established methods [Usage]
4. Conduct airport capacity analysis and evaluate level of service [Assessment]

3.5.2. APE/Airside Geometric Design ↑ Back to top

Aerodrome reference code classification, runway orientation, geometric design of runways and taxiways, safety area separations, and apron layout.
Topics:
Core

• Aerodrome reference code and airport reference code (ARC) classification
• Runway orientation analysis and wind rose evaluation
• Runway and taxiway geometric design standards
• Safety area separations, runway/taxiway strips, and obstacle-free zones
• Apron and aircraft holding bay geometric design

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Classify an aerodrome according to its reference code [Familiarity]
2. Determine runway orientation from wind rose analysis [Usage]
3. Design runway and taxiway geometry following FAA/ICAO standards [Assessment]
4. Verify required safety area separations and obstacle-free zones [Assessment]
5. Lay out aprons and aircraft holding bays [Usage]

3.5.3. APE/Airfield Pavement Design and Evaluation ↑ Back to top

Flexible and rigid airfield pavement design, layered elastic and finite element design methods, pavement and aircraft classification numbers, and pavement evaluation and strengthening.
Topics:
Core

• Flexible and rigid airfield pavement design methods
• Layered elastic design using the FAA FAARFIELD method
• Pavement classification number (PCN) and aircraft classification number (ACN)
• Airfield pavement evaluation and strengthening overlay design

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Design flexible and rigid airfield pavements for specified aircraft loading [Assessment]
2. Apply the FAA FAARFIELD method to size airfield pavement layers [Usage]
3. Compute pavement and aircraft classification numbers (PCN/ACN) [Usage]
4. Evaluate in-service airfield pavement condition and design strengthening overlays [Assessment]

3.5.4. APE/Airfield Drainage, Lighting, and Visual Aids ↑ Back to top

Airfield surface and subsurface drainage design, airfield lighting systems and visual aids, pavement marking and signage standards, and siting constraints for navigational aids.
Topics:
Core

• Airfield surface and subsurface drainage design
• Airfield lighting systems and visual aids
• Pavement marking and signage standards
• Siting constraints imposed by navigational aids

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Design airfield surface and subsurface drainage systems [Usage]
2. Describe airfield lighting systems and visual aid requirements [Familiarity]
3. Apply pavement marking and signage standards [Usage]
4. Explain siting constraints imposed by navigational aids [Familiarity]

3.5.5. APE/Terminal and Landside Design ↑ Back to top

Passenger terminal sizing and level-of-service standards, landside access and curbside design, parking facility planning, and air cargo terminal design.
Topics:
Core

• Passenger terminal sizing and level-of-service standards
• Landside access, curbside, and ground transportation design
• Parking facility planning and sizing
• Air cargo terminal design

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Size a passenger terminal using level-of-service standards [Usage]
2. Design landside access and curbside facilities [Usage]
3. Plan parking facilities to meet projected demand [Usage]
4. Describe the functional requirements of an air cargo terminal [Familiarity]

3.5.6. APE/Airspace and Air Traffic Operations ↑ Back to top

Fundamentals of airspace structure and procedure design, air traffic control fundamentals, airport and airspace capacity and delay analysis, and simulation tools.
Topics:
Core

• Airspace structure and basic procedure design
• Air traffic control fundamentals and separation standards
• Airport and airspace capacity and delay analysis
• Airfield and airspace simulation tools

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Explain airspace structure and basic procedure design [Familiarity]
2. Describe air traffic control fundamentals and separation standards [Familiarity]
3. Analyze airport and airspace capacity and delay [Assessment]
4. Utilize simulation tools to evaluate airfield and airspace performance [Usage]

3.5.7. APE/Airport Safety, Security, and Regulation ↑ Back to top

Regulatory compliance under ICAO Annex 14 and FAA Part 139, safety management systems, wildlife hazard management, aviation security fundamentals, and airport environmental management.
Topics:
Core

• ICAO Annex 14 and FAA Part 139 regulatory compliance
• Safety management systems (SMS)
• Wildlife hazard management
• Aviation security (AVSEC) fundamentals
• Airport environmental management (noise and emissions)

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Explain ICAO Annex 14 and FAA Part 139 regulatory requirements [Familiarity]
2. Implement a safety management system (SMS) framework [Usage]
3. Develop a wildlife hazard management plan [Usage]
4. Describe aviation security (AVSEC) fundamentals [Familiarity]
5. Assess airport environmental impacts related to noise and emissions [Assessment]