Kittitas County AirportStrategic Business Plan - FINAL - 072621 (002)

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APPENDIX II: PRELIMINARY AIRPORT ASSESSMENT APPENDIX Airport Strategic Business Plan, 07/26/2021 48 Perhaps the most important roles of a General Aviation airport are to provide access to the community and generate economic benefit (directly and indirectly). When combined with good labor availability and relatively affordable land a General Aviation airport can dramatically increase the business development and investment attractiveness of the local community, the region, and the state. The studies aligned all NPIAS general aviation airports into four categories based on their existing activity levels, diverse functions, and economic contributions to their communities and the Nation, as follows:  National Airports (92 airports as of 2020) are located in metropolitan areas near major business centers, serves national and global markets, have very high levels of activity with many jets and multi-engine propeller aircraft, and averages about 249 total based aircraft (including 30 jets)  Regional Airports (482 airports as of 2020) are located in metropolitan areas near major business centers, serves regional and national markets, have high levels of activity with some jets and multi-engine propeller aircraft, and averages about 92 total based aircraft (including 3 jets)  Local Airports (1,213 airports as of 2020) typically are located near larger population centers (but not necessarily in metropolitan areas), serves local and regional markets, have moderate levels of activity with some multi-engine propeller aircraft, and averages about 34 total based propeller-driven aircraft and no jets  Basic Airports (893 airports as of 2020) are typically any located in rural areas, often serve critical aeronautical functions within local and regional markets, have moderate to low levels of activity, and averages about 10 total based propeller- driven aircraft and no jets NPIAS general aviation airports that do not fall in the above four categories remain as Unclassified Airports (228 airports as of 2020). These airports tend to have limited activity and have either no based aircraft or no more than 8 based aircraft. In 2012 (and 2014), the FAA studied the role that General Aviation airports play in the national air transportation system – General Aviation Airports: A National Asset. Communities across the US depend on General Aviation airports to facilitate air transportation, which builds and sustains local economies.