Unalaska Airport Master Plan Update

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is a master plan necessary?
A: An airport master plan is needed for two reasons. First, to establish a logical set of development parameters and timelines that will coincide with the airport’s needs over time. Second, the FAA requires an up-to-date plan to remain eligible for federal grants. Many capital improvement projects are eligible to receive up to 90% funding from the federal government.

Q: What are the components of the master plan?
A: 1. An inventory of existing conditions. 2. Activity forecasts to identify growth trends and changing conditions. 3. Demand-capacity analysis to assess improvement needs. 4. An overview of known environmental resources and land-use controls to identify potential on and off-airport related impacts. 5. A development plan to enhance safety and accommodate future growth and changing conditions. 6. An implementation (capital improvement) plan that identifies funding sources and project sequencing for the short term (1 to 5 years), intermediate term (5 to 10 years), and long term (10 to 20 years).

Q: The master planning process will result in the following two products:
A: 1. Airport Layout Plan (ALP) – A set of plans that graphically depicts the phased development of the airport. 2. Airport Master Plan Report – A written report which technically justifies, through sufficiently detailed narrative descriptions and graphic presentation, the Airport Layout Plan.

Q: How can the public get involved?
A: The simplest way is through this website. You can learn about upcoming public meetings, read materials from prior meetings and review project deliverables as they are developed. Sign up to receive meeting notices or send us a question or comment on our contact page. All public meetings will be widely announced well in advance.

Q: How does the approval process work?
A: Approval of the Unalaska Airport Master Plan is obtained from the Alaska DOT&PF, which operates the airport, and the FAA, which ultimately approves the Airport Layout Plan. The FAA’s approval of the plan represents acceptance of the general location of the future facilities depicted with respect to safety, efficiency, and utility of the airport. Additional approvals and steps are usually necessary before a project can move forward to the construction phase.

Q: What happens after the plan is approved?
A: FAA’s approval of the Airport Layout Plan is the first step in the development process. Often, an environmental review will follow for priority projects during a given timeframe (usually 5 years or less). After all necessary approvals are obtained, a project may then move forward to the construction phase.