(upbeat tune)
(plane engine roaring)
- [Narrator] General aviation airports
certainly help their communities economies,
but many of those airports don't have the tools they need
to help them operate at optimal levels.
That's why researchers
with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute,
developed an online tool that could increase revenues
and economic development opportunities.
- With this project what we tried to do
was develop a web-based intermodal connectivity
and self-sufficiency model for airports in Texas.
And so it sounds like a lot,
but it really comes down to a couple of things.
We wanted to make available to airport stakeholders,
those airports that have good airport connectivity.
And by that we mean good roadway access,
rail access if they have it and develop a (indistinct)
The second part self-sufficiency,
refers to airports having a better understanding
of what kinds of rates and charges they should have.
- Having a collection of information
related to rates and charges that an airport can use
to make sure they're doing everything they can
to be financially self-sufficient is extremely important.
And a project like this is gonna put a lot of tools
and resources in airports' hands
by allowing them to know not just what fair market value is,
appraised value is,
but really what is being charged
and being paid at other airports throughout the state,
for services and facilities that they have.
So that way they can ensure the long-term economic viability
of their individual airport.
- We started with a survey
and we sent out a survey to all the airports
in the Texas airport system and we asked them,
what size hangers do you have?
What do you charge for them?
How do you charge for fuel?
We asked them about their intermodal connectivity.
How far are you away from, a state highway
from an interstate?
- A lot of our airports are smaller with fewer resources
and what this tool really gives them,
is the ability to be more resourceful
with the limited resources that they do have
and to be able to have that knowledge
and that information
and that confidence when they are setting rates and charges.
- Having rates and charges that are market rates
and having opportunities for developers
to see what kind of facilities exist,
what kind of opportunities exist.
All of that collectively puts the airport
on a path towards self-sufficiency.
- That instant access to this information
into these tools is really going to help airports,
which operate in a very dynamic rapid environment
to be able to make quick decisions
and to update their rates and charges
and their policies on a pretty consistent basis.
- [Narrator]] For more information,
and to find the publications for this project,
please visit the textile research library
at the link shown below.