Medium and Small Hub – Airports that meet the FAA’s definition of medium and small hub airports. The FAA definition is based on the reported number of U.S. commercial enplanements. Medium hubs account for 0.25 to 1.0 percent of total U.S. enplanements. Small hubs receive 0.05 to 0.25 percent of the total annual enplanements.
Regional Hubs - Airports that serve the transportation and economic hub for more than one community. Regional airports generally accommodate larger aircraft, have instrument approaches, and have more landside facilities, infrastructure, and services than other smaller, public use airports.
Community – Airports that generally fulfill the role of a small community’s primary airport and serve basic needs such as passenger travel to regional hubs, mail service, local aviation related business, and emergency needs. This classification includes communities with a year-round population of at least 25 people, a public school, and located more than one hour by road from an International, Regional Hub, or other Community class airport. This classification is divided into two subcategories, On-Road and Off-Road. Off-Road airports are not connected to the National Highway System.
Local – These airports are considered general aviation airports and widely vary in size, scope, and dimensions. Local airports are divided into three sub-classifications: Local NPIAS High-Activity, Local NPIAS Low-Activity, and Local Non-NPIAS. High-Activity airports do not qualify for other classifications, are in the NPIAS, and have at least 20 based aircraft. Low-Activity airports do not qualify for other classifications, are in the NPIAS, and have fewer than 20 based aircraft. Non-NPIAS airports are DOT&PF owned facilities that are not in the NPIAS and ineligible for federal grant funding.
Landing Strips – This classification includes all aircraft landing areas that are registered with FAA and open to public use but are not in the NPIAS and not owned and operated by DOT&PF. *Definitions updated in Phase III of the AASP.
Contract – includes airports owned and operated by DOT&PF but with day to day maintenance activities provided through a DOT/PF funded contract. Contract airports may still require some maintenance services to be provided by DOT&PF as well as possibly other contractors i.e. electrical, building, heavy re-surfacing repairs, large scale brushing, or other repairs that may be outside the scope of the standard maintenance contract.
DOT M&O – includes airports with onsite DOT&PF maintenance crews or airports maintained by DOT&PF crews from satellite maintenance stations.
Local Sponsor – includes airports not owned and/or operated by DOT&PF.
N/A – includes airports where ownership and/or maintenance is uncertain.
Airport Reference Codes are determined using the "design aircraft" at an airport. The first component, depicted by a letter, is the aircraft approach category (AAC) and relates to aircraft approach speed. The second component, depicted by a Roman numeral, is the airplane design group (ADG) and relates to airplane wingspan. Airports accommodating single-engine airplanes are generally A-I or B-I. Airports serving larger general aviation and commuter-type planes are usually Airport Reference Code B-II or B-III and small to medium-sized airports are often C-III. Utility runways are runways constructed for and intended to be used by propeller driven aircraft of 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight and below.