Advisory Circular 150/5190-4B Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning Presented to: APA Florida Chapter By: Jackie S. Essick & Amber McNair, PhD Date: September 15, 2026
Federal Aviation Administration
Welcome from APA Florida Chapter • Greetings and Housekeeping Announcements
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Agenda • 10 min: Welcome/ Introductions • 15 min: Level-Setting/ Foundational Knowledge • 20 min: Practices as a Convening Partner • 15 min: Q&A
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Welcome from FAA Airport Staff • Why does land use planning matter to the FAA? – Ensure safe and efficient operations of airport infrastructure. – Protect surrounding communities from adverse effects associated with airport operations.
• Why is outreach to regional planners important? – Planners can function as convening partners for states, local governments, and planning authorities who discuss land use policies. – Planners can integrate aviation into regional planning documents.
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Welcome from FAA Airport Staff • Which FAA HQ office is sponsoring this training? – FAA, Office of Airports, “Planning and Environmental Division”.
• What is the difference between FAA HQ offices and FAA Regional Airports Division and District Offices (ADOs)? – The FAA Office of Airports is geographically distributed. – 9 Regional Offices and 21 ADOs total.
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Map of Regional Airports Division and District Offices (ADOs) The Division offices cover nine regional geographies (e.g. Southern Region ADO). Each of the District offices cover a subgroup within a regional division (e.g. the Atlanta ADO covers Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands).
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About the Presenters Jackie Sweatt-Essick • Associate Director at Jacobsen Daniels. • 30+ years specialized in airport planning. • Former FAA Environmental Program Manager. • Major development projects include ATL. • Authored Regional Compatible Land Use Guide for the FAA Southern Region.
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About the Presenters Amber McNair, PhD • Founder of AV McNair, LLC. • 15 years specialized in airport planning. • Former transportation planning professor at The Ohio State University. • Ambassador for the Airport Cooperative Research Program. • Authored Land Use Planning report for FAA.
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Learning Goals • You will be able to… – Describe the basic contents and significance of the FAA’s Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning. – Anticipate opportunities to integrate airport land use compatibility topics into your regional agency’s planning processes.
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Level-Setting & Foundational Knowledge
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Outline • What is an FAA Advisory Circular (AC)? • What is the significance of AC 150/5190-4B? • What are the basic contents of AC 150/5190-4B?
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What is an FAA Advisory Circular? “Advisor Circular” – Is NOT a regulation – Is advisory material
“150” – Series “150” ACs cover Airport Projects – Over 100 ACs in series 150 – Other examples: • AC 150/5070-6B Airport Master Plans • AC 150/5300-13B Airport Design
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What is in AC 150/5190-4B? • Title of the AC: “Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning” – Purpose of the AC: Increase awareness about: • Land use compatibility issues related to airports and community development. • Effects of land use on the safety and utility of airport operations. • Reasonable and appropriate actions to secure and promote compatible land use, as well is mitigate incompatible land use.
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What is in AC 150/5190-4B? Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
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Introduction Land Use Compatibility Concerns Roles and Responsibilities of Compatible Land Use Stakeholders Airport and Local Land Use Planning Coordination Tools and Techniques for Land Use Compatibility
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What is in AC 150/5190-4B? Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D
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Glossary FAA Land Use-related Regulations and Guidance Sample Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Example Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zoning Ordinance
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Chapter 1 – Introduction Definition “Airport-compatible land uses are those that can coexist with a nearby airport without constraining the safe and efficient operation of the airport, or exposing people living or working nearby to significant environmental impacts.”
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Evaluation considerations – aviation noise sensitivity – people and property/ development density – airspace/ tall structures – visual/atmospheric interference – wildlife/ bird attractants
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Chapter 1 – Introduction Noise Sensitivity
Photo Examples
– Concern regarding • Quality of life and the disruption of activities
– Critical uses include, but are not limited to: • Schools • Religious Institutions • Residential development September 15, 2026
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Chapter 1 – Introduction Concentrations of People Near Airports
Photo Examples
– Concern regarding: • Severity of an aircraft accident and noise sensitivity
– Critical uses include, but not limited to: • Residential development • Hospitals • Schools • Recreational/special uses • Parking and other transportation facilities
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Chapter 1 – Introduction Tall Structures
Photo Examples
– Concern regarding: • Physical obstructions to flight
– Critical uses include, but not limited to: • Cell towers • Power lines • Vegetation (trees) • Tall buildings • Wind turbines
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Chapter 1 – Introduction Visual Obstructions
Photo Examples
– Concern regarding: • Visual obstructions to pilots caused by smoke/steam, dust, glare, light emissions
– Critical uses include, but are not limited to: • Industrial • Farmland • Water bodies
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Chapter 1 – Introduction Wildlife/ bird attractants
Photo Examples
– Concern regarding: • hazards to aircraft operation and wildlife safety
– Critical uses include, but not limited to: • Landfills/sewage treatment • Farmland • Water bodies • Recreational September 15, 2026
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Chapter 2 – Land Use Compatibility Concerns Table codes: I = Impact; P = Possible impact; N = None
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Chapter 3 – Roles & Responsibilities of Stakeholders
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Chapter 4 – Airport & Local Land Use Planning Coordination
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Chapter 5 – Tools & Techniques for Land Use Compatibility Techniques sorted into 6 categories
Summary table for each category
– Land Use Regulations (9)
– Technique name
– Property Acquisition (6)
– Description
– Noise Mitigation (3)
– Key value
– Wildlife & Habitat Management (2)
– Primary Shortcoming
– Notification (5)
– When to use
– Education & Communication (10)
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Practices as a Convening Partner
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Outline • Why do land use conflicts arise? • What techniques can regional planners lead to resolve land use conflicts?
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Why do land use conflicts arise?
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Planning Domains: Motivations & Impact DOMAIN Lead agencies
Airport-Initiated Planning
Airspace Management Planning
Regional Development Planning
Airport sponsors (owner/ operator)
FAA and/or airport sponsor
Land use authorities and/or developers
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Planning Domains: Motivations & Impact DOMAIN
Airport-Initiated Planning
Airspace Management Planning
Regional Development Planning
Lead agencies
Airport sponsors (owner/ operator)
FAA and/or airport sponsor
Land use authorities and/or developers
Motivations of lead agency
Deliver safe and efficient airport operations.
Improve safety, efficiency, capacity, predictability, flexibility, and resiliency of U.S. aviation.
Anticipate and plan for sustainable futures (“people, planet, prosperity, place”).
Ensure grant assurances compliance. Anticipate and plan for future capacity needs.
Impact on land use
May lead to land use/infrastructure changes inside the airport perimeter.
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Manage air traffic flight profiles, navigation, sequencing, spacing.
May lead to changes in air traffic patterns (which may change groundlevel environment both inside and outside the airport perimeter).
Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning
Convene and coordinate across contiguous jurisdictions. Evaluating highest and best use for land.
May lead to land use/infrastructure changes outside the airport perimeter.
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Planning Culture: Complexity & Control INCREASING COMPLEXITY Airport environment has one land use authority.
DECREASING CONTROL September 15, 2026
Airport environment has many land use authorities.
Airport owner is a land Best case for alignment use authority with strong between land use plans land use control policy. and airport plans but alignment not guaranteed. Airport owner is a land use authority with weak land use control policy.
Airport owner is not a land use authority.
Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning
Worst case for alignment between land use plans and airport plans. Tension between many competing interests. Federal Aviation Administration
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Perspectives on Industrial Land Uses What the community sees
What the airport sees
– Jobs
– Visual obstructions
– Property & income taxes
– Hazards to flight
– Economic impact
– Concentrations of people
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Perspectives on Recreational Land Uses What the community sees
What the airport sees
– Quality of life
– Wildlife attractants
– Tourism
– Hazards to flight
– Sales tax
– Concentrations of people
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Perspectives on Commercial Land Uses What the community sees
What the airport sees
– Sales tax
– Concentrations of people
– Tourism
– Visual obstructions (lighting)
– Jobs
– Wildlife attractants
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Perspectives on Institutional Land Uses What the community sees
What the airport sees
– Quality of life
– Concentrations of people
– Tourism
– Noise concerns – Tall structures
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Airport Land Use Goals & Objectives • GOAL 1: Prevent noncompatible land use – hinder or eliminate existing incentives to propose noncompatible land uses. – resist, block, or halt proposals for noncompatible development. – minimize the conversion of currently compatible land to noncompatible land.
• GOAL 2: Encourage compatible land use – enhance or create incentives to propose compatible land uses. – enhance or create incentives to convert noncompatible land to compatible land. – maximize the conversion of currently noncompatible land to compatible land.
• GOAL 3: Improve land use management – implement effective, robust land use management strategies and systems (e.g. monitoring, coordinating, planning, measuring, forecasting).
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Airport-Initiated Planning & Development (‘on-airport’, inside the airport fence)
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Motivations of Airport Sponsors • What motivates the airport sponsor to plan for land use? – Deliver safe and efficient airport operations. – Ensure FAA grant assurances compliance. • See: https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/grant_assurances
– Anticipate capital development projects to meet future capacity needs.
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Strategies for Regional Planners Create an ‘Airport Resources’ File System – Create a contact list of staff at commercial airports, general aviation airports, cargo airports, flight schools and other air mobility facilities of interest in your region. – Obtain recent copies of airport plans. – Store in your internal agency filing system. – Develop an onboarding document to brief new employees. September 15, 2026
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Example Documents – Federal • NPIAS Report • AC 150/5190-4B
– State • State Aviation System Plan
– Airport • Airport Master Plan • Airport property maps, Noise contour maps and reports, Airport Real Estate Disclosure Letters
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Strategies for Regional Planners Provide Input on Airport-led Planning Documents – Send formal letters from your agency that share your feedback re: alignment with regional land use plans. – Join public engagement meetings. – Amplify airport planning news with regional partners. September 15, 2026
Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning
Example Documents – On-airport, aeronautical land use • Airport Master Plans • Airport Layout Plans
– On-airport, nonaeronautical land use • Airport Real Estate Strategic Development Plan • Airport Commercial Land Use Plan
– Environmental impacts • 14 CFR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Studies • NEPA / Environmental Impact Statements • Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Plan
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Strategies for Regional Planners Embed Airport Coordination into your Communication Practices – Check-in with the airport sponsor to learn about upcoming projects and planning activities. – Invite airport staff to regional summits, workshops, and events (include them on the schedule). – Tour airport facilities in-person. – Attend airport board meetings.
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Airspace Management Planning (in the air)
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Motivations of FAA/ Airport Sponsor • What motivates the FAA/airport sponsor to change flight patterns? – Improve safety, efficiency, capacity, predictability, flexibility, and resiliency of U.S. aviation. – Manage air traffic flight profiles, navigation, sequencing, spacing.
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Strategies for Regional Planners Upskill Regional Partners re: Obstructions – Learn about 14 CFR Part 77 Obstructions Analysis. – Help regional partners self-assess their building permit process. Are they coordinating effectively with FAA’s Obstruction Evaluation Group? – Learn about municipal “Airport Overlay Zoning” options in your state (may require enabling legislation).
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Resources – 14 CFR Part 77, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title -14/chapter-I/subchapter-E/part77 – FAA Obstruction Evaluation Program, https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/o bstruction_evaluation Federal Aviation Administration
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Regional Development (‘off-airport’, outside the airport fence)
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Motivations of Regional Planners/Developers • What motivates the land use authority/ developers to change land uses or build new developments? – Anticipate and plan for sustainable futures (“people, planet, prosperity, place”). – Convene and coordinate across contiguous jurisdictions. – Evaluating highest and best use for land.
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Strategies for Regional Planners Integrate Airport Land Use Compatibility into Regional Plans – Asset Inventory Narrative •
Acquire list of GA and Commercial airports, Noise maps, Airport zoning maps, RPZ diagrams, Real estate disclosure maps
– Plan Review Narrative •
Examples – Freight Plans – Transportation Improvement Plans
Summarize Airport master plans, Airport Layout Plans, Airport Real Estate Plan, Statewide airport plans, Part 150 Noise Reports
– Public Engagement •
Communicate with State aeronautics dept, Airport managers, FAA ADO
– Goals /Action Items •
Incorporate “Airport Land Use Compatibility” as a goal, strategy, objective, or action item
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Strategies for Regional Planners Host an Airport Land Use Working Group/ Commission
Examples
– Quarterly or Annual cadence
– Airport Land Use Commission
– Convene stakeholders to discuss and share info:
– Airport Coordinating Committee
• Municipal land use planning • Municipal ordinances • Noise management and land use
– Joint Airport Zoning Board – Noise Oversight Committee – Airport Relations Commission
– Build trust across stakeholders
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Strategies for Regional Planners Prepare an Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
Examples (Links in Appendix C of AC 150/5190-4B) – City of South Lake Tahoe, Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
– Key Contents •
Scope of the Plan.
•
Airport Information.
•
Compatibility Policies and Criteria.
•
Compatibility Zone Maps.
•
Review Policies.
•
Preliminary Review of Plans and Projects for Consistency determinations.
•
Land Use Information.
•
Discussion of Compatibility Issues.
•
Local Government Implementation.
•
Supporting Materials.
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– San Antonio International Airport Vicinity Land Use Plan – San Diego County Regional Airport Authority – City of Ontario CA – City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) of San Mateo County CA
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Discussion
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Meet with us! 1.
How would you rate this webinar overall?
2.
Would you like to chat about any specific airport land use topics or challenges?
3.
Do you have any general questions or feedback about the webinar content?
4.
What types of resources would be helpful for you?
5.
Would you like more opportunity for learning/discussion?
6.
Which of your regional partners might be interested in airport compatible land use training?
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/HUu0zQLZeG
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Ask us some questions!
Jackie Essick Jacqueline.essick@jacobsendaniels.com Amber McNair ambermcnair@avmcnair.com
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