An airport master plan is a comprehensive study that describes an airport’s short-, medium- and long-term plans. It examines the history and current operations at the airport and helps the airport sponsor (in our case, the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority) determine what should happen at the airport over the next 20 years. The Reno-Stead Airport (RTS) Master Plan is designed to be a transparent and thoughtful effort to engage all stakeholders in planning for the future of the airport.
The guiding directive to update an airport master plan is the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B. The RTS Master Plan team will follow the Advisory Circular to perform the four steps in the master planning process:
- Data collection and forecast development
- Development of alternatives and selection of the preferred alternatives
- Developing a capital plan for funding and implementing needed projects
- Final document development, including the Airport Layout Plan
One of the biggest reasons to conduct an airport master plan now is to help determine a clear path forward for RTS. The Airport’s last master plan was conducted in 2010, and since then our airport and region has experienced a tremendous amount of change. The Reno Air Races are no longer being held at the airport, for example, which opens up new opportunities to serve general aviation and the growing region at large.
Reno-Stead Airport’s master plan will gather information on which types of planes use the airport and how often, the many different businesses that operate at the airport (including emergency support) and how the airport might be most efficiently utilized in the future. This data ensures that the RTAA will have the most up-to-date information to make educated decisions on important topics like safety, business development and efficiency.
It is important to note that the RTS Master Plan is not a mandated expansion of the airport, or a guarantee that a particular project will happen. It is an FAA-required look at current airport operations and how the airport intends to accommodate future activity. It is only through the process of updating the airport master plan that the RTAA can decide what will happen at the Reno-Stead Airport for years to come.
