Recent Research Papers

 

 

  • U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program Planning and Execution Improvements Needed. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has established a program known as U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) to collect, maintain, and share information, including biometric identifiers, on certain foreign nationals who travel to and from the United States. GAO’s objectives were to determine if the plan satisfies the 12 legislative conditions and provide a management review. Posted: 12/12/08.

  • Transportation Security Administration’s Suspension of the Butane Lighter Ban Onboard Commercial Aircraft - A GAO Briefing. TSA reported in May 2008 that as a result of its decision to suspend enforcement of the ban on lighters, there were no reported incidents that involved the use of a lighter to ignite an IED and that screening operations improved. The results of our analysis of TSA’s security incident reports support TSA’s finding that there were no reported incidents that involved the use of a lighter to ignite an IED. Posted: 12/5/08.

  • Lessons Learned from the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme and the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. With legislative proposals to limit greenhouse gas emissions under consideration in the United States, the Government Accountability Office was asked to examine the effects of and lessons learned from the European Union's emissions trading scheme. Posted 12/2

  • National Biofuels Action Plan. The Biomass Research and Development Board has released a report that examines research challenges and interagency actions necessary to develop the science and technology needed to make next-generation, cellulosic biofuels cost-effective so as to grow a biofuels industry and supply chain in a sustainable manner. Posted: 12/2

  • Review of the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions Program. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that explores how the Federal Aviation Administration’s Voluntary Airport Low Emissions program has been implemented, including airport participation levels, types of projects, and program expenditures.  The report also examines the potential outcomes that may be attributable to the program. Posted 11/11/08.

  • CCTV Installations in General Aviation Airports.   The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has released a synthesis that explores the costs and benefits of installing closed circuit television systems in general aviation airports to address basic security issues. Posted 11/11/08.

  • 11/3 - Lightning-Warning Systems for Use by Airports. Airport Cooperative Research Program explores the operational benefits associated with delay reductions that lightning detection and warning systems may be able to generate.  The report is designed to help in the assessment of whether such systems are cost-beneficial on an individual airport or airline basis.

  • 11/3 - Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable Global Energy Outlook. The European Renewable Energy Council has released a report that explores the transport sector’s energy efficiency potential.

  • 10/8 - Seminar on Single European Sky - 2nd Package: Presentations Available. The European Commission has released presentations made during an Oct. 8 seminar that explored the next generation of the Single European Sky concept designed to enhance performance of Europe’s air navigation services and network functions.

  • 10/28 - Carbon Counts: Incorporating the Benefits of Climate Protection into Federal Rulemaking. The Environmental Defense Fund has released a report that explores the issue of accounting for potential societal benefits associated with reducing global warming pollution as part of federal rulemakings in the area of greenhouse gas emission reductions.

  • 10/28 - Airport Sustainability Practices. The Airport Cooperative Research Program explores airport sustainability practices across environmental, economic, and social issues.

  • 10/7 - Impacts of Airports on Airline Competition: Focus on Airport Performance and Airport-Airline Vertical Relations. The International Transport Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Joint Transport Research Centre has released a report that explores the relationship between the revenue structure, regulation, and market power of airports, and their effect on services to airlines.  The report also examines how these factors may influence vertical relationships between airports and airlines, and competition in airline markets.

  • 10/7 - The Impact of Climate Change Policy on Competition in the Air Transport Industry. The International Transport Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Joint Transport Research Centre has released a report that explores how climate change policy may affect competition, prices, and profitability in the air transport industry.

 

Research Archive by Subject 

 

Accidents

Air cargo

  • Better Data and Targeted FAA Efforts Needed to Identify and Address Safety Issues of Small Air Cargo Carriers: The General Accountability Office reports  two actions experts cited most often to further improve air cargo safety were installing better technology on cargo aircraft to provide additional tools to pilots and collecting data to track small cargo carrier operations. Using flight risk checklists can also help pilots assess the accumulated risk factors associated with some cargo flights. Posted: 6/24/09.

  • The Role of Air Cargo in California's Agricultural Export TradeThe Center for Agricultural Business at California State University, Fresno, has released a report that explores the role of air cargo services in transporting California’s agricultural exports.  The report also examines the evolving nature of the air cargo industry within California and internationally.

Airlines

Air service development

  • Review of the Aviation Industry in 2008: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General has released a report that examines aviation industry trends in 2008, and their impact on aviation system performance, demand and capacity for domestic and international flights, and air service in small communities. Posted: 5/12/09.
  • Airline Industry Contraction Due to Volatile Fuel Prices and Falling Demand Affects Airports, and Federal Government Revenues. The General Accountability Office examines the contraction of the U.S. airline industry in 2008 reduced airport revenues, passengers’ access to the national aviation system, and revenues for the Trust Fund. airline capacity reductions are causing some passengers to lose some or all access to commercial air service and contributing to increased fares in some passenger markets. Small airports, which already offer fewer flight options, had the greatest percentage decrease in nonstop destinations (16 percent) as well as a 10 percent reduction in capacity. Posted 4/24/09
  • Seminar on Single European Sky - 2nd Package: Presentations Available. The European Commission has released presentations made during an Oct. 8 seminar that explored the next generation of the Single European Sky concept designed to enhance performance of Europe’s air navigation services and network functions. Posted 10/8/08.
  • Impacts of Airports on Airline Competition: Focus on Airport Performance and Airport-Airline Vertical Relations. The International Transport Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Joint Transport Research Centre has released a report that explores the relationship between the revenue structure, regulation, and market power of airports, and their effect on services to airlines.  The report also examines how these factors may influence vertical relationships between airports and airlines, and competition in airline markets. Posted: 10/7.
  • The Role of Accessibility in Passengers' Choice of Airports. The European-based Joint Transportation Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Transport Forum has released a report that explores what is known about the role of accessibility in passenger choices of airports and the extent to which passenger volumes might change if the accessibility of an airport changes. Posted: 8/26/08.

  • T-100 Traffic Reporting Guide The Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ has released a guide on filing requirements for the T-100 Report, also know as the Air Carrier Traffic and Capacity Data by Non-Stop Segment and On-Flight Market Report.  The guide includes information on data elements, data validation, error messages, and business rules.

Appropriations

Emisions

  • Policy Options for Reducing CO2 Emissions -- The U.S. Congressional Budget Office has released a report that explores programs designed to created incentives for businesses and individuals to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  The report examines a tax on emissions, a cap on the total annual level of emissions combined with a system of tradable emission allowances, or a modified cap-and-trade program that includes features to constrain the cost of emission reductions that would be undertaken in an effort to meet the cap.  The report compares these policy options on the basis of their potential to reduce emissions, their administrative costs, and their consistency with incentives in other countries.

Energy

  • National Biofuels Action Plan. The Biomass Research and Development Board has released a report that examines research challenges and interagency actions necessary to develop the science and technology needed to make next-generation, cellulosic biofuels cost-effective so as to grow a biofuels industry and supply chain in a sustainable manner. Posted: 12/2

  • Energy Market and Economic Impacts of Lieberman-Warner Climate Security - The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration explores the greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program that would be established by the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007 (S.2191).  The legislation would regulate emissions of greenhouse gases through market-based mechanisms, energy efficiency programs, and economic incentives.

  • Research Results Digest 2: Model for Improving Energy Use in U.S. Airport Facilities - Airport Cooperative Research Program provides data on U.S. airports’ utilization of 11 major energy management practices, offers a set of best practices for reducing energy use, and summarizes three case studies of recent recommissioning projects that resulted in significant reductions in energy use.
  • What You Need to Know About Energy - The National Academies have released an informational booklet that explores the issue of energy in terms of sources and uses, supply and demand, efficiency, and emerging technologies. 

 

Financing

  • The Impact of Airline Bankruptcies on Airports: This Airport Cooperative Research Program report examines legal issues presented by the filing of airline bankruptcies that are relevant to airports, and explores how airport lawyers and courts have responded to those issues. The report highlights the basics of bankruptcy theory and law relevant to airport operating agreements with airlines, and identifies issues such as lease recharacterization and payment of stub period rent that particularly affect airports dealing with airlines in bankruptcy. Posted 6/16/09.

  • Effective Practices for Preparing Airport Improvement Program Benefit-Cost Analysis:  Airport Cooperative Research Program explores assessment techniques that can be used by airports in performing benefit-cost analysis for hard-to-quantify benefits from projects needing more than $5 million in Airport Improvement Program discretionary funding. Posted: 6/9/09.

  • Airport Economic Impact Methods and Models  -- This  Airport Cooperative Research Program report explores how airport economic impact studies are currently conducted.  The report examines the methods and models used to define and identify, evaluate and measure, and communicate the different facets of the economic impact of airports.  The report also highlights the various analysis methods, models, and tools that are available for local airport economic studies, as well as their applicability and tradeoffs, including limitations, trends, and recent developments.

  • Innovative Finance and Alternative Sources of Revenue for Airports This  Airport Cooperative Research Program report is intended to inform airport operators, stakeholders, and policymakers about alternative financing options and revenue sources that are currently available to airport operators in the United States, or that could be available in the future if certain developments occur to facilitate them.development.

Fleets

  • Review of the Effect of Very Light Jets on the National Airspace System  A U.S. Government Accountability Office report explores current very light jet forecasts and what factors could affect very light jet deliveries, and how increasing numbers of very light jets might affect the capacity and safety of the national airspace system.

  • Issues Regarding the Current and Future Use of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet  This U.S. Congressional Budget Office report examines how the increased use of commercial airlift services over the past few years and the potential increase in the guaranteed portion of the U.S. Department of Defense’s airlift business might affect the U.S. air transportation industry and the military’s ability to attract participants to the civil reserve air fleet program over the long term.

General aviation

  • General Aviation Safety and Security Practices   Airport Cooperative Research Program’s Synthesis 3: General Aviation Safety and Security Practices examines resources used by the general aviation community in the development of safety and security programs, explores funding sources and issues that determi