Creating Self-Directed Resiliency Plans for General Aviation Airports (2024)
Chapter: Tool B: Overview of Identified Shocks and Stressors
TOOL B
Overview of Identified Shocks and Stressors
Preserving GA airport services and capabilities through effective resilience planning first requires identifying the shocks and stressors that may affect the airport based on the geographic, regional, and demographic context in which the airport operates. A shock or stressor is an acute natural or human-made event or phenomenon threatening significant loss or damage to assets. GA airports face an array of internal and external shocks and stressors that can potentially disrupt airport operations. From discrete, sudden shocks to longer-term chronic stressors—which are becoming more unpredictable as the climate changes—the forces impacting GA airports’ ability to thrive are numerous and complex.
Effective resilience planning must address various shocks and stressors that organizations may face. This includes routine events—severe storms, floods, or winter weather—as well as catastrophic incidents, such as earthquakes, flooding, widespread wildfires, or major hurricanes. Organizations should also prepare for manufactured and operational shocks and stressors, including cyberattacks, power outages, economic downturns, pilot shortages, personnel issues, transportation accidents, political issues, or industrial disasters.
The research team conducted 20 interviews with GA airports in the country to identify common shocks and stressors. Based on the interviews and additional resources, the research team developed a list that includes 27 shocks and stressors falling into four categories (see Table B-1). This serves as a resource to provide an overview of relevant shocks and stressors for GA airports and a starting point to identify potential shocks and stressors and begin to assess risk.
Table B-1. Shocks and stressors.
| Category | Shock/Stressor |
|---|---|
| Economic | Fuel price increases |
| Financial stress/Resilience issues | |
| Federal funding opportunities | |
| Environmental | Severe weather |
| Flooding | |
| Winter storms | |
| Hurricanes | |
| Tornadoes | |
| Earthquakes | |
| Drought | |
| Wildfires | |
| Volcanic eruption | |
| Tsunami | |
| Operational | Political issues (local, state, national) |
| Pilot shortages | |
| Border security | |
| Terrorist threats/attacks | |
| Cyberattacks/cyberterrorism | |
| Transportation incidents | |
| Airport security | |
| Power outage | |
| Industrial disasters | |
| Aging infrastructure | |
| Construction projects | |
| VIP visits | |
| Social | Human pandemic |
| Personnel issues |
Source: ACRP Research Team GA airport interviews and Toolkit Pilot, 2022.
