Formulation of Iowa State Airport System

An adaptation of the map method was used to identify general aviation airports appropriate for inclusion in the Iowa State Airport System. In this analysis, direct economic benefits were compared with capital costs of development for each airport as an incremental addition to the system. Economic benefits were calculated based on operating cost and travel time savings to candidate airports, if these were developed to system standards, rather than to more distant airports. Additional airports were included in order to increase geographical coverage, although the total system retained a favorable relationship between benefits and costs. The analysis was useful not only in formulating the state system, but also in establishing priorities for development among system airports.