National Based Aircraft Inventory

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is this data being collected?

The FAA is intending to improve the integrity of the 5010 based-aircraft counts for all of the General Aviation (GA) airports and Reliever airports in the National Plan of Integrated Airport System (NPIAS). Having accurate based aircraft information will help the FAA in planning and forecasting the growth in the GA community, especially as the FAA looks at LPV approaches and other system-wide improvements. (Primary airports are not included in the survey.) Based aircraft counts are one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for inclusion in the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). An airport must be included in the NPIAS in order to receive Federal funds. Inaccurate counts can negatively impact the proper planning and may cause improper sizing of key capital improvement projects at airports. Because of the significant impacts of incorrect figures and the need for accurate based aircraft counts, the industry is in need of a verifiable method of gathering valid based aircraft numbers.

Currently, based aircraft information is reported by individual airport managers to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and State airport inspectors during the course of annual Form 5010-1 inspections. While specific numbers are provided by the managers, there is little guidance on how the numbers should be derived, in addition to a lack of any listing of aircraft that links a specific aircraft to the numbers provided by the managers. The FAA is intending to improve the integrity of the 5010 based aircraft counts for all of the GA airports in the NPIAS. Having accurate based aircraft information will help the FAA in planning and forecasting the growth in the GA community, especially as the FAA looks at (Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance) approaches and other system-wide improvements.

2. Why do I have to log-in now?

The initial phase of the project sought to simplify the data entry as much as possible by allowing users to access a one-way data entry site that allowed aircraft to be entered for a facility without a login, but to protect the airport’s privacy, viewing or editing of existing aircraft data was not permitted. With the initial data entry phase completed, it is now necessary for the airports to be able to review and verify the aircraft that have been submitted for their airport. The FAA ADO offices have sent the initial login information to each airport that will allow access to this information.

3. Is there an FAA point of contact that we can call that requested this type of information?

The FAA’s Airports Financial Assistance office is requesting this information. All questions and comments should be relayed to your local FAA Airport District Office (ADO) or Regional office.

4. Who is GCR & Associates, Inc.?

Under contract to the FAA, GCR & Associates, Inc. (GCR) developed 5010Web.com, a web-based application allowing federal and state airport inspectors the ability to transmit inspection data to the FAA directly over a secured Internet application.

Since 2004, through an annual grant from the FAA, GCR is responsible for the National Airport Safety Data Collection Program (collection of safety data for all non-primary public and private airports in NFDC database). The program consists of field inspections being accomplished by state aviation departments. In cases where the state agency expresses a need for assistance, GCR subcontracts the inspection services to Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). GCR compensates those state departments and SIUC for all inspections through the FAA’s GCR grant. Under the terms of this grant, GCR designs and arranges training seminars in FAA Form 5010-1 inspection procedures twice a year.

5. Doesn't the FAA already have N-Numbers and their owners in their database of registered aircraft?

The FAA’s database of registered aircraft does contain N-Numbers and the owner’s name; however, that database does not contain a field called “Based Airport” – thus the purpose of this survey initiated by the FAA.

6. What is the FAA’s definition of a Based Aircraft?

A based aircraft at your facility is an aircraft that is “operational & air worthy”, which is typically based at your facility for a MAJORITY of the year. As the term applies to the Based Aircraft Inventory, the current phase (Validation and Confirmation) will provide the information needed for the FAA to determine whether the definition needs to be adjusted.

7. How detailed is the information supposed to be? Does it need to include the owner name, address, and phone number?

Any submittal of the aircraft details is beneficial however the "N" number is the only required information at this time. Although only the tail-number is required, the additional information for owner and type can now be seen by the airport and is expected to be helpful to the airport in maintaining their list of aircraft. It is understood that not all types of aircraft (military, ultra-lights, etc) typically have a registered tail number; for aircraft that do not have a tail-number, it is acceptable to just enter place-holder text (Ultra-light, military, etc).

8. Is it necessary to enter all aircraft in the inventory, including ultra-lights, helicopters, etc?

Part of the ongoing refinement to the collection of aircraft data will be to decide whether to continue to ask that all types be entered. Whether the helicopter, ultra-lights, gliders and military will continue to be required will be determined in the current phase of the project. Until the website instructs you differently, please continue to enter all types of based aircraft in the inventory.

9. What are the methods of submitting this information?

You can enter the information online at http://www.BasedAircraft.com/

You can email it (as an attachment if needed) to basedaircraftsupport@basedaircraft.com.

You can fax it directly to:
Attention – 5010 Based Aircraft inventory
(504) 304-2525

You can mail it to:
GCR & Associates, Inc.
C/O 5010 Based Aircraft Inventory
2021 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 500
New Orleans, LA 70122

10. Is there an FAA Order or something similar that requires an airport to furnish this information, or is the "survey" voluntary?

The FAA Order 5010.4, Airport Safety Data Program, requires that FAA obtain the based aircraft data “from the most reliable source possible (i.e. from the records of the airport manager, etc.).” Collecting tail numbers and cross-referencing them to the aircraft database provides this reliable source of data.

Many airport development projects are based on the number and type of aircraft that are based at the airport or that use the airport on a regular basis (for example, apron expansions, hangar construction, other basic airfield facilities). Each airport development project must be justified by current use. FAA uses the 5010 based aircraft data as a tool to justify a project.

FAA also uses this information in our biannual Report to Congress. Therefore, they must be able to show that the information that is submitted to Congress is accurate.

11. How will the aircraft registration and owner information be safeguarded in compliance with any Privacy Act?

The data has been determined to be "For Official Use Only" and will NOT be available outside of the FAA and state aviation departments.

Any public release of the data would be determined under "5 U.S.C. 552."

12. The letter mentions that the collection of this data will become a component of annual inspections in the future. How are State inspectors expected to update and/or verify the accuracy of a list of "N" numbers based at these airports?

For this effort, the FAA is seeking to establish an accurate, baseline database of based aircraft. During this validation stage, the airports will be able to review their information and the FAA will be evaluating the best and highest use of the information. At some point, the list of aircraft developed during this initial survey will be used as the official count. Certainly, the list of aircraft will be available for an authorized State or federal airport inspector to use during the inspection. For those airports that receive FAA funding, it is, and should be, the airport’s responsibility to keep an accurate list of their Based Aircraft. Whether the aircraft that have been reported by multiple airports or that are not found in the FAA’s Aircraft Registration will be included is part of the current discussion.

13. Why is the FAA Aircraft Registration data shown in the airport’s aircraft list?

The FAA Aircraft Registration data is believed to be the most comprehensive national list currently available and to be largely valid enough for use in the National Based Aircraft system.

A. Validation of tail numbers: With the importance of the based aircraft counts, it is important that the data be validated. Currently, the best thought for validating the information in the Based Aircraft Inventory is to link the N-Numbers to the FAA’s Aircraft Registration data. In the airport details page, it is now possible to easily determine whether the N-Number was found in the Aircraft Registration system and the information that is contained for the aircraft within the Aircraft Registration. Note: The Aircraft Registration system contains 3 sets of data:

‘MASTER’ for the active aircraft registrations

‘DEREG’ for the aircraft registration entries that have been ‘de-registered’

‘RESERVED’ for the tail numbers being held for future registrants or that have been set aside for recently de-registered aircraft.

For many aircraft, the Aircraft Registration database contains multiple records for the aircraft in the various tables. All entries in the Aircraft Registration data base are available from the Airport Details page.

B. To determine the ‘Type’ in a consistent manner: At the request of airports in the initial stages of the program, the requirement for the airports to enter the ‘Type’ for each aircraft was dropped. Additionally, even for those who did enter a type, sometimes the type appears to be incorrect. The details of the aircraft registration system provide the information necessary to generate a type for each aircraft found in the system, which not only simplifies the data entry for the airport, but provides consistency.

C. Provides a convenient check of the owner information and type of aircraft.

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