This research project seeks to describe the historical use of general
aviation (GA) airports in disaster responses and their potential enhanced uses in future disasters and catastrophes. Airports
fall into two categories: certificated airports (the fewer than 600 commercial and military airports) and general aviation
(GA) airports. There are more than 19,700 GA airports in the U.S. This includes public and private airports, airports with
all sorts of runways from 12,000-foot concrete runways at former SAC bases to 2,500-foot grass strips, and all sorts of purposes,
including heliports serving hospitals, law enforcement, and broadcasting stations.