Although there are numerous airports/airstrips within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation, only eight are considered Navajo Nation primary airports. These are airports that are located in primary growth centers of the Nation and are open to the public. Currently, two of these eight airports (Ganado and Olijetoh) have been closed and are no longer listed in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), making them ineligible for FAA funding, and thus inclusion in this study. A third airport, Kayenta, is also not included in the study due to its sponsorship by the Kayenta Township. Therefore, the remaining five primary Navajo Nation airports (Chinle, Crownpoint, Tuba City, Shiprock, and Window Rock) are the only airports that have been included in this program study.

An Airport Master Plan is a tool that helps airport owners, regulating agencies and public officials meet the needs of the traveling public and guide the continued improvement of aviation facilities. Master Plans are developed according to FAA guidance provided in Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Airport Master Plans, and they evaluate facility needs of the airfield (runways and taxiways), landside (auto parking and access), terminal building and overall airport land use. The resultant products of Master Plan Study include a technical report and an Airport Layout Plan (drawing set). Based on input from the FAA and the New Mexico State Aviation Division, this study will include only specific selected master plan components. Furthermore, because this study includes five airports, the name of the program was also modified from the traditional airport master plan nomenclature to airport system master plan. The logic behind the project name suggests the assessment and recommendations, for more than one Navajo Nation airport, make up a system of airports within the Navajo Nation. The master plan components of this study include:

• Executive Summary – A summary of the main points of the plan.
• Introduction – A description of the Navajo Nation airport system, as well as the purpose and need for the study.
• Inventory – A description of existing airport facilities, conditions, and operational characteristics.
• Implementation Plan – A recommended phased development program that includes a listing of each project element (i.e. design, construction) and preliminary cost estimates.
• Financial Analysis – An evaluation of the financial feasibility of the recommended development program.
• Public Involvement Program – Documenting the public outreach process and any input received.
• Airport Plans – A set of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) drawings for each airport.

The Airport Layout Plan (ALP) serves as a critical planning tool that depicts both existing facilities and planned development for an airport. Sponsors of airport development carried out at federally-obligated airports must accomplish the improvement in accordance with an FAA-approved ALP. By definition, the ALP is a plan for a specific airport that shows:

• Boundaries and proposed additions to all areas owned or controlled by the sponsor for airport purposes
• The location and nature of existing and proposed airport facilities and structures
• The location on the airport of existing and proposed non-aviation areas and improvements thereon.

The study is planned to be completed by the end of 2014.