FAA 150-Series Advisory Circulars: Status and Standards

1. Introduction: What Are FAA Advisory Circulars?

Advisory Circulars (ACs) are non-regulatory guidance documents issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to describe acceptable means of compliance with federal aviation regulations. While not legally binding on their own, compliance with applicable ACs is a condition for eligibility under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), as grant assurances under 49 USC § 47107 require adherence to FAA standards.

The 150 series specifically addresses airport planning, design, construction, safety, and operations. The 150-series includes AC 150/5070-6B (Airport Master Plans), AC 150/5320-6G (Airport Pavement Design), AC 150/5200-33C (Hazardous Wildlife Attractants), and AC 150/5210-6E (Aircraft Fire Extinguishing Agents), among others. For airport sponsors managing federal grants, regulatory compliance, or best-practice operations, the 150 series provides FAA guidance for airport planning, design, construction, safety, and operations.

The relationship between ACs and grant eligibility is defined by statute: while ACs themselves are advisory rather than mandatory regulations, 49 USC §§ 47101–47146 and the grant assurances under 49 USC § 47107 require federally funded airport projects to meet FAA-approved standards, documented through AC guidance. An airport sponsor seeking AIP funding must demonstrate that projects follow applicable ACs or provide an equivalent alternative acceptable to the FAA.

2. Classification of Active Series 150 Advisory Circulars

As of March 2026, there are approximately 115 active 150-series Advisory Circulars organized into ten functional categories. The following tables present the complete current inventory, organized by domain and including the most recent revision date and change notes.

A. Airport Planning & Master Planning (7 ACs)

B. Airport Design & Construction (17 ACs)

C. Pavement Design & Management (9 ACs)

D. Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting (17 ACs)

E. Airport Safety & Operations (16 ACs)

F. Airport Lighting & Visual Aids (28 ACs)

G. Noise & Environmental (4 ACs)

H. Airport Financial & Grant Administration (6 ACs)

I. Airport Special Facilities & Operations (11 ACs)

J. General & Other (5 ACs)

3. Recently Updated Advisory Circulars (2024–2026)

Between January 2024 and March 2026, 20 AC revisions, addenda, and errata were published across safety, technology, and environmental compliance. Below is a summary organized by the same functional categories used in Section 2.

A. Airport Planning & Master Planning

150/5300-19 Airport Data and Information Program — The AC itself remains dated September 30, 2015. In September 2024, FAA posted an updated Airport Master Records Data Dictionary expanding data collection fields, including sustainability metrics. This was a data dictionary update, not a formal AC revision.

B. Airport Design & Construction

150/5300-13B Airport Design — Change 1 published August 2024, errata April 2025. Addressed questions on runway length calculations and obstacle clearance zones, with corrections to examples in the primary document.

C. Pavement Design & Management

150/5320-12C Skid Resistant Pavement — Change 9 issued June 2025. Updated friction requirements for grooved and porous friction course pavements, reflecting modern fleet braking systems.

D. Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting

Seven ARFF-related ACs were revised or issued in this period:

150/5210-6E Fire Extinguishing Agents — Revised November 2023, errata February 2024. Incorporated fluorine-free foam (F3) and other alternative suppressant technologies, with timetables for phasing out legacy AFFF products at federally-obligated airports. The February 2024 errata addressed AFFF-free foam alternatives.

150/5210-14C ARFF Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment — Revised February 2024. Adopted updated standards for protective gear certification and thermal protection levels, aligning with industry consensus standards.

150/5210-7E ARFF Communications — Updated March 2024. Revised radio protocols and inter-agency coordination procedures, incorporating recommendations from post-incident reviews and interoperability studies.

150/5210-19B Driver Enhanced Vision Systems — Issued May 2024. Provided guidance on thermal imaging and night-vision technologies in ARFF vehicles, incorporating lessons learned from pilot installations at large hubs.

150/5210-24A Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Management — Revised February 2024, errata May 2024. Expanded guidance on FOD detection and control, with errata addressing automated detection equipment specifications.

150/5220-10F Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicle Specification — New revision June 2025. Updated apparatus performance standards for next-generation ARFF vehicles, including updated water delivery systems and improved turnaround specifications for congested ramp environments.

150/5210-17C ARFF Training Programs — Q4 FY2025 addendum (July 2025). Updated recurrent training frequency and scenario-based competency assessment, reflecting current Part 139 inspector emphasis on training rigor.

E. Airport Safety & Operations

150/5200-32C Wildlife Strike Reporting — New AC issued July 2024. Formalized procedures for submitting wildlife strike data to the FAA's national wildlife strike database, with emphasis on reporting near-miss events.

150/5200-34B Landfills Near Airports — New AC issued May 2025. Established standards for wildlife hazard risk assessment and mitigation related to landfill proximity and operations, addressing FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 provisions on bird strike prevention.

F. Airport Lighting & Visual Aids

Four lighting and visual aid ACs were revised in September 2024, with additional updates in 2025–2026:

150/5340-18H Airport Sign Systems — New revision September 2024. Updated directional, mandatory, and informational signage standards.

150/5345-42K Light Bases and Junction Boxes — New revision September 2024. Updated equipment specifications for lighting infrastructure.

150/5345-44L Runway and Taxiway Signs — New revision September 2024. Updated sign design and placement standards.

150/5345-46F Runway, Taxiway, Heliport, and Vertiport Light Fixtures — New revision September 2024. Fixture specifications now include vertiport guidance, reflecting FAA Engineering Brief 105A (Vertiport Design) released December 2024.

150/5340-1M Airport Markings — Errata June 2025. Clarified markings for hold-short lines and taxiway intersections in response to operational feedback on runway incursion prevention.

150/5345-53D Lighting Certification Program — Addendum January 2026. Updated the certified equipment and manufacturer list for LED fixtures on runway and taxiway systems.

H. Airport Financial & Grant Administration

150/5100-21 State Block Grant Program — Updated June 2025. Addressed changes to the state apportionment formula and expanded guidance on discretionary fund allocation.

I. Airport Special Facilities & Operations

150/5230-4C Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling, and Quality Control — Q4 FY2025 addendum (July 2025). Addressed SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) compatibility with existing fuel system infrastructure and quality control procedures.

4. Draft Advisory Circulars Under FAA Review

The FAA maintains an active pipeline of new and revised Advisory Circulars. As of March 2026, the following drafts are under development or public comment:

150/5200-28H NOTAMs for Airport Operators (Draft): Posted December 19, 2025, with public comment period closing January 20, 2026. This revision addresses the transition from traditional text-based NOTAMs to the new NOTAM Search system and includes enhanced guidance for airport operators on NOTAM publication procedures and time-sensitive updates. The revision also covers coordination with ATIS systems and dynamic hazard reporting.

150/5020-1A Noise Control and Compatibility Planning (Draft, in development): The FAA is developing draft 150/5020-1A as mandated by P.L. 118-63 § 786. Section 786 mandates updates to Part 150 noise standards and Section 792 establishes the Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC). No public draft has been posted as of March 2026. The scope of the draft AC has not been publicly detailed beyond the statutory mandate.

5. Advisory Circulars and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024

Signed May 16, 2024, Public Law 118-63 (the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024) contains provisions directing FAA to update standards in areas covered by existing Advisory Circulars. Below are the key statutory directives and their potential AC implications:

Section 774: Universal Changing Stations

Requires all federally-obligated airports to provide universal changing stations in airport terminals. The statute directs FAA to update 150/5360-14A (Access for Individuals with Disabilities) to establish design standards, placement requirements, and accessibility features (counter height, diaper disposal, sanitation). Section 774 does not specify a completion deadline for the update to 150/5360-14A.

Section 767: Fluorine-Free Fire Suppressants

Section 767 mandates transition to fluorine-free aqueous film-forming foams (F3) and other alternatives by specified deadlines. AC 150/5210-6E (November 2023 revision) already incorporates fluorine-free foam guidance. No additional rulemaking on the F3 transition has been announced as of March 2026.

Section 395: Airport Cybersecurity

Section 395 directs FAA to convene an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to develop findings and recommendations on airport cybersecurity standards. The ARC charter was published May 2025. No dedicated cybersecurity AC has been announced. The closest existing framework is 150/5200-37A (Safety Management Systems).

Section 786: Part 150 Noise Study Review

Requires FAA review and potential updates to 14 CFR Part 150 noise compatibility plans. This provision applies to 150/5020-1 Noise Control and Compatibility Planning and the draft 150/5020-1A, which is referenced in the statutory mandate.

Section 792: Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC)

Establishes the Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) to advise FAA on aircraft noise policy, including consideration of emerging aircraft noise profiles such as electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. The ANAC's advisory scope includes topics relevant to 150/5020-1A. No ANAC recommendations have been published as of March 2026.

Section 743: Airport Land Use Compatibility

Addresses 150/5190-4B Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning, which addresses zoning coordination with local jurisdictions. No revision to 150/5190-4B has been announced as of March 2026.

Section 703: Revenue Diversion and Grant Assurance Enforcement

This statutory provision strengthens penalties for grant assurance violations but does not directly mandate AC changes. No revision to 150/5100-19D (Airport Financial Reports) has been announced as of March 2026.

Emerging Standards: Engineering Brief 105A & AC 21.17-4

Engineering Brief 105A (Vertiport Design and Certification) was published December 2024 as an interim design standard for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) facilities. This guidance is already referenced in the updates to 150/5345-46F (Runway, Taxiway, Heliport, and Vertiport Light Fixtures). FAA published Engineering Brief 105A (Dec 2024) as interim vertiport guidance while permanent standards are under development.

AC 21.17-4 (Powered-Lift Aircraft Certification Guidance), published July 2025, addresses certification for electric vertical takeoff aircraft. No corresponding 150-series AC on ground handling, charging infrastructure, or emergency procedures for powered-lift aircraft has been published or announced as of March 2026.

6. Emerging Topics Without Dedicated Advisory Circulars

While the FAA's 150-series covers traditional airport operations across the ten categories above, several emerging issues currently lack dedicated guidance documents. Airport operators are managing these areas through SMS frameworks, NOTAM procedures, and interim FAA directives:

Airport Cybersecurity

As noted above, Section 395 of the FAA Reauthorization Act directs FAA to convene an Aviation Rulemaking Committee on cybersecurity standards. Until rulemaking and an accompanying AC are finalized, airport operators may reference 150/5200-37A (Safety Management Systems) as a framework and coordinate with CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) on critical infrastructure protection. Best practices currently come from industry associations such as Airports Council International and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Infrastructure

No dedicated 150-series AC yet covers SAF storage, blending, or quality assurance at airports. The July 2025 addendum to 150/5230-4C (Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling, and Quality Control) provides initial guidance, but operators seeking additional standards may reference ASTM International D7566 (Jet Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons) and coordinate with fuel suppliers and aircraft manufacturers. No dedicated SAF infrastructure AC has been announced as of March 2026.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Vertiports

Engineering Brief 105A (December 2024) provides interim design standards for vertiports. However, certification, operational, and emergency response ACs are still in development. No public timeline has been committed for permanent vertiport standards. FAA's AAM program page tracks updates as they are released.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration

No dedicated airport UAS operations AC exists. Guidance is currently provided through FAA's Part 107 regulations and interim airspace coordination procedures. No public timeline has been announced for a dedicated airport UAS operations AC.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) Remediation Beyond Foam

While 150/5210-6E addresses AFFF foam phase-out, a broader PFAS remediation AC is not yet available. Operators dealing with contaminated soil or groundwater may reference EPA guidance on PFAS cleanup standards and coordinate with state environmental agencies. FAA's environmental page tracks any airport-specific PFAS guidance as it is published.

Climate Resilience and Sustainability

No dedicated AC yet addresses airport climate adaptation (e.g., sea-level rise, extreme weather, heat stress on pavement and equipment). 150/5200-37A (Safety Management Systems) provides a framework for identifying climate-related operational risks, but no dedicated resilience planning, green infrastructure, or carbon accounting AC has been announced. Airports may reference ACI's sustainability standards and FAA's environmental guidance in the interim.

7. Considerations for Airport Operators

Potential actions for airport sponsors and operators to evaluate include the following, organized by alignment with current and emerging Advisory Circular standards:

Conduct an AC Compliance Audit

One approach is to conduct a systematic review of their facility operations, design standards, and safety programs against applicable 150-series ACs. A qualified consultant can identify gaps, prioritize corrections, and develop a compliance roadmap. This applies especially to small and medium-sized airports where engineering tasks are managed by multi-role operations staff.

Establish an AC Monitoring Process

Given 20 AC updates in 24 months, options include subscribing to FAA's Advisory Circular distribution service and assigning responsibility for tracking new releases. Based on FAA grant assurance requirements, airports may designate a compliance manager or operations officer to review new ACs quarterly and determine applicability to their facility.

Engage Proactively on Emerging Standards

For airports planning major projects or anticipating regulatory changes (such as cybersecurity mandates or AAM facilities), airports may evaluate early engagement with FAA regional offices and industry working groups. ACs such as 150/5200-28H undergo public comment periods before finalization; airport operators and consultants have opportunities to provide input on practicality and cost implications.

Plan for the Vertiport Transition

Airports in markets with potential Advanced Air Mobility demand may evaluate preliminary planning for vertiport or charging infrastructure, guided by Engineering Brief 105A and future AC releases as they are published. FAA's AAM program page provides updates on vertiport standards as they are released.

Prioritize Fluorine-Free Foam Compliance

All federally-obligated airports face a transition away from AFFF-based fire suppressants under Section 767 of the Reauthorization Act. One approach is to review 150/5210-6E and consult with ARFF contractors and equipment manufacturers on approved fluorine-free alternatives. One consideration is the alignment of procurement and training timelines with statutory deadlines to avoid operational disruptions.

Integrate Cybersecurity into Safety Management Systems

While dedicated airport cybersecurity guidance is still in development, one option is to use 150/5200-37A (Safety Management Systems) as a framework to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks. One approach airports may evaluate is coordination with IT departments and security consultants, particularly for airports managing systems such as lighting, fuel, and access control.

Align Master Plans with Updated Noise and Environmental Guidance

Airports with master plans approaching update cycles may factor in publication of 150/5020-1A (Noise Control and Compatibility Planning) and factor updated methodologies and community engagement requirements into planning timelines.

Summary

The 150-series Advisory Circulars provide FAA guidance for airport planning, design, construction, safety, and operations in the United States. With 115+ active ACs reflecting 20 AC revisions issued between January 2024 and March 2026, the guidance reflects regulatory mandates, technological changes, and operational lessons learned.

Advisory Circulars function not only as compliance checkboxes but as technical guidance and engineering reference documents. The update cycle of 20 revisions in 24 months reflects FAA's response to regulatory requirements, new technologies, and operational challenges, from fluorine-free fire suppressants to advanced air mobility. Monitoring new AC releases, reviewing guidance updates as they are published, and using Safety Management Systems as an integration framework are among the approaches available to airport operators for managing federal grant compliance and operational standards.

AI Disclosure

This article was prepared by DWU Consulting with the assistance of Claude AI (Anthropic). Research, analysis, and drafting were performed by AI with human review and verification of all factual claims against primary sources (FAA.gov, Federal Register, Congressional records, and Engineering Briefs). No AI-generated content was published without human fact-checking against authoritative sources. The article reflects the state of Advisory Circulars as of March 6, 2026, and readers are encouraged to consult FAA's official AC portal to verify current versions and any updates published after this date.