Airport CEO

Airport CEO

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Research project guide (Alpha 35.5-4)
By Personal Responsibility and 1 collaborators
Explanation and a full listing of the in-game research projects. How do they work, which projects exist, what are the requirements and what do they unlock.
   
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Version Disclaimer
This guide was created for Alpha 35.5-4. The list will be updated as soon as possible, when a new update is released that also includes changes for the research projects.

If you have any additional questions regarding the game, don't hesitate to join the official game forum or discord!
Introduction to research projects
When you start a new game in Airport CEO, you will start with only the most necessary buildings available. That goes from terminal foundation, small runway, small stand that only accepts GA flights, as well as toilets and staff rooms and such.
Additionally the AVGAS aviation fuel for GA planes is already unlocked, as well as a small fuel truck and depot.

To increase the possibilities of your airport, for example to make it possible to take commercial flights, offer new services and unlock new vehicles, you can assign administrators to research project groups in the operations panel R&D tab.

For this you will first need to build terminal foundations and make a staff room for administrators. Don’t forget to place one desk for each administrator. Afterwards hire as many administrators as you need. Most beginner projects can have a max. of 3 administrators.

Don’t forget to build a bus/taxi/private car stop, so that your administrators can travel to the airport. Also public cars will not enter your airport if it's closed.

You can then assign the administrators in the R&D tab to the project that you have selected.
Increase research speed
There are several ways to increase the general research project speed. One of them is to hire high skilled employees and train them to their maximum possible ability.

Another way is to hire Executives that have a great effect on staff and research. Especially the HR director increases the speed significantly!
  • HR Director (Boost employee productivity by 15%)
  • Strategy Director (5% additional R&D project research speed)
One more way to increase the speed is via the static research program. Program group 2 offers two options to increase the speed even more.
  • Reduce Project time (10% increased project speed per employee assigned.
    + Additional employee productivity boost can increase it even more)
  • Staff productivity boost (Increase staff productivity by 8% per employee assigned)
Apart from the normal research projects, you can also increase the speed of the efficiency build-up of static project programs by hiring the CIO.
  • CIO (Increases efficiency build-up speed by 5%)
Simple Flowchart
Here you can also find a very simple and easy readable flowchart of all projects, made by rubble:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2174271732
Categorization
To make it easier finding what you're looking for, I categorize the projects the same way as they are in the game.
  1. Aircraft and passenger
  2. Fuel
  3. Baggage
  4. Management
  5. Franchise
  6. Program groups
1. Aircraft and passenger
1.1 Commercial license
Description:
Get the license required to handle travelling passengers. This is the first step in your journey to become an airport CEO!

Research requirements
N/A
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
3
ETA
3 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Commercial airlines contracts
- Commercial runways and aircraft stands
- Secure zone tool
- International zone tool

Structure unlocked:
- Check-in desk (small)
- Security checkpoint (small)
- Passport checkpoint
- Security exit
- Boarding desk (small)
- Information desk (small & medium)
- Flight information display
- Walkalator

Employees unlocked:
- Passenger service agent
- Security officer
- Ramp agent
- Aircraft maintenance technician (Will be added in A36)
- CIO
- HR Director
- Procurement director
- Strategy director

New research unlocked:
- Medium aircraft permit
- Night flights
- Floor construction permit
- Extended commercial license
- Remote stand service
- Baggage handling
- Franchise shops
- Franchise cafés
1.2 Extended commercial license
Description:
As your airport’s needs increases, so does the governmental requirements. An extended commercial license givey you the right to schedule more flights per day and build a large ATCT.

Research requirements
Commercial license
Min. Admin
5
Max. Admin
8
ETA
2 days

Generally unlocked:
- Medium ATC tower with a capability to handle 75 flights per day
- Airline lounges

New research unlocked:
- Subway permit
- Aircraft cabin cleaning
- Catering service
- De-icing permit
- Automation
- Ultimate commercial license
- Multiple terminal operations
1.3 Ultimate commercial license
Description:
The ultimate commercial license proves you are a true airport CEO! It gives you the rights to maximize your operation through even more flights per day.

Research requirements
Extended commercial license
Min. Admin
10
Max. Admin
20
ETA
4 days

Generally unlocked:
- Large ATC tower with a capability to handle 200 flights per day.
1.4 Medium aircraft permit
Description:
Unlocks structures and items needed for an airport to accept flights with aircraft of medium size.

Research requirements
Commercial license
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
6
ETA
24 hours

Structure unlocked:
- Medium runway
- Medium runway entrance
- Medium aircraft stand
- Medium boarding desk
- Medium security checkpoint
- Medium de-icing pad (only if de-icing permit is researched)

Vehicles unlocked:
- Stair truck
- Small pushforce pushback truck

New research unlocked:
- Large aircraft permit
- Belt loader
1.5 Large aircraft permit
Description:
Unlocks structures and items needed for an airport to accept flights with aircraft of large size. Time to bring those big birds home!

Research requirements
Medium aricraft permit
Min. Admin
5
Max. Admin
8
ETA
2 days

Structure unlocked:
- Large runway
- Large runway entrance
- Large aircraft stand
- Large de-icing pad (only if de-icing permit is researched)

Vehicles unlocked:
- Large carrier belt loader truck (ULD)
- Large dominator pushback truck
1.6 Floor construction permit
Description:
Gives you permission to build terminal floors and accompanied structures such as conveyor belt lifts, stairs and escalators.

Research requirements
Commercial license
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
12 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Terminal floors

Structure unlocked:
- Stairs
- Escalator
- Elevator
- Conveyor belt escalator
- Jetway stand upgrade (Medium & Large aircraft stands)
1.7 Remote stand service
Description:
Unlocks remote stand infrastructure.

Research requirements
Commercial license
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Structure unlocked:
- Airside shuttle bus stop
- Service car stop

Vehicles unlocked:
- Airside shuttle bus
- Service car
1.8 Night flights
Description:
Negotiate the rights to accept flights during night time (22:00-05:00).

Research requirements
Commercial license
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Night flights

New research unlocked:
- Advanced runway lighting
1.9 Advanced runway lighting
Description:
Unlocks runway lights which make it easier for pilots to safely bring aircraft down in poor visibility.

Research requirements
Night flights
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
5
ETA
24 hours

Structure unlocked:
- Advanced runway lighting (Runway Upgrade)
1.10 Belt loader
Description:
Unlocks the belt loader which provides a faster way to load medium aircraft.

Research requirements
Medium aircraft permit
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
12 hours

Vehicle unlocked:
- Small hauler belt loader truck
1.11 Subway permit
Description:
Gives you the permission to build subway stations that connects to the local subway network.

Research requirements
Extended commercial license
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Structure unlocked:
- Subway entrance
1.12 Aircraft cabin cleaning
Description:
Negotiate the rights to provide cleaning of aircraft cabins and have an on-site waste depot.

Research requirements
Extended commercial license
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Structure unlocked:
- Waste depot

Vehicles unlocked:
- Aircraft cabin cleaning truck
1.13 Catering service
Description:
Negotiate the rights to provide food catering to airlines and have an on-site catering building for food delivery and preparation.

Research requirements
Extended commercial license
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Contract type: Catering food suppliers

Structure unlocked:
- Catering depot

Vehicles unlocked:
- Catering truck
1.14 De-icing permit
Description:
Negotiate the rights to provide de-icing service of aircraft in sub-zero temperatures and have on-site de-icing fluid depot.

Research requirements
Extended commercial license
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Contract type: De-icing fluid suppliers

Structure unlocked:
- De-icing pad
- De-icing fluid depot

Vehicles unlocked:
- De-icing truck
1.15 Multiple terminal operations
Description:
Prepare the management for operation of multiple terminals and make sure your employees and service vehicles only take jobs in their designated terminal area. Upon completion of this R&D project, you will be able to divide your airport into areas.

Research requirements
Extended commercial license
Min. Admin
4
Max. Admin
8
ETA
2 days

Generally unlocked:
- Terminal area assignment tool
2. Fuel
2.1 Jet A1 fuel
Description:
Get the permit needed to operate refuelling of Jet-A1 aviation fuel.

Research requirements
N/A
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
1 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Unlock JetA1 fuel structures
- Unlock JetA1 fuel type for all fuel vehicles
2.2 Maverick fuel trucks
Description:
Unlocks the Maverick fuel truck, with higher driving speed and faster refuelling of aircraft.

Research requirements
N/A
Min. Admin
3
Max. Admin
6
ETA
6 hours

Vehicles unlocked:
- Maverick fuel trucks

New research unlocked:
- Fjord trailer trucks
2.3 Fjord trailer trucks
Description:
Unlocks the Fjord trailer truck, with greater fuel capacity than the non-trailer alternative.

Research requirements
Maverick fuel trucks
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Vehicles unlocked:
- Fjord trailer trucks

New research unlocked:
- Maverick trailer trucks
2.4 Maverick trailer trucks
Description:
Unlocks the Maverick fuel trailer truck, with quicker speed and faster refuelling of aircraft than the Fjord alternative

Research requirements
Fjord trailer trucks
Min. Admin
3
Max. Admin
6
ETA
24 hours

Vehicles unlocked:
- Maverick trailer trucks
2.5 Medium fuel depot
Description:
Get the permit to build larger depots of aircraft fuel to make your operation run more efficiently.

Research requirements
N/A
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Structures unlocked:
- Medium fuel depot

New research unlocked:
- Fuel Tanks
2.6 Fuel tanks
Description:
Get the permit to build fuel tanks to store large amounts of aircraft fuel on-site.

Research requirements
Medium fuel depot
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
24 hours

Structures unlocked:
- Fuel tank
3. Baggage
3.1 Baggage handling
Description:
Unlock the permit to build baggage conveyor belts that routes your passengers’ baggage from check-in to the aircraft.

Research requirements
Commercial license
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
24 hours

Structures unlocked:
- Baggage bay
- Baggage claim area
- Conveyor belt system
- Medium check-in desk

Vehicles unlocked:
- Baggage truck (Small & Large)

New research unlocked:
- Baggage security (tier 1)
- Tilt tray
- High-speed conveyor belts
3.2 Tilt tray
Description:
Unlock the tilt tray to get more control of the routing of passenger baggage.

Research requirements
Baggage handling
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
4
ETA
12 hours

Structures unlocked:
- Tilt tray
3.3 High-speed conveyor belts
Description:
Unlock the high speed conveyor belts to increase the airport baggage handling efficiency.

Research requirements
Baggage handling
Min. Admin
3
Max. Admin
9
ETA
8 hours

Structures unlocked:
- High speed conveyor belts
3.4 Baggage security (Tier 1)
Description:
Unlock the generic baggage scanner to increase airport security.

Research requirements
Baggage handling
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Structures unlocked:
- Baggage scanner (I)
- Baggage destroyer

New research unlocked:
- Baggage security (Tier 2)
3.5 Baggage security (Tier 2)
Description:
Unlock the specific baggage scanners to increase airport security.

Research requirements
Baggage security (Tier 1)
Min. Admin
4
Max. Admin
8
ETA
24 hours

Structures unlocked:
- Baggage scanner (II)

New research unlocked:
- Baggage security (Tier 3)
3.6 Baggage security (Tier 3)
Description:
Unlock the security scanning station to increase airport security.

Research requirements
Baggage security (Tier 2)
Min. Admin
6
Max. Admin
10
ETA
2 days

Structures unlocked:
- Scanning station (III)
4. Management
4.1 Program (Group one)
Description:
Programs turn administrator work to benefits for your airport.

Research requirements
N/A
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Programs unlocked:
- Upkeep cost reduction
- Salary cost reduction
- Repair cost reduction
- Increase construction speed

Research unlocked:
- Project group 2
4.2 Project group (two)
Description:
Increase R&D experience to run two projects simultaneously.

Research requirements
Program (Group one)
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Unlocks Project group two

Research unlocked:
- Program (Group two)
- Proactive maintenance
4.3 Program (Group two)
Description:
Programs turn administrator work to benefits for your airport.

Research requirements
Project group (two)
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
2
ETA
6 hours

Programs unlocked:
- Reduce project time
- Passenger satisfaction boost
- Staff productivity boost
- Marketing

Research unlocked:
- Project group (three)
4.4 Project group (three)
Description:
Increase R&D experience to run three projects simultaneously.

Research requirements
Program (Group two)
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Project group (three)

Research unlocked:
- Program (group three)
4.5 Program (Group three)
Description:
Programs turn administrator work to benefits for your airport.

Research requirements
Project group (three)
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Programs unlocked:
- Airline relations
- High security alert
- Supplier discount
- Emergency prevention work
4.6 Structural engineering
Description:
Programs turn administrator work to benefits for your airport.

Research requirements
N/A
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Structure unlocked:
- Concrete runways
- Concrete runway ramps
- Concrete foundation
- Concrete stands
- Concrete roads
4.7 Proactive maintenance
Description:
Enables janitors and service technicians to maintain floors and objects before they become dirty or broken.

Research requirements
Project group (two)
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Proactive cleaning
- Proactive repairs
4.8 Automation
Description:
Embrace the future and allow your staff some rest with automated systems.

Research requirements
Extended commercial license
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Structures unlocked:
- Self check-in kiosk
- Baggage drop
- Self-boarding gate
- Automated passport checkpoint
5. Franchise
5.1 Franchise shops
Description:
Embrace the future and allow your staff some rest with automated systems.

Research requirements
Commercial license
Hired Strategy Director (Executive)
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Shop franchising contracts

Structures unlocked:
- Shop room
- Product shelves
- Shop counter
5.2 Franchise cafés
Description:
Get the permit to franchise cafés and bars in your airport.

Research requirements
Commercial license
Hired Strategy Director (Executive)
Min. Admin
2
Max. Admin
5
ETA
12 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Café and bar contracts

Structures unlocked:
- Food room
- Cashier’s counter
- Food counter
- Display fridge
- Coffee machine
- Beer tap

New research unlocked:
- Quality kitchen restaurants
5.3 Quality kitchen restaurants
Description:
Get the permit to franchise cafés and bars in your airport.

Research requirements
Franchise cafés
Min. Admin
1
Max. Admin
3
ETA
6 hours

Generally unlocked:
- Restaurant contracts

Structures unlocked:
- Cooking station
- Food preparing items
- Fridge freezer
6. Program groups
Program groups are a great way to reduce costs and boost efficiency of your airport. Each group can have a max. of two programs active, as well as 5 employees per program.
A program does not start with full efficiency when staff is assigned. Efficiency will slowly build-up as soon as your staff starts working on it. Hiring a CIO will speed up the efficiency build-up by 5%.

Program group one
Program name
Benefit effect (per employee assigned)
Upkeep cost reduction
5% operations cost reduction
Salary cost reduction
5% salary cost reduction
Repair cost reduction
5% repair cost reduction
Increase construction speed
10% increased construction speed

Program group two
Program name
Benefit effect (per employee assigned)
Reduce project time
10% increased R&D project speed
Passenger satisfaction boost
5% increased passenger satisfaction
Staff productivity boost
8% increased staff skill
Marketing
5% increased passenger spending at food and shop franchises

Program group three
Program name
Benefit effect (per employee assigned)
Airline relations
5% increased airline satisfaction
High security alert
5% reduced risk of security incidents (no use until A36)
Supplier discount
5% supplier discounts on goods (aviation fuel, de-icing fluid, catering foods)
Emergency prevention work
5% reduced risk of emergency aircraft incidents
(no use before A36. Will be replaced with different program)
Feedback and thanks
If you find any information that might be outdated or wrong, please don't hesitate to write a comment.
Be aware that the descriptions of the projects were taken from the game itself (including grammar mistakes).

Thank you very much for any positive (and negative) feedback :)
5 Comments
Personal Responsibility  [author] 22 Jul, 2020 @ 1:25pm 
Oh, but then it wouldn't even make sense that small aircraft can have baggage handling too, if medium permit would be a dependencie. No makes total sense to me. I already corrected it in the guide :)
Personal Responsibility  [author] 22 Jul, 2020 @ 1:19pm 
And just double checked that too. The game doesn't even say at all what unlocks the medium check-in desk. Hope they will fix that :)
Personal Responsibility  [author] 22 Jul, 2020 @ 1:17pm 
woops I didn't meant extended license, I meand medium aircraft permit.
Personal Responsibility  [author] 22 Jul, 2020 @ 1:12pm 
@talisman56 very interesting find! The data you see here in the guide is from inside the game. I just confirmed your comment and yep, it's not the extended license, but the baggage belt that unlocks medium check-ins, even though the information in the game say otherwise.
I believe that this is a mistake by the devs. They might've wanted to make both research projects as dependence. I will double check this with them.
Thank you very much for making aware of this!
talisman56 22 Jul, 2020 @ 10:23am 
One omission: The initial Baggage Handling item (3.1 also unlocks the Medium Check-In Desk (two seats, with baggage belts)