Research & Development
The Research and Development panel allows you to unlock new stuff for your airport! Administrators must be assigned to projects to get them done and unlock those new things!
Basics
To unlock most of the content and services in Airport CEO, you need to do an R & D project on them. This will take a certain amount of time (depends on the project) and administrators. Administrators (or admins, as later used in the paragraph) are staff that work at your airport and are hired via the staff panel. Then, when ready, a project can be started from the R & D panel. This panel can be found under operations. You can click on a project project group (you can unlock multiple), and then select the project you want to research. Then, during work hours, Administrators that are assigned to that project will work on unlocking that feature.
Note that many projects require another project to be researched first. Also note that Admins will need a way to enter your airport, so make sure you have a bus and car stop, as well as a path to the staff room.
R & D Projects
Flights, Franchises, and more:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial License | Medium Aircraft Permit | Belt Loader | ~ | ~ |
| Large Aircraft Permit | ~ | ~ | ||
| Night Flights | Advance Runway Lighting | ~ | ~ | |
| Floor Construction Permit | ~ | ~ | ~ | |
| Extended Commercial License | Subway Permit | ~ | ~ | |
| Aircraft Cabin Cleaning | ~ | ~ | ||
| Catering Services | ~ | ~ | ||
| Automation | ~ | ~ | ||
| Ultimate Commercial License | ~ | ~ | ||
| Multiple Terminal Operations | ~ | ~ | ||
| Remote Stand Services | ~ | ~ | ~ | |
| Baggage Handling | Baggage Security (Tier 1) | Baggage Security (Tier 2) | Baggage Security (Tier 3) | |
| Tilt Tray | ~ | ~ | ||
| High-speed Conveyor Belts | ~ | ~ | ||
| Franchise Shops | ~ | ~ | ~ | |
| Franchise Cafes | Quality Kitchen Restaurants | ~ | ~ | |
| Emergency Response Units | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Fuel
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Jet A1 Fuel | ~ | ~ |
| Maverick Fuel Trucks | Fjord Trailer Trucks | Maverick Trailer Trucks |
| Medium Fuel Depots | Fuel Tanks | ~ |
Other
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program (Group One) | Project (Group 2) | Program (Group Two) | Project (Group 3) | Program (Group Three) |
| Proactive Maintenance | ~ | ~ | ~ | |
| Structural Engineering | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Programs
Programs can alter how much you pay in operations, boost passenger happiness, and much more. Each group is unlocked by going down the Program and Project group R & D chain (see above). You can add up to 5 admins to each program to get the boost. You can boost no more than 2 programs per group. Here is a list of programs (Important note: Marketing allows other visitors to visit your airport, and shop and eat outside of security):
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Upkeep Cost Reduction | Reduce Project Time | Airline Relations |
| Salary Cost Reduction | Passenger Satisfaction Boost | High Security Alert |
| Repair Cost Reduction | Staff Productivity Boost | Supplier Discounts |
| Increases Construction Speed | Marketing | Union Relations |
| Airport CEO | |
|---|---|
| Passenger Infrastructure | Ground Transportation • Check-In • Baggage • Bathroom • Security • Shopping • Restaurants/Cafes • Airline Lounges • Boarding |
| Aircraft Infrastructure | |
| Management | Contracts • Economy • Email • Operations • Staff • Passengers • Flight Planner • Franchises (shops) • Airlines • Flight monitor • R & D Panel |
| Gameplay | |
| Overlay | |
| Planes | |
| Turnaround Services | |
| Guides | |