Airport

What Exactly Is an Airport?

An airport is more than just a place where planes take off and land; it’s a bustling hub of activity that serves as a gateway to the world. Imagine a giant city in the sky, with runways stretching out like highways, control towers guiding aircraft through the clouds, and terminals filled with travelers rushing from one end to another. An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities for commercial air transport, consisting of a landing area, utility buildings, and often additional services such as control towers, hangars, terminals, and emergency services.

The Complexity of Airport Operations

Operating an airport is like running a small city. It involves aircraft support services, passenger services, and aircraft control services. Airports can be major employers and hubs for tourism and transit. They are also responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of every flight that takes off or lands within their premises.

Regulations and Safety Measures

Just like a city has rules to keep its citizens safe, airports have regulations and safety measures in place to reduce hazards and environmental impacts. These include air pollution and noise pollution controls, as well as emergency services ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

Diverse Types of Airports

There are different types of airports, each serving specific needs. Heliports for helicopters, seaplane bases for water-based aircraft, international airports for global travelers, and smaller or less-developed airfields for local flights. Each type has its unique features and roles in the aviation network.

Management and Ownership

Managing an airport is a complex task that involves considerations for safety margins during landing and takeoff, with minimum dimensions defined by regulations such as the FAR Landing And Takeoff Field Lengths. Airport ownership and operation can vary widely; most large airports are owned by local, regional, or national government bodies, while privatization has occurred in some countries like the UK (Heathrow), Germany (Fraport), India (GMR Group), and Pakistan (Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority).

Funding and Revenue

Airport funding comes from various sources. The Airport & Airway Trust Fund finances aviation programs in the US, while funding is dependent on taxes generated by airports from revenues such as passenger tickets, fuel, and cargo tax. Passenger ticket revenue makes up a significant portion of federal aviation funding.

Airport Revenue Streams

Revenue at airports is divided into three major parts: aeronautical, non-aeronautical, and non-operating revenue. Aeronautical revenue accounts for 50% (2021), non-aeronautical revenue for 34%, and non-operating revenue for 16%. Aeronautical revenue includes airline rents, landing fees, passenger service fees, parking fees, and hangar fees. Non-aeronautical revenue includes lease revenue from land-use development, retail sales, rental car operations, parking, and in-airport advertising.

Security Measures

Airports are not just about planes; they also have stringent security measures to protect passengers and staff. Security includes baggage checks, metal screenings of individuals, and rules against objects that could be used as weapons. Security measures have increased significantly since the September 11 attacks and Real ID Act.

Commercial Outlets and Services

Airports offer commercial outlets for products and services, with prices generally higher than outside airport prices. However, some airports regulate costs to keep them comparable to ‘street prices.’ Walk-through duty-free stores are becoming more common, requiring air passengers to enter a retail store upon exiting security. Airport planners incorporate winding routes, artworks, and regional cuisine options to draw passengers into shops. Some airport restaurants offer local specialties for transit travelers.

Airport Hotels and Amenities

Airports also include smoking areas and prayer rooms. Premium and VIP services include express check-in, dedicated counters, and airline lounges with amenities like food, beverages, showers, and Wi-Fi. Airlines sometimes offer complimentary access to these lounges for non-premium passengers if they have experienced delays or mishandling of checked baggage.

Cargo Operations

Cargo airports handle international cargo transfers, storing goods in bonded areas before loading aircraft. Cargo terminals have both landside and airside areas, with designated spaces for airlines and freight forwarders. In addition to cargo terminals, airports are divided into distinct areas such as export, import, and interline or transshipment.

Infrastructure and Services

Airports require various infrastructure and services including parking lots, car-rental firms, taxi ranks, bus stops, and train stations for passengers. Many large airports are connected to railway trunk routes, rapid transit systems, or non-road public transport systems for seamless multimodal transportation.

Internal Transport Options

Larger airports provide internal transport options such as moving walkways, buses, and rail transport systems to facilitate passenger movement within the airport. These systems are designed to make travel through the airport more efficient and less stressful for travelers.

Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Managing air traffic is a critical task that involves an organized network of trained personnel, specialized equipment, and spatial data. Improvements are being discussed in areas such as talent acquisition and retention, global standardizations, and digitizing and automating processes.

Tower Control and Ground Control

ATC is responsible for managing aircraft movements to ensure safety, orderliness, and expediency. Airports are either towered or non-towered, with the former requiring a control tower and two-way radio communication between pilots and controllers. Ground control directs all ground traffic in designated ‘movement areas’ except on runways.

Navigational Aids

Airports use various navigational aids, both visual and electronic, though not at all airports. A visual approach slope indicator (VASI) helps pilots fly the approach for landing. Some airports are equipped with a VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) to help pilots find the direction to the airport. VORs (VHF Omnidirectional Range) are used at airports to provide airways for navigation. Instrument landing systems (ILS) help pilots land even in poor weather, with GPS-based approaches increasing in use. Precision approach radar (PAR) is more common at military bases than civilian airports and provides guidance on aircraft movement.

Weather Observations

Weather observations are crucial to safe takeoffs and landings, with automated airport weather stations providing METAR format data over radio, ATIS, or through ATC or flight service station. These systems ensure that pilots have the necessary information to make informed decisions about their flights.

Airport Ground Crew

Ground crew handle loading and unloading of passengers, baggage, and other services. Vehicles include tow tractors, jet bridges, ground power units, cleaning services, catering services, and toilet waste trucks. A water truck to fill aircraft water tanks. A refueling vehicle that may use underground fuel tanks. A conveyor belt unit for loading/unloading luggage.

Turnaround Time

Airport maintenance management involves monitoring assets and storing spare parts using CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) to maintain optimal service levels. Safety management at airports includes emergency response equipment, procedures, and training for crews dealing with accidents, bomb threats, hijackings, and other hazards.

Environmental Concerns

Airports are not just about planes; they also have environmental concerns such as aircraft noise, pollution, bird collision risks, altered local weather patterns, and habitat destruction. The construction of new airports can disrupt local ecosystems, and existing ones can contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable Airports

Some airports are taking steps towards sustainability, such as installing solar photovoltaic arrays to offset electricity use, exploring the feasibility of electric aircraft, using airport areas for biomass production, and publishing annual environmental reports to track progress. Examples include Kochi Airport in India, which is fully powered by solar energy, and Seymour Airport in the Galapagos Islands, which prioritizes environmental concerns.

Historical Development

The earliest aircraft takeoff and landing sites were grassy fields. The plane could approach at any angle that provided a favorable wind direction. Later, concrete surfaces would allow landings regardless of meteorological conditions. Beijing Nanyuan Airport in China, which was built to accommodate planes in 1904, and airships in 1907, opened in 1910. Hamburg Airport opened in January 1911, making it the oldest commercial airport in the world that is still in operation.

Modern Airports

The airports of this era used paved ‘aprons’ for night flying and landing heavier aircraft. The first lighting on an airport was in the late 1920s, followed by approach lighting in the 1930s. Approach lights became standardized under ICAO in the 1940s. After World War II, airport design became more sophisticated with passenger buildings grouped together and runways arranged around terminals.

Construction Boom

Airport construction boomed in the 1960s with the increase in jet aircraft traffic, featuring extended runways up to 3,000m and reinforced concrete surfaces with grooves for rainwater management. Jet bridge systems were introduced in the early 1960s, eliminating outdoor passenger boarding. C-UAS technologies such as Aaronia AARTOS have been installed on major international airports.

Role in Media

Airports have played roles in films and television programs due to their nature as transport hubs and distinctive architectural features. Pete Postlethwaite played key roles in numerous films and TV shows set at or around airports, including Speed, Soul Plane, Catch Me If You Can, and Lost. He also appeared in various computer simulation games and was featured in airport directories for several countries.

Airports are more than just places where planes take off and land; they are complex, multifaceted hubs that serve as gateways to the world. From managing air traffic to ensuring safety and sustainability, airports play a crucial role in our globalized society. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the way we manage and utilize these incredible facilities.