An aerial view of a large international airport.

An aerial view of a medium-sized airport.

An airport is a facility where aircraft such as airplanes and helicopters can take off and land. An airport minimally consists of one runway or helipad (for helicopters), but other common components are hangars and terminal buildings. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 200 KB) geänderte Version des Bildes Image:Incheon International Airport. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 200 KB) geänderte Version des Bildes Image:Incheon International Airport. ... Aerial view of Paraparaumu airport in New Zealand. ... Aerial view of Paraparaumu airport in New Zealand. ... Airbus A380 An aircraft is any machine capable of atmospheric flight. ... This article refers to the tool of travel. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... A Ryanair Boeing 737 takes off from Bristol International Airport, England Take off is the phase of flight where an aircraft transitions from moving along the ground (taxiing) to flying in the air (see flight), usually from a runway. ... Landing is the last part of a flight, where a flying animal or aircraft returns to the ground. ... Runway 13R/31L of El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, D.C. Aerial picture of a runway of Chennai International Airport, Tamil Nadu A runway is a strip of land on an airport, on which aircraft can take off and land. ... A helipad is a landing area for a helicopter. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... Hangars can be used to hold airplanes, airships and helicopters. ... An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer from ground transportation to the facilities that allow them to board airplanes. ...

Additionally, an airport may have a variety of facilities and infrastructure, including fixed base operator services, air traffic control, passenger facilities such as restaurants and lounges, and emergency services. A military airport is known as an airbase or air station. The terms airfield, airstrip, and aerodrome may also be used to refer to airports of varying sizes. In some jurisdictions, the term airport is used where the facility is licensed as such by the relevant government organization (e.g. FAA, Transport Canada). Elsewhere the distinction is merely one of general appearance. A Fixed Base Operator (also known as Fixed Base of Operation), or FBO, is a service center at an airport that may be a private enterprise or may be a department of the municipality that the airport serves. ... Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Schiphol Airport Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. ... Emergency services are public services that deal with emergencies and other aspects of Public Safety. ... An Airbase, sometimes referred to as a military airport or airfield, provides basing and support of military aircraft. ... An Airbase, sometimes referred to as a military airport or airfield, provides basing and support of military aircraft. ... Aerodrome can mean: An Austrian music festival: Aerodrome A series of aircraft constructed by Samuel Pierpont Langley. ... The Federal Aviation Administration is the entity of the United States government which regulates and oversees all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. // Activities Along with the European Joint Aviation Authorities, the FAA is one of the two main agencies worldwide responsible for the certification of new aircraft. ... Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. ...

Attributes

Airports vary in size, with smaller or less-developed airports often having only a single runway shorter than 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Larger airports for international flights generally have paved runways 2,000 m (6,600 ft) or longer. Many small airports have dirt, grass, or gravel runways, rather than asphalt or concrete. An Inner Mongolian Grassland. ... As shown in this cross-section, many older roadways are smoothed by applying a thin layer of asphalt concrete to the existing portland cement concrete. ... The most common form of concrete consists of Portland cement, construction aggregate (generally gravel and sand) and water. ...

An aerial view of a small airport in the winter.

In the United States, the minimum dimensions for dry, hard landing fields are defined by the FAR Landing And Takeoff Field Lengths. These include considerations for safety margins during landing and takeoff. Typically heavier aircraft require longer runways. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x761, 389 KB) Summary Final approach for runway 27 at the Toronto/Markham Airport on a cold winters day. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x761, 389 KB) Summary Final approach for runway 27 at the Toronto/Markham Airport on a cold winters day. ... The Federal Aviation Regulations, or FARs, are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governing all aviation activities in the United States. ...

The longest public-use runway in the world is at Ulyanovsk-Vostochny International Airport, in Ulyanovsk, Russia. It has a length of 5,000 m (16,404ft). Ulyanovsk (Russian: ), formerly Simbirsk (), is a city on the Volga River in Russia, 893 km east from Moscow. ...

As of 2005, there were approximately 50,000 airports around the world, including 19,815 in the United States alone.^{[citation needed]}

Airport ownership and operation

Most of the world's airports are owned by local, regional, or federal government bodies who then lease the airport to private corporations who oversee the airport's entire operation. For example, the British firm BAA plc operates seven of the commercial airports in the United Kingdom, as well as several other airports outside of the UK. Germany's Frankfurt International Airport is managed by the quasi-private firm Fraport AG. A corporation (usually known in the United Kingdom and Ireland as a company) is a legal entity (distinct from a natural person) that often has similar rights in law to those of a Civil law systems may refer to corporations as moral persons; they may also go by the name... BAA plc is the owner and operator of seven major United Kingdom airports and operator of several airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. ... Frankfurt International Airport Frankfurt International Airport (IATA: FRA, ICAO: EDDF), known in German as Rhein-Main-Flughafen or Flughafen Frankfurt am Main, is located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. ... Fraport AG is a German transport company most noted for its operation of the Frankfurt International Airport serving the German financial capital, Frankfurt Am Main. ...

In the United States, most airports are operated directly by government entities or government-created airport authorities (also known as port authorities). Only Indianapolis International Airport, which is owned by the City of Indianapolis and leased to BAA Indianapolis, Inc., a subsidiary of the British airport firm BAA plc, and Stewart International Airport in New York's Hudson Valley, are entirely operated by a private entity. Stewart International Airport was the nation's first privatized commercial airport and operates under a 99-year lease agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation. National Express Group, Inc., operates Stewart International Airport and is the United States subsidiary of the National Express Group, plc, in the United Kingdom. An airport authority is an independant entity charged with the operation and oversight of an airport (or group of airports). ... Midfield Terminal Project Indianapolis International Airport (IATA: IND, ICAO: KIND) is an airport located in Indianapolis, Indiana. ... The Indianapolis skyline Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana. ... BAA plc is the owner and operator of seven major United Kingdom airports and operator of several airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. ... Stewart International Airport (IATA: SWF, ICAO: KSWF) is located near Newburgh, New York, in the southern Hudson Valley, 55 miles (88. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... For the magazine, see Hudson Valley (magazine). ... Stewart International Airport (IATA: SWF, ICAO: KSWF) is located near Newburgh, New York, in the southern Hudson Valley, 55 miles (88. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... National Express Group plc is a UK based transport group, operating airport, bus and rail services in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. ... Stewart International Airport (IATA: SWF, ICAO: KSWF) is located near Newburgh, New York, in the southern Hudson Valley, 55 miles (88. ... National Express Group plc is a UK based transport group, operating airport, bus and rail services in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. ...

Many U.S. airports still lease part or all of their facilities to outside firms, who operate specific functions such as retail management and parking. In the United States, all commercial airport runways are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, but maintained by the local airport under the regulatory authority of the FAA. United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ... A runway is a strip of land on an airport, on which aircraft can take off and land. ... The Federal Aviation Administration is the entity of the United States government which regulates and oversees all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. // Activities Along with the European Joint Aviation Authorities, the FAA is one of the two main agencies worldwide responsible for the certification of new aircraft. ... The Federal Aviation Administration is the entity of the United States government which regulates and oversees all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. // Activities Along with the European Joint Aviation Authorities, the FAA is one of the two main agencies worldwide responsible for the certification of new aircraft. ...

Despite the reluctance to privatize airports in the United States (despite the FAA sponsoring a privatization program since 1996), the government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) arrangement is the standard for the operation of commercial airports in the rest of the world. The Federal Aviation Administration is the entity of the United States government which regulates and oversees all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. // Activities Along with the European Joint Aviation Authorities, the FAA is one of the two main agencies worldwide responsible for the certification of new aircraft. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... List of terms, acronyms, information, related to modern armour, artillery, and related military subject matter. ...

In New Zealand, Auckland International Airport, the nation's main international airport, is fully privatised. Ownership and operation of the 1,497 hectare complex is vested entirely with Auckland International Airport Limited, a public company, with the only governmental involvement being Airways Corporation of New Zealand's operation of air traffic control systems. Similar arrangements pertain to Wellington and Christchurch airports, and most other main airports are operated by private companies. Auckland International Airport (IATA: AKL, ICAO: NZAA) is the largest and busiest international airport in New Zealand serving over 12 million passengers a year. ... A hectare (symbol ha) is a unit of area, equal to 10,000 square meters, commonly used for measuring land area. ... A public company is a company owned by the public rather than by a relatively few individuals. ... Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Schiphol Airport Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. ... Wellington International Airport (IATA: WLG, ICAO: NZWN) serves New Zealands capital city of Wellington. ... Christchurch International Airport (IATA: CHC, ICAO: NZCH) is the primary airport that serves Christchurch, New Zealand. ...

Airport structures

A view of the Frankfurt airport terminal showing jetways and luggage carts.

Airports are divided into landside and airside areas. Landside areas include parking lots, public transportation stations, tank farms and access roads. Airside areas include all areas accessible to aircraft, including runways, taxiways and ramps. Access from landside areas to airside areas is tightly controlled at most airports. Passengers on commercial flights access airside areas through terminals, where they can purchase tickets, clear security, check or claim luggage and board aircraft though gates. The waiting areas which provide passenger access to aircraft are typically called concourses, although this term is often used interchangeably with terminal. Frankfurt airport terminal. ... Frankfurt airport terminal. ... A Jetway, jet bridge or aerobridge/airbridge is a moveable bridge, normally enclosed, which extends from an airport terminal allowing passengers to board an airplane without having to go outside. ... Parking lot showing diagonal parking pattern designed for one-way traffic. ... A taxi serving as a bus Public transport comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles. ... See: Station (telecommunication) Radio station Television station Station (network) Primary station Control station Slave station Station (Australian ranch) (the Australian equivalent of the North American Ranch) Public transport railway station or train station metro station (underground or elevated ) bus station Ground station Space station Gas station Power station (see Battersea... The Tank Farm is the area of the airport where the the aircraft fuel storage tanks are located. ... A road ascends a mountainside using hairpin bends in the French Alps. ... Runway 13R/31L of El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, D.C. Aerial picture of a runway of Chennai International Airport, Tamil Nadu A runway is a strip of land on an airport, on which aircraft can take off and land. ... A taxiway is a strip of land on an airport on which aircraft can roll (taxi) to or from a hangar, terminal, runway, or other facility. ... The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. ... An airline is an organization providing aviation services to passengers and/or cargo. ... An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer from ground transportation to the facilities that allow them to board airplanes. ... Gate at Nagoya Airport Entrance to gates at Hanover/Langenhagen International Airport Entrance to Gates at Asheville Regional Airport A Gate in aviation is a section at an airport terminal for transferring passengers and airline crews to an aircraft. ...

The area where aircraft park next to a terminal to load passengers and baggage is known as a ramp (or, to the media and uninitiated, "the tarmac"). Parking areas for aircraft away from terminals are generally called aprons. A close-up view of some freshly-laid tarmac. ...

Both large and small airports can be towered or nontowered, depending on air traffic density and available funds. Due to their high capacity and busy airspace, most international airports have air traffic control located on site. The control tower at Schiphol airport. ... A non-towered airport is an airport with no operating tower, or air traffic control unit. ... Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a particular country on top of its territory and territorial waters or, more generally, any specific portion of the atmosphere. ... Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Schiphol Airport Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. ...

Entrance to gates at Asheville Regional Airport

Airports with international flights have customs and immigration facilities. However, as some countries have agreements that allow travel between them without customs and immigrations, such facilities are not a definitive need for an international airport. International flights often require a more conspicuous level of physical security, although in recent years, many countries have adopted the same level of security for international and domestic travel. Image File history File links AVLgates. ... Image File history File links AVLgates. ... Asheville Regional Airport (IATA:AVL, ICAO:KAVL) is an airport by Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 in Fletcher, North Carolina, near Asheville, North Carolina. ... A customs duty is a tariff or tax on the import or export of goods. ...

Shops and food services

Airport terminal interiors (like this one at Zurich International Airport) increasingly look like small shopping centers.

Most international airports have shops and food courts. These services usually provide the passengers food and drinks before they board their flight. Many recognizable chain food restaurants have opened branches in large airports to serve often hungry passengers. International areas usually have a duty-free shop ("Duty Free") where travellers are not required to pay the usual duty fees on items. Larger airlines often operate member-only lounges for premium passengers. London's Heathrow Airport, for example, is home to both a Harrods and a Hamleys Toy Shop, providing Duty Free for international passengers. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 230 KB)The shopping center-like corridor between Departure Areas 1 and 2 at Zurich International Airport, Kloten, Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 230 KB)The shopping center-like corridor between Departure Areas 1 and 2 at Zurich International Airport, Kloten, Switzerland. ... Arrivals Lounge Interior of airport terminal Zurich International Airport (IATA: ZRH, ICAO: LSZH) also called Kloten Airport, is located at 47°29′N 8°32′E in Kloten, canton of Zurich, Switzerland and managed by Unique Airport. ... The King of Prussia Mall, one of the largest in the world, located in Pennsylvania, United States For the traditional meaning of the word mall, see pedestrian street or promenade. ... A typical duty-free store, at Zurich International Airport Duty-free shops (or stores) are found in the customs zones of International Airports, ports or international means of transport, and do not apply the local/national taxes and duties. ... In economics, a duty is a kind of tax, often associated with customs, a payment due to the revenue of a state, levied by force of law. ... London Heathrow Airport (IATA airport code: LHR, ICAO airport code: EGLL, and often simply Heathrow) is the United Kingdoms busiest and best-connected airport. ... Harrods department store storefront Harrods is an upmarket department store on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London. ... Hamleys is one of the worlds largest toy shops. ...

Airports have a captive audience, and consequently the prices charged for food is generally higher than are available elsewhere in the region. Airport fees are fees commonly paid for use of services of airports, such as in the Subic Bay International Airport, known for charging airport fees. However, some airports now regulate food costs to keep them comparable to so-called "street prices". This term is a bit misleading as prices often match the MSRP but are almost never discounted. Subic Bay International Airport or SBIA serves as a secondary airport and main diversion airport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and it also serves Olongapo City in the Philippines. ... MSRP stands for Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price. Under earlier U.S. state Fair Trade statutes, the manufacturer was able to impose a fixed price for items. ...

Cargo and freight services

Loading luggage

In addition to people, airports are responsible for moving large volumes of cargo around the clock. Cargo airlines often have their own on-site and adjacent infrastructure to rapidly transfer parcels between ground and air modes of transportation. Download high resolution version (1517x804, 445 KB)Photographer, THorfinn Stainforth, taken circa 1995, probably at Ottawa International Airport; Released under GFDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (1517x804, 445 KB)Photographer, THorfinn Stainforth, taken circa 1995, probably at Ottawa International Airport; Released under GFDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... FedEx DC-10 Cargo airlines (or airfreight carriers, and derivatives of these names) are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. ...

Support services

Aircraft maintenance, pilot services, aircraft rental, and hangar rental are most often performed by a fixed base operator (FBO). At major airports, particularly those used as hubs, airlines may operate their own support facilities. A Fixed Base Operator (also known as Fixed Base of Operation), or FBO, is a service center at an airport that may be a private enterprise or may be a department of the municipality that the airport serves. ...

Some airports, typically military airbases, have long runways used as emergency landing sites. Many airbases have arresting equipment for fast aircraft, known as Rotary Hydraulic Arrester Gear - a strong cable suspended just above the runway and attached to a hydraulic reduction gear mechanism. Together with the landing aircraft's arresting hook, it is used in situations where the brakes would have little or no effect. An Airbase, sometimes referred to as a military airport or airfield, provides basing and support of military aircraft. ... Arrestor wires are thick steel cables fitted to the aft end of the flight deck on CTOL and STOBAR aircraft carriers. ... For the type of ferns known as brakes, see brake (fern). ...

Airport access

Many large airports in the world are located next to or even above railway trunk routes, for instance Frankfurt International Airport and Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. For local access, many airports have local train lines, rapid transit, light rail lines or other mass transit systems, for instance the AirTrain JFK at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. These systems are usually directly connected to the main terminals. Large airports usually have access also through freeways from which cars fed into two access roads, designed as loops, one sitting on top of the other. One level is for departing passengers and the other is for arrivals. This road concept was pioneered at Los Angeles International Airport Frankfurt International Airport Frankfurt International Airport (IATA: FRA, ICAO: EDDF), known in German as Rhein-Main-Flughafen or Flughafen Frankfurt am Main, is located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. ... Schiphol (IATA: AMS, ICAO: EHAM) (municipality Haarlemmermeer) is the Netherlands main airport. ... A rapid transit, underground, subway, tube, elevated, or metro(politan) system is a railway system, usually in an urban area, with a high capacity and frequency of service, and grade separation from other traffic. ... This article is about light rail systems in general. ... In the United States of America, transit describes local area common carrier passenger transportation configured to provide scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis. ... AirTrain JFK is a 13 km (8. ... John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK) is an international airport located in Jamaica, Queens, in the south-eastern portion of New York City. ... A cycle rickshaw at rest in Manhattan. ... It has been suggested that Autobahn be merged into this article or section. ... Runway layout at LAX LAX redirects here. ...

History and development

The control tower of Croydon Airport in 1939, with the BOAC de Havilland DH 91 Albatross Fortuna alongside

The earliest airplane takeoff and landing sites were simply open, grassy fields. The plane could approach at any angle that provided a favorable wind direction. A slight improvement was the dirt-only field, which eliminated the drag from grass. However these only functioned well in dry conditions. They would eventually be replaced by concrete surfaces that allowed all-weather landings in both daylight and at night. ImageMetadata File history File links DH_91_Albatross_-_Fortuna_-_Croydon_Airport_1939. ... ImageMetadata File history File links DH_91_Albatross_-_Fortuna_-_Croydon_Airport_1939. ... After technical problems with the Comet, BOAC resumed jet service with imported Boeing 707s. ... The BOAC DH.91 Albatross Fortuna alongside the Control Tower at Croydon Airport in 1939 The de Havilland DH.91 Albatross was a four-engine British transport aircraft in the 1930s. ...

Early airfields were often built for the purpose of entertainment. These aerodromes consisted of a grassy field, with a hangar for storage and servicing of airplanes, and observation stands for visitors. One of the world's first aerodromes was Taliedo Airport in Milan, which was opened in 1910 and in the mid 1920s was transformed into an airport and opened to commercial traffic. It was closed in the 1930s because it was too small for the commercial transportation boom of those years. Linate Airport, which still serves as one of Milan's airports, was then built a few miles north. Aerodrome can mean: An Austrian music festival: Aerodrome A series of aircraft constructed by Samuel Pierpont Langley. ... Country Italy Region Lombardy Province Milan (MI) Mayor Letizia Moratti Elevation 120 m Area 182 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 1,308,311  - Density 6,988/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Milanesi Dialing code 02 Postal code 20100 Patron St. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Linate Airport (IATA: LIN, ICAO: LIML) is the city airport of Milan, Italy. ...

The first known usage of the term "airport" appeared in a newspaper article in 1919, in reference to Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1] Map of Atlantic City in Atlantic County Coordinates: Country United States State New Jersey County Atlantic Incorporated March 1854 Mayor Bob Levy Area    - City 44. ...

Increased aircraft traffic during World War I led to the construction of regular landing fields. Airplanes had to approach these from certain directions. This led to the development of aids for directing the approach and landing slope. Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Italy Russia United States Serbia Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Nicholas II Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Reinhard Scheer Franz Josef I Conrad von Hötzendorf İsmail Enver Ferdinand I Casualties...

Following the war, some of these military airfields added commercial facilities for handling passenger traffic. One of the earliest such fields was Le Bourget, near Paris. The first international airport to open was the Croydon Airport, in South London [2]. In 1922, the first permanent airport and commercial terminal solely for commercial aviation was built at Königsberg, Germany. The airports of this era used a paved "apron", which permitted night flying as well as landing heavier airplanes. Le Bourget is a commune of the Seine-Saint-Denis département in France. ... Part of the Paris and La Défense skylines with from left to right: Montparnasse Tower, Eiffel Tower, and La Défense towers. ... The control tower of Croydon Airport in 1939, with the BOAC de Havilland DH 91 Albatross Fortuna alongside Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary of what are now the London Borough of Croydon and the London Borough of Sutton. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... Former German name of the city of Kaliningrad. ...

The first lighting used on an airport was during the later part of the 1920s; in the 1930s approach lighting came into use. These indicated the proper direction and angle of descent. The colors and flash intervals of these lights became standardized under the ICAO. In the 1940s, the slope-line approach system was introduced. This consisted of two rows of lights that formed a funnel indicating an aircraft's position on the glideslope. Additional lights indicated incorrect altitude and direction. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... Glideslope is the word used for the final approach segment of an Instrument Approach by an airpline, by means of ILS (Instrument Landing System) or MLS (Microwave Landing System). ...

Following World War II, airport design began to become more sophisticated. Passenger buildings were being grouped together in an island, with runways arranged in groups about the terminal. This arrangement permitted expansion of the facilities. But it also meant that passengers had to travel further to reach their plane. This article is becoming very long. ...

An improvement in the landing field was the introduction of grooves in the concrete surface. These ran perpendicular to the direction of the landing aircraft and served to draw off excess water in rainy conditions that could build up in front of the plane's wheels.

Airport construction boomed during the 1960s with the increase in jet aircraft traffic. Runways were extended out to 3 km (9800 feet). The fields were constructed out of reinforced concrete using a slip-form machine that produces a continual slab with no disruptions along the length.

Modern landing fields are thickest in the area where the plane touches down in order to support the force of the landing gear touching down. Runways are constructed as smooth and level as possible using measuring devices to correct for variations in height.

Airport designation and naming

Main article: List of airports

Airports are uniquely represented by their IATA airport code and ICAO airport code. IATA airport codes are often abbreviated forms of the common name of the airport, such as PHL for Philadelphia International Airport. Airports sometimes retain their previous IATA code when an airport's name is changed. O'Hare International Airport in Chicago retains the IATA code ORD, from its former name of Orchard Field. By IATA code: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z By ICAO code: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R... An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter alphabetic code designating many airports around the world. ... The ICAO airport code (IPA pronunciation: ) is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... Philadelphia International Airport (IATA: PHL, ICAO: KPHL) is an airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region. ... now. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ...

The name of the airport itself can be its location, such as Los Angeles International Airport. It can be the name of a prominent national celebrity, commonly a politician, e.g. John F. Kennedy International Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport or Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Airports may also be named after a person associated with the region it serves or prominent figures in aviation history, such as Liverpool John Lennon Airport or Kingsford Smith International Airport, named for the Australian aviation pioneer. Runway layout at LAX LAX redirects here. ... A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK) is an international airport located in Jamaica, Queens, in the south-eastern portion of New York City. ... Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP), located in the city of Delhi, India is one of Indias main domestic and international gateways. ... Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (IATA: TPE, ICAO: RCTP) (Traditional Chinese: 臺灣桃園國際機場; Tongyong Pinyin: Táiwan Táoyuán Gúoji JichÇŽng; formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek International Airport; Traditional Chinese: 中正國際機場; pinyin: Jhōngjhèng GúojÄ« JÄ«chÇŽng; also known simply as Taiwan Airport or Taoyuan Airport), is... Charles de Gaulle International Airport (IATA: CDG, ICAO: LFPG) (French: ), also known as Roissy Airport (or just Roissy in French), in Paris, is one of Europes principal aviation centres, as well as Frances main international airport. ... Liverpool John Lennon Airport (IATA: LPL, ICAO: EGGP) is one of Europes fastest growing airports, having more than quintupled its annual passenger numbers from 875,000 in 1998 to over 4. ... Sydney (Kingsford Smith) International Airport, or Sydney Airport (IATA: SYD, ICAO: YSSY), is located in the Sydney suburb of Mascot. ...

Airport security

Main article: Airport security

Airports are required to have safety precautions in most countries. Rules vary in different countries, but there are common elements worldwide. Airport security normally requires baggage checks, metal screenings of individual persons, and rules against any object that could be used as a weapon. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, airport security has been dramatically increased worldwide. Bags are scanned by X-ray machine, people are scanned by metal detectors Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and by extension aircraft from crime and terrorism. ... The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly targeting civilians, carried out on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. ...

See also: Airport security repercussions due to the September 11, 2001 attacks

Box-cutter knives were apparently used in the September 11, 2001 attacks, though such knives are not usually considered weapons. ...

Airport operations

Outside the terminal, there is a large team of people who work in concert to ensure aircraft can land, take off, and move around quickly and safely. These processes are largely invisible to passengers, but they can be extraordinarily complex at large airports.

Air traffic control

See also: Air traffic control

The vast majority of the world's airports are non-towered, with no air traffic control presence at all. However, at particularly busy airports, or airports with other special requirements, there is an air traffic control (ATC) system whereby controllers (usually ground-based) direct aircraft movements via radio or other communications links. This coordinated oversight facilitates safety and speed in complex operations where traffic moves in all three dimensions. Air traffic control responsibilities at airports are usually divided into at least two main areas: ground and tower, though a single controller may work both stations. The busiest airports also have clearance delivery, apron control, and other specialized ATC stations. Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Schiphol Airport Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. ... An non-towered airport is an airport with no operating tower, or air traffic control unit. ... Controllers survey the field at Misawa Air Base, Japan. ...

Air traffic controllers inside the control tower at Misawa Air Base, Japan.

Ground Control is responsible for directing all ground traffic in designated "movement areas," except the traffic on runways. This includes planes, baggage trains, snowplows, grass cutters, fuel trucks, and a wide array of other vehicles. Ground Control will instruct these vehicles on which taxiways to use, which runway they will use (in the case of planes), where they will park, and when it is safe to cross runways. When a plane is ready to take off it will stop short of the runway, at which point it will be turned over to Tower Control. After a plane has landed, it will depart the runway and be returned to Ground Control. Inside the control tower at Misawa Air Base, taken from [1] and uploaded by me. ... Inside the control tower at Misawa Air Base, taken from [1] and uploaded by me. ... American and Japanese air traffic controllers work together in Misawas busy control tower. ...

a typical air traffic control tower

Tower Control controls aircraft on the runway and in the controlled airspace immediately surrounding the airport. Tower controllers may use radar to identify and accurately locate an aircraft's position in three-dimensional space, or they may rely on pilot position reports and visual observation. They coordinate the sequencing of aircraft in the traffic pattern and direct aircraft on how to safely join and leave the circuit. Aircraft which are only passing through the airspace must also contact Tower Control in order to be sure that they remain clear of other traffic and do not disrupt operations. The control tower at Schiphol airport. ... Controlled airspace exists in areas where air traffic control is capable of providing traffic separation. ... This long range RADAR antenna, known as ALTAIR, is used to detect and track space objects in conjunction with ABM testing at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll[1]. RADAR is a system that uses radio waves to detect, determine the direction and distance and/or speed...

Traffic pattern

Main article: Airfield traffic pattern

Standard left-hand traffic pattern.

All airports use a traffic pattern (often called a traffic circuit outside the U.S.) to assure smooth traffic flow between departing and arriving aircraft. Generally, this pattern is a circuit consisting of five "legs" that form a rectangle (two legs and the runway form one side, with the remaining legs forming three more sides). Each leg is named (see diagram), and ATC directs pilots on how to join and leave the circuit. Traffic patterns are flown at one specific altitude, usually 800 or 1000 ft. above ground level (AGL). Standard traffic patterns are left-handed, meaning all turns are made to the left. Right-handed patterns do exist, usually because of obstacles such as a mountain, or to reduce noise for local residents. The predetermined circuit helps traffic flow smoothly because all pilots know what to expect, and helps reduce the chance of a mid-air collision. An airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing. ... Image File history File links Airport_traffic_pattern. ... Image File history File links Airport_traffic_pattern. ... In aviation, Above Ground Level (AGL) denotes that an altitude is given above the ground. ... Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska (USA) has the highest visible base-to-summit elevation on Earth (approximately 5400 metres). ...

At extremely large airports, a circuit is in place but not usually used. Rather, aircraft (usually only commercial with long routes) request approach clearance while they are still hours away from the airport, often before they even take off from their departure point. Large airports have a frequency called Clearance Delivery which is used by departing aircraft specifically for this purpose. This then allows airplanes to take the most direct approach path to the runway and land without worrying about interference from other aircraft. While this system keeps the airspace free and is simpler for pilots, it requires detailed knowledge of how aircraft are planning to use the airport ahead of time and is therefore only possible with large commercial airliners on pre-scheduled flights. The system has recently become so advanced that controllers can predict whether an aircraft will be delayed on landing before it even takes off; that aircraft can then be delayed on the ground, rather than wasting expensive fuel waiting in the air.

Navigational aids

The Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, India is one of the few airports in the world that uses the CAT-3B Instrument Landing System.

Before takeoff, pilots usually check an Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) for information about airport conditions where they exist. The ATIS contains information about weather, which runway and traffic patterns are in use, and other information that pilots should be aware of. Image File history File links Indira-Gandhi-Airport. ... Image File history File links Indira-Gandhi-Airport. ... Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP), located in the city of Delhi, India is one of Indias main domestic and international gateways. ... This article is about the metropolis of Delhi. ... Automatic Terminal Information Service, or ATIS, is a continuous broadcast of recorded noncontrol information in busier terminal (i. ...

When flying, there are a number of aids available to pilots, though not all airports are equipped with them. A Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) helps pilots fly a perfect approach for landing once they have found the airport. Some airports are equipped with a VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) to help pilots find the direction to the airport. VORs are often accompanied by a Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) to determine the distance to the airport. In poor weather, pilots will use an Instrument Landing System to find the runway and fly the correct approach, even if they cannot see the ground. The number of instrument approaches based on the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) is rapidly increasing and may eventually be the primary means for instrument landings. The Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) is a system of lights on the side of a runway that provide visual descent guidance information during the approach to a runway. ... D-VOR (Doppler VOR) ground station, co-located with DME. VOR, short for VHF Omni-directional Radio Range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. ... D-VOR/DME ground station Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is a transponder-based radio navigation technology that measures distance by timing the propagation delay of UHF radio signals. ... The Localizer station at Hanover/Langenhagen International Airport in Hanover, Germany. ...

Larger airports sometimes offer Precision Approach Radar (PAR), but these systems are more common at military air bases than civilian airports. The aircraft's horizontal and vertical movement is tracked via radar, and the controller tells the pilot his position relative to the approach slope. Once the pilots can see the runway lights, they may continue with a visual landing. Precision Approach Radar (PAR) is a type of radar guidance system designed to provide lateral and vertical guidance to a pilot. ... An approach slope is the path that an airplane follows on its final approach to land on a runway. ...

Guidance signs

Examples of various location sign configurations

Airport guidance signs provide direction and information to taxiing aircraft and airport vehicles and assist in safe and expedient movement of aircraft. Smaller airports may have few or no signs, relying instead on airport diagrams and charts. Download high resolution version (574x660, 31 KB)US airport taxiway markings. ... Download high resolution version (574x660, 31 KB)US airport taxiway markings. ...

There are two classes of signage at airports, with several types of each: Signage is any kind of graphics created to display information to a particular audience, typically wayfinding information on streets, outside and inside of buildings. ...

Operational guidance signs

• Location signs - yellow on black background. Identifies the runway or taxiway currently on or entering.
• Direction/Runway Exit signs - black on yellow. Identifies the intersecting taxiways the aircraft is approaching, with an arrow indicating the direction to turn.
• Other - Many airports use conventional traffic signs such as stop and yield signs throughout the airport.

Black is a color with several subtle differences in meaning. ... A German Autobahn overhead direction sign A U.S. warning sign indicating that drivers who do not wish to exit immediately should merge left, and a prohibitory No Stopping sign Most countries erect signage, known as traffic signs or road signs, at the side of roads to impart information to... Stop sign used in English-speaking countries, as well as in the European Union Former European stop sign consisting of red Give Way triangle inside a circle A stop sign is a traffic sign, usually erected at road junctions, that instructs drivers to make a brief and temporary, but complete... In road transport, a yield (American English and Republic of Ireland) or give way (Commonwealth English) traffic sign indicates that a driver of a vehicle must slow down and prepare to stop if necessary (usually while merging into traffic on another road) but does not need to stop if there...

Mandatory instruction signs

Mandatory instruction signs are white on red. They show entrances to runways or critical areas. Vehicles and aircraft are required to stop at these signs until the control tower gives clearance to proceed. Red is any of a number of similar colors at the lowest frequencies of light discernible by the human eye. ... The control tower at Schiphol airport. ...

• Runway signs - White on a red. These signs simply identify a runway intersection ahead.
• Frequency Change signs - Usually a stop sign and an instruction to change to another frequency. These signs are used at airports with different areas of ground control.
• Holding Position signs - A single solid yellow bar across a taxiway indicates a position where ground control may require a stop. If a two solid yellow bars and two dashed yellow bars are encountered, this indicates a holding position for a runway intersection ahead; runway holding lines must never be crossed without permission. At some airports, a line of red lights across a taxiway is used during low visibility operations to indicate holding positions.

Lighting

Many airports have lighting that help guide planes using the runways and taxiways at night or in rain or fog. Lighting refers to either artificial light sources such as lamps or to natural illumination of interiors from daylight. ... Sunlight filters through a thin layer of fog on a crisp winter morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ...

On runways, green lights indicate the beginning of the runway for landing, while red lights indicate the end of the runway. Runway edge lighting is white lights spaced out on both sides of the runway, indicating the edge. Some airports have more complicated lighting on the runways including lights that run down the centerline of the runway and lights that help indicate the approach (an Approach Lighting System, or ALS). Low-traffic airports may use Pilot Controlled Lighting to save electricity and staffing costs. An approach lighting system, or ALS, is a lighting system installed on the approach end of an airport runway and consists of a series of lightbars, strobe lights, or a combination of the two that extends outward from the runway end. ... Pilot Controlled Lighting (PCL), also known as Aircraft Radio Control of Aerodrome Lighting (ARCAL) or Pilot Activated Lighting (PAL), is a technical system by which aircraft pilots can control the lighting of an airport or airfields runways and taxiways via radio. ...

Along taxiways, blue lights indicate the taxiway's edge, and some airports have embedded green lights that indicate the centerline.

Wind indicators

Planes take-off and land into the wind in order to achieve maximum performance. Wind speed and direction information is available through the ATIS or ATC, but pilots need instantaneous information during landing. For this purpose, a windsock is kept in view of the runway. A windsock is a large, conical, open-ended tube designed to indicate wind direction and relative wind speed. ...

Safety management

Air safety is an important concern in the operation of an airport, and almost every airfield includes equipment and procedures for handling emergency situations. Commercial airfields include one or more emergency vehicles and their crew that are specially equipped for dealing with airfield accidents, crew and passenger extractions, and the hazards of highly flammable airplane fuel. The crews are also trained to deal with situations such as bomb threats, hijacking, and terrorist activities. Air safety is a broad term encompassing the theory, investigation and categorisation of flight failures, and the prevention of such failures through appropriate regulation, as well as through education and training. ... An emergency vehicle is any vehicle that responds to an emergency. ... A railing accidentally collapses at a college football game, spilling fans onto the sidelines An accident is something going wrong unexpectedly. ... Fuel is any material that is capable of releasing energy when its chemical or physical structure is changed or converted. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Aircraft hijacking (also known as skyjacking) is the take-over of an aircraft, by a person or group, usually armed. ... Smoke billowing from the World Trade Centre after the 11th September 2001 terrorist attacks-one of the most iconic examples of modern terrorism. ...

Potential airfield hazards to aircraft include debris, nesting birds, and environmental conditions such as ice or snow. The fields must be kept clear of debris using cleaning equipment so that loose material doesn't become a projectile and enter an engine duct. In adverse weather conditions, ice and snow clearing equipment can be used to improve traction on the landing strip. For waiting aircraft, equipment is used to spray special deicing fluids on the wings. Orders Many - see section below. ... The acronym ICE can refer to: InterCity Express, a German high-speed train InterCity Express (CityTrain), an interurban train used by QR CityTrain in South East Queensland, Australia Internal combustion engine, a fuel engine In-circuit emulator, a computer hardware device In case of emergency, emergency number in mobile phones... Animation of snowcover changing with the seasons. ...

Many airports are built near open fields or wetlands. These tend to attract bird populations, which can pose a hazard to aircraft in the form of bird strikes. Airport crews often need to discourage birds from taking up residence.

Depending on their configuration, an airport can have sections of their pavement where collisions between airplanes on the ground can tend to occur. Records are kept of any incursions where airplanes or vehicles are in an inappropriate location, allowing these "hot spots" to be identified. These locations then undergo special attention by the FAA and airport administrators in order to reduce accidents.

During the 1980s, a phenomenon known as microburst became a growing concern due to accidents caused by microburst wind shear. (For example, see Delta Air Lines Flight 191.) Microburst radar was developed as an aid to safety during landing, giving two to five minutes warning to aircraft in the vicinity of the field of a microburst event. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... A photograph of the surface curl soon after an intense microburst impacted the surface A microburst is a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to but distinguishable from tornadoes which generally have convergent damage. ... Alternate meanings: Accident (fallacy), Accident (philosophy), Accident (movie), Accident, Maryland An accident is something going wrong. ... Wind shear is a difference in wind speed or direction between two points in the atmosphere. ... Delta Air Lines Flight 191 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Some airfields now have a special surface material at the end of the runway that behaves somewhat like styrofoam, bringing the plane to a relatively rapid halt as the material disintegrates. These surfaces are useful when the runway is located next to a body of water or other hazard, and prevent the planes from overrunning the end of the field.

Environmental concerns

The traffic generated by airports both in the air and on the surface can be a major source of aviation noise and air pollution which may interrupt nearby residents' sleep and produce other noise health effects. The construction of new airports, or addition of runways to existing airports, is often resisted by local residents because of the effect on the countryside, historical sites, local flora and fauna. As well, due to the risk of collision between birds and airplanes, large airports undertake population control programs where they frighten or shoot birds to ensure the safety of air travellers. Aviation noise is a form of environmental noise. ... Before flue gas desulfurization was installed, the emissions from this power plant in New Mexico contained excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide. ... Environmental noise can produce irreversible hearing loss Noise health effects, the collection of health consequences of elevated sound levels, constitute one of the most widespread public health threats in industrialized countries. ... In Botany a Flora (or Floræ) is a collective term for plant life and can also refer to a descriptive catalogue of the plants of any geographical area, geological period, etc. ... Fauna is a collective term for animal life. ... Orders Many - see section below. ...

The construction of airports has been known to change local weather patterns. For example, because they often flatten out large areas, they can be succeptible to fog in areas where fog rarely forms. In addition, because they generally replace trees and grass with pavement, they often change drainage patterns in agricultural areas, leading to more flooding, run-off and erosion in the surrounding land. Weather is an all-encompassing term used to describe all of the many and varied phenomena that can occur in the atmosphere of a planet. ... Sunlight filters through a thin layer of fog on a crisp winter morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Tree (disambiguation). ... An area of grass-like plants Grass generally describes a monocotyledonous green plant in the family Poaceae, botanically regarded as true grasses. ... Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from a given area. ... A flood (in Old English flod, a word common to Teutonic languages; compare German Flut, Dutch vloed from the same root as is seen in flow, float) is an overflow of water, an expanse of water submerging land, a deluge. ... Severe soil erosion in a wheat field near Washington State University, USA. Erosion is the displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock and other particles) by the agents of wind, water or ice, by downward or down-slope movement in response to gravity or by living organisms (in the case of...

Military airbase

Main article: Airbase

An airbase, sometimes referred to as a military airport or airfield, provides basing and support of military aircraft. Some airbases provide facilities similar to their civilian counterparts. For example, RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England has a terminal which caters to passengers for the Royal Air Force's scheduled Tristar flights to the Falkland Islands. Military airbases may also be co-located with civilian airports, sharing the same tower/air traffic control facilities, runways, taxiways and emergency services, but with separate terminals, parking areas, hangars and shelter areas. Examples of this are Bardufoss Airport/Bardufoss Air Station and Gardermoen Airport/Gardermoen Air Station, both in Norway. A special variant of a military airfield is the Aircraft Carrier. An Airbase, sometimes referred to as a military airport or airfield, provides basing and support of military aircraft. ... Airbus A380 An aircraft is any machine capable of atmospheric flight. ... RAF Brize Norton is a Royal Air Force station in Oxfordshire about 50 miles west of London, England, United Kingdom. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in south-east England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the Douglas DC-10. ... Hangars can be used to hold airplanes, airships and helicopters. ... A Hardened Aircraft Shelter (HAS), or Protective Aircraft Shelter (PAS), is a structure which houses and protects military aircraft from enemy attack. ... Bardufoss Airport (IATA: BDU, ICAO: ENDU) (Norwegian: Bardufoss lufthavn) is situated in the municipality of MÃ¥lselv in Troms, far north in Norway. ... -1... Oslo Airport is located in Gardermoen in Ullensaker, Norway, 50 km north of Oslo, and is a modern, international airport with two runways. ... Gardermoen Air Station is the militarized part of Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (Norways main airport) situated just north of Oslo, the capital of Norway. ... An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. ...

Aircraft carriers

Main article: Aircraft Carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship that functions as a floating airport for military aircraft. Aircraft carriers allow a naval force to project air power great distances without having to depend on local bases for land-based aircraft. After their development in World War II, aircraft carriers rapidly replaced the battleship as the centrepiece of a modern fleet. Unescorted carriers are considered vulnerable to missile or submarine attacks and therefore travel as part of a carrier battle group that includes a wide array of other ships with specific functions. An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. ... Diagrams of first and third rate warships, England, 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... This article is becoming very long. ... HMS Victory in 1884. ... A missile (CE pronunciation: ; AmE: ) is, in general, a projectile—that is, something thrown or otherwise propelled. ... German UC-1 class World War I submarine A model of Gunter Priens Unterseeboot 47 (U-47), German WWII Type VII diesel-electric hunter-killer (SSK) submarine Inside of the Argonaute, showing the typical obstructed, tiny space of a post-WWII diesel attack submarine. ...

Airports in entertainment

Airports have occasionally played major roles in motion pictures and television shows due to being transportation hubs, but also because of their unique characteristics. One such example of this is the movie The Terminal, a film about a man who becomes permanently grounded in an airport terminal and must survive only on the food and shelter provided by the airport. If nothing else, this movie demonstrates the sustaining properties of airport terminals. Movies such as Airplane!, Airport, Die Hard II, Jackie Brown, Get Shorty, and The Langoliers also revolve around the unique culture of the major city airports and also the television series Lost. Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... For other uses of the word terminal, see Terminal (disambiguation). ... Airplane! is an American comedy film, first released on June 27, 1980, produced and directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, and starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lorna Patterson. ... Die Hard 2: Die Harder, the second Die Hard movie, was released on Wednesday, July 4, 1990 and starred Bruce Willis as cop John McClane. ... Tarantinos trademark trunk shot. ... European book cover Get Shorty is a novel by American novelist Elmore Leonard, first published in 1990, and a movie adaptation of the same name, released in 1995. ... The Langoliers is one of four short stories published in the Stephen King book Four Past Midnight. ... Look up lost in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Airport directories

Each national aviation authority has its own system for pilots to be able to keep track of information about airports in their country.

• The United States uses the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), seven volumes that contain information such as elevation, airport lighting, runway information, communications, hours of operation, nearby NAVAIDs and much more.
• In Canada, a single publication, the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) provides equivalent information.

• The most comprehensive, consumer/business directory of commercial airports in the world (primarily for airports as businesses, rather than for pilots) is organized by the trade group Airports Council International.

The Airport/Facility Directory (abbreviated A/FD), in the U.S., is a pilot’s manual that provides comprehensive information on airports, large and small, and other aviation facilities and procedures. ... The Canada Flight Supplement with its current blue cover since Nav Canada took over publication. ... Airports Council International (ACI) is the leading international trade group of the worlds commercial aviation industry, based in Geneva, Switzerland. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Airport

• Domestic airport
• Regional airport
• International airport
• List of airports
• Heliport
• World's busiest airport
• List of aviation topics
• NIMBY
• Port
• Megaproject

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... A Domestic airport is an airport which handles only domestic flights or flights within the same country. ... A regional airport is an airport serving traffic within a relatively small geographical area. ... An International airport is an airport where flights from other countries land and/or take off. ... By IATA code: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z By ICAO code: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R... The cachet of being known as the Worlds busiest airport is fiercely fought over by the owners of the worlds largest airports. ... 0–9 $100 hamburger A Accidents and incidents in aviation ADF Aerobatics Aerodynamics Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Aeronautics Aileron Airband Aircraft Aircraft engine controls Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Airfield Airfield traffic zone (ATZ, and MATZ) Airfoil Airline Transport Pilot License Air navigation Airport Airship Airspace classes... NIMBY (an initialism for Not In My Back Yard) is a pejorative acronym for the phenomenon in which residents oppose a development as being inappropriate for their local area. ... Seaport, a painting by Claude Lorrain, 1638 The Port of Wellington at night. ... Definition of Megaproject Megaprojects (sometimes also spelled mega projects) are very large investment projects. ...

External links

• AirNav.com - complete list of U.S. airports, with detailed airport information
• eFAD - electronic airport directory (A/FD)
• fboweb.com - graphical airport finder via Google Maps
• www.azworldairports.com Airport listings worldwide
• ATCSCC Real-time Airport Status page - shows airport delay times for major U.S. airports (FAA)
• Department for Transport (United Kingdom)
• History of Aircraft Landing Aids
• Airport satellite images
• SkyVector.com - Airspace and Airport information on Aeronautical Charts
• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) Official Website