AIRPORT

ENGINEERING

12/4/2014 1
Important Agencies
⚫ ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization
⚫ FAA - Federal Aviation Administration
⚫ AAI – Airport Authority of India

12/4/2014 2
Classification of Airports
❑ Based on take-off and landing
⚫ Conventional Take-off and Landing Airport
Runway length > 1500 m
⚫ Reduced Take-off and Landing Airport
Runway length - 1000 to 1500 m
⚫ Short Take-off and Landing Airport
Runway length - 500 to 1000 m
⚫ Vertical Take-off and Landing Airport
Operational area – 25 to 50 sq m

12/4/2014 3
Classification of Airports
❑ ICAO Classification- based on runway length
ICAO CODE NO: RUNWAY LENGTH

1 < 800 m

2 800 – 1200 m

3 1200- 1800 m

4 >1800 m

12/4/2014 4
Classification of Airports
❑ ICAO Classification- based on wingspan and outer
main gear span
ICAO CODE WING SPAN OUTER MAIN
GEAR SPAN
A upto 15 m upto 0.5 m

B 15 – 24 m 0.5 – 6 m

C 24 – 36 m 6–9m

D 36 – 52 m 9 – 14 m

E 52 – 65 m 9- 14 m

12/4/2014 5
Classification of Airports
❑ FAA Classification- based on aircraft approach
speed in knots (1 knot = 1.9 km/hr)
APPROACH APPROACH SPEED
CATEGORY (knots)
A < 91

B 91 - 120

C 121 - 140

D 141 - 165

E >165

12/4/2014 6
Classification of Airports
❑ Based on function
⚫ Civil Aviation
International
Domestic
⚫ Military- Mainly for strategic purposes. Can be used
for civilian operations also

12/4/2014 7
Airports in India
⚫ International hubs – world class facilities
⚫ Regional hubs – Operational base for regional
airlines. Limited international traffic
⚫ Domestic
Model
Operational – can be operated any time without any
modification
Non operational – cannot be operated without some
improvements being made

12/4/2014 8
Airports in India
⚫ Custom airports- International tourist potential
⚫ Civil enclaves in defence establishments
⚫ Air-force aerodromes

12/4/2014 9
Components of Airport
1. Runway
2. Taxiway
3. Apron
4. Terminal building
5. Control tower
6. Hanger
7. Parking

10
Components of Airport
Runway
Runway is a paved land strip on which landing and
takeoff operations of aircrafts takes place. It is in
leveled position without any obstructions on it

Taxiway
Taxiway is path which connects each end of the
runway with terminal area, apron, hanger etc.

11
Components of Airport
Apron
Apron is a place which is used as parking place for
aircrafts. It is also used for loading and unloading
of aircrafts. Apron is generally paved and is located
in front of terminal building or adjacent to hanger

Terminal Building
Terminal building is a place where airport
administration facilities takes place. In this
building, pre-journey and post journey checking’s of
passengers takes place.

12
Components of Airport
Control Tower
The control tower is a place where aircrafts under a
particular zone is controlled whether they are in land or
in air.
Hanger
Hanger is a place where repairing and servicing of
aircrafts is done. It is constructed in the form of large
shed using steel trusses and frames.
Parking
This is a place provided for parking the vehicles of
airport staff or passengers which is outside the
terminal building or sometimes under the ground of
terminal building.

13
Aircraft Characteristics which affect
Planning & Design of Airports
⚫ Type of propulsion
▪ Piston engine – By movement of piston a torque is
generated which can be used for movement of
aircraft – 500 km/hr – low altitudes
▪ Jet engine – A jet at back with high thrust is used
for forward movement – 800 – 2400km /hr – low –
high altitudes
▪ Rocket engine – For trans-atmospheric conditions –
4600 km/hr – outside atmosphere

12/4/2014 14
Aircraft Characteristics

⚫ Size of aircraft(refer fig) involves important

dimensions like (i)Wing span (ii)Fuselage length
(iii)Height (iv)Distance between main gears(gear
tread) (v)Wheel base (vi)Tail width etc
⚫ Wing span – decides width of taxiway, size of aprons,
hangars etc
⚫ Length of aircraft - decides widening of taxiways on curves,
width of exit taxiway, size of aprons etc
⚫ Height – decides height of hangar gate
⚫ Gear tread and wheel base – affect minimum turning radius
of aircraft

12/4/2014 15
12/4/2014 16
Aircraft Characteristics
⚫ Minimum circling radius
⚫ A certain minimum radius in space required for the
aircraft to take smooth turn
⚫ Minimum turning radius
⚫ It is necessary to know the minimum turning
radius of an aircraft to decide the radius of taxi
ways and to ascertain in its position in the landing
aprons and hangars.

12/4/2014 17
Aircraft Characteristics
⚫ Speed of aircraft
⚫ Airspeed – Speed of aircraft in air relative to the
medium (air)
⚫ Ground speed – Speed of aircraft relative to ground
⚫ Ground speed = Air speed + Wind speed
⚫ Capacity of aircraft
⚫ Space inside the aircraft for passengers, baggage,
cargo, fuel etc
⚫ Helps in deciding the facilities to be provided in the
terminal building for processing of passengers, baggage
and cargo

12/4/2014 18
Aircraft Characteristics
⚫ Aircraft weight and wheel configuration
⚫ Length of runway depends upon weight of aircraft
during landing and take off
⚫ Runway and taxiway pavement thickness also depend
upon gross weight of aircraft and wheel configuration
⚫ Jet blast
⚫ Aircrafts eject hot exhaust gases at relatively high
velocities
⚫ These gases damage the bituminous pavements
⚫ Also they may be injurious to the passengers
⚫ Blast fences need to be installed to prevent jet blast

12/4/2014 19
Aircraft Characteristics
⚫ Fuel spillage- Harmful to bituminous pavements
⚫ Noise – Runway should be so oriented that there
is no urban development in the area under the
approach flight path of the aircraft

12/4/2014 20
* 1
* 2
Airport Planning
⚫ Three aspects to be kept in mind in planning
of airports

1. Adequate access to the metropolitan area

2. Sufficient airspace for access to air
3. Sufficient land for carrying out ground
operations

* 3
REGIONAL PLANNING
⚫ Aims at the formation of an effective network of airports
on a national basis.
⚫ It avoids creation of separate airports by individual
jurisdiction. If airports located in close vicinity & not
properly coordinated, total capacity & efficacy gets
reduced.

Objectives:
⚫ Enables to implement the zoning laws
⚫ Efficiency of the airports in handling the air traffic is
greatly increased.
⚫ Proper co-ordination of the airports.
⚫ Airports are not closely spaced. * 4
REGIONAL PLANNING
⚫Regional plan prepared by Civil Aviation
Organisation of the Central Govt. Contains
following particulars:
⚫ Approximate locations of the airports in national
map.
⚫ Classification of airports.
⚫ Location of the air strips.
⚫ Routes of air travel.

* 5
REGIONAL PLANNING
⚫Data to be collected for making the airport
regional planning more effective:
⚫ Population
⚫ Topographical features
⚫ Existing airports
⚫ Air traffic

* 6
 Master Planning
It refers to the planner’s idealized concept of the
form and structure of ultimate development of an
airport. Federal Administration Aviation (FAA)
suggests 4 phases.
1. Airport Requirements - existing/anticipated
facilities.
2. Site Selection – availability of utilities, land costs
3. Airport Plans-Plans of layout, land use, terminal
area, airport access
4. Financial Plan-Schedules, estimates, economic &
financial feasibility analysis.

* 7
Development of New Airport

⚫ Steps involved in development of new

airport
1. Traffic forecast
2. Determination of the capacity of existing
airport
3. Improvement of airport capacity
4. Planning of a new airport

* 8
 Step 1 Traffic Forecast
⚫ Following data is to be collected for traffic
forecast
⚫ Area to be served
⚫ Origin & destination of the residents and
non-residents of the area
⚫ Population growth in the area
⚫ Economic character of the area

* 9
 Step 2 Determination of Capacity of
Existing Airport
⚫ Suitability of approaches for the type of aircrafts
⚫ Capacity of runways & taxiways to handle the peak
hour traffic
⚫ Adequacy of terminal building for handling
passengers and cargo
⚫ Adequacy of aprons & serving facilities

* 10
Step 3 Improvement of Existing Airport
Capacity
⚫ Runway extension, new or parallel runway and
high speed exit taxiways.
⚫ Rearranging or increasing the size of terminal
building and/or loading apron.
⚫ Improving the traffic control devices.

* 11
Step 4- Proposing New Airport
⚫ In spite of all the steps listed earlier, if it is
worked out that present airport cannot handle the
anticipated air traffic, then the only solution is to
go for a new airport

* 12
 Airport Site Selection
1. Regional plan
2. Airport use
3. Proximity to other airports
4. Ground accessibility
5. Topography
6. Obstructions
7. Visibility
8. Wind
9. Noise Nuisance
10. Grading, drainage and soil characteristics
11. Future development
12. Availability of utilities from town
13. Economic considerations.
* 13
Airport Site Selection
⚫ Regional plan
✔ Airport site should fit well in the regional plan
⚫ Airport use
✔ Whether civil or military.
✔ Provide natural protection from air raids
⚫ Proximity to other airports
✔ Operations in one airport should not interfere with the
movement of aircraft at another airport
⚫ Ground accessibility
✔ Airport should be readily accessible by people in a
short time
⚫ Topography
✔ Raised ground like a hill top is usually considered as an
ideal site for an airport
* 14
Airport Site Selection
⚫ Obstructions
✔ Obstruction should be cleared, which will interfere
with the landing and taking off operations of aircrafts
⚫ Visibility
✔ Fog, haze and smoke reduces the visibility and poor
visibility lowers the traffic capacity of an airport. Site
should be free from visibility reducing conditions
⚫ Wind
✔ Runway is so oriented that landing and take off is done
by heading into the wind
⚫ Noise Nuisance
✔ Site should be away from areas of industrial or
residential development to avoid noise nuisance

* 15
Airport Site Selection
⚫ Grading Drainage And Soil Characteristics
✔ Cost can be reduced by selecting site with favorable soil
characteristics
✔ Desirable soil type – Pervious material like gravel, sand or
decomposed granite with a suitable natural binder
✔ High water table should be avoided
✔ Soil that becomes plastic when wet is not recommended
⚫ Future Development
✔ More no of runway have to be provided for future traffic
✔ More facilities for processing of passengers, baggage, carge
and shelter for aircraft
✔ Large area should be acquired initially
✔ Zoning laws will be implemented to prevent growth of
undesirable structures in the area

* 16
Airport Site Selection
⚫ Availability of utilities
✔ Water, electricity , telephone, etc must to be
provided
⚫ Economy of construction
✔ Cost estimates should be prepared for entire
airport construction considering both initial and
ultimate stages
✔ Amongst various alternate sites the one which is
most economical should be selected

* 17
 AIRPORT LAYOUT

11/3/2014 1
11/3/2014 2
Layout of Airport

⚫ Terminal Building
⚫ Traffic Control Tower
⚫ Runways, Taxiways
⚫ Aprons
⚫ Hangars
⚫ Parking areas for passenger vehicles

11/3/2014 3
Terminal Area
⦿ Facilities to be provided
⚫ Passenger/baggage handling counters
⚫ Baggage claim section
⚫ Enquiry counter
⚫ Waiting lounges
⚫ Toilet facilities
⚫ Restaurants/bars
⚫ First aid
⚫ Office space for airport staff
⚫ Weather bureau
⚫ Customs Control
⚫ Control tower

11/3/2014 4
 TERMINAL AREA-GENERAL
CONCEPTS
• Terminal area includes terminal and
operational buildings, vehicle parking and
aircraft service hangars.
• Serves as focal point for activities on the
airport.
• The airport entrance or access road from
a highway must be located in such a way to
accommodate future development.

11/3/2014 5
 BUILDING FUNCTIONS
⦿ In a commercial airport, buildings can be
categorized into – Terminal and Operational.
Terminal building:
Mainly used for passengers, airline and
administration facilities.
Offers the enplaning passengers a convenient
and direct access from vehicle parking area to
booking room, waiting room & finally to apron.
Deplaning passengers are provided a direct
route from aircrafts to baggage claim counter
and then to vehicle platform.
11/3/2014 6
Operational area:
Control tower, weather bureau and other
government services related to aviation
comes under operational category.
Mostly, terminal building will itself fulfil
the function of operational building also.

11/3/2014 7
Blast Fences
⦿ Structures used to deflect and dissipate
the energy of high velocity jet exhaust

Hangars
⦿ Enclosure for servicing, overhauling and
doing repairs of aircrafts
⦿ Constructed of steel frames and covered
with GI sheets
⦿ Size of hangar depends on size of
aircraft and its turning radius

11/3/2014 8
 Airport Layout
•Characteristics of a well planned airport
layout
◦ Operations like landing, taxiing, take off are
carried out smoothly
◦ Future expansion is easily permitted
◦ Runway length and approaches are safe
◦ Taxiway distances b/w the loading apron and
runway ends are minimum.

11/3/2014 9
Typical Airport Layouts

11/3/2014 10
Typical Airport Layouts

11/3/2014 11
Typical Airport Layouts

11/3/2014 12
Typical Airport Layouts

11/3/2014 13
Typical Airport Layouts

11/3/2014 14