BASIC DEFINITIONS - Air transportation:

A civil engineer dealing with airport engineering shall have to know the precise meaning of some terms. These are defined below :

Airfield/Airport

The area of land which contains the facilities needed for the operation of aircraft.

Aerodrome

The area which has facilities like buildings, installations and equipment needed for the operation of aircraft, passengers and goods.

Apron

The area intended to accommodate standing aircraft for the purpose of loading or unloading of passengers and cargo, refuelling and minor maintenance.

Taxiway

A path over which an aircraft may taxi to and from the runway and apron.

Runway

The path over which the aircraft moves when taking off or landing.

Operation Readiness Platform

The area next to the runway end intended for the aircraft to be parked in a state of readiness for taking off.

Holding Apron (Run-up Area)

The portion near the ends of runway for engine run-ups and for aircraft waiting to take off.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower

A tower from where the arrival and departure of aircraft is controlled, and which houses the radar.

Terminal Area

The area that houses the terminal buildings, facilities for loading and unloading of passengers and cargo, apron, vehicle parking and hangars.

Terminal Building

The building which contains facilities for airline operations, handling passengers, customs and immigration and security.

Hangar

A shed for accommodating aircraft for repairs and maintenance.

Shoulders

The area adjacent to a runway intended as a safety measure for aircraft running off the pavement.

Gate

The location from where passengers depart from the terminal building to board the aircraft.

Arrival/ Departure Hall

The hall where passengers enter the terminal building after arrival or await the departure of aircraft.

Security Check Zone

The area where passengers undergo security checks.

Aerobridge

A bridge spanning the terminal building and the entrance door of an aircraft for facilitating quick embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.

STOL

Short take-off and landing, containing short runways.

VASI

Visual Approach Slope Indicator, which is an aid to define the glide path.

Approach Area (Approach Zone)

An area extending outwards from each end of the runway within which no natural or man-made object should project above a safe angle of ascent or descent of an aircraft.