General Airport Layout

The general layout of an airport consists of three (3) areas generally referred to in the
industry as Airside,Landside, and Terminal. While the terminal area generally lies on
the boundary of the airside and landside (as may other buildings), due to the nature
of its use and the special requirements that apply to airport terminals, it is best
treated for security purposes as a distinct area.

Each major area of the airport (airside, landside, terminal) has its own special
requirements. Airside/landside requirements and operational parameters should be
carefully considered when planning and designing a new airport or facility. The
requirements, barrier and boundary measures that delineate airside from landside,
may have major effects on the facilitys efficiency, employee and public accessibility,
and overall aesthetics.

Maintaining the integrity of airside/landside boundaries plays a critical role in

reducing unauthorized access to, attacks on, or the introduction of dangerous
devices aboard, passenger aircraft. Effective airside security relies heavily on the
integrated application of physical barriers, identification and access control systems,
surveillance or detection equipment, the implementation of security procedures,
and efficient use of resources.
Airside
The airside of an airport is the movement area of an airport, adjacent terrain and
buildings or portions there of, access to which is controlled.
Typically, the airside is beyond the security screening stations and restricting perimeters
(fencing, walls or other boundaries) and includes runways, taxiways, aprons, aircraft
parking and staging areas and most facilities which service and maintain aircraft. For
operational, geographic, safety, or security reasons, other facilities such as tenant and
cargo facilities may be located within the airside as well.

1) Dangerous or hazardous areas that could affect the safety or security of a parked or
moving aircraft;
2) Concealed/overgrown areas that could hide persons or objects that might endanger
aircraft or critical airport systems;
3) Adjacent facilities having their own security concerns and provisions, e.g., correctional,
military or other facilities that could affect or be affected by the proximity of airside
operations;
4) Natural features, large metal structures/buildings or electronics facilities that might
affect ground or aircraft communications or navigational systems;
5) Adjacent schools, hotels, parks or community facilities that might affect or be affected
by the proximity of aircraft and the related safety and security concerns.
 Landside
Excluding terminals, which are treated separately below, the landside of an airport
is that area of an airport and buildings to which both traveling passengers and the
non-traveling public have unrestricted access.
Typically, the landside facilities include patron and other public parking areas,
public access roadways,rental car facilities, taxi and ground transportation staging
areas, and any on-airport hotel facilities.
Since the landside includes all non-airside areas (other than the terminal(s), its
location is determined bythe airside and perimeter boundary.
Since the landside is not directly affected by the operation of aircraft, it generally
has less stringent security requirements than the airside. However, some clear
area and communication requirements may still affect landside design and layout,
such as an airside fence/boundary, aircraft approach glide slopes, communications
and navigational equipment locations and non-interference areas, and heightened
security in the terminal area
 Terminal
An airport terminal is a building or buildings designed to accommodate
the enplaning and deplaning activities of aircraft operator passengers.
Larger airports or those with general aviation areas often have more
than one terminal. For purposes of this document, the term terminal
typically refers to that main building or group of buildings where the
boarding of public, scheduled commercial aircraft occurs or from which
persons who have passed through a security screening process will
proceed to boarding facilities located elsewhere on the airside.
When considering passenger and baggage screening security provisions,
it is important for planners and designers to distinguish the commercial
terminal from the general aviation terminal where charter and private
passenger activity typically occur. However, it is also important to note
that security requirements may affect charter and private aviation as
well as scheduled commercial aviation.
Planners and designers are encouraged to discuss security
considerations with the FSD when developing charter or private aviation
facilities as well as when developing facilities intended for use by
scheduled commercial air carriers or aircraft operators. .
The roadways that surround airport terminals are designed to allow convenient
passenger access.
Cargo Screening Checklist:
Access points addressed
Access points for employees/ contractors
Space for additional technology, staffing requirements
Sorting areas, separate from acceptance areas Separation and Security
of cargo prior to and post inspection
Accessibility of building to commercial entities/ employees
Perimeter needs
Facilities for employees
Postal facility inclusion
Emergency response factors
Inclusion of specialized personnel in determining security concerns