AIRSIDE

Definition

AIRSIDE is an area on the airport surface

intended to be used for Aircraft
Operations.

AIRSIDE SERVICES
• Facilities associated with the movement of
the airplanes on the airports surface.
Airside Facilities

RUNWAY
NAVIGATIONAL
AIDS
AIRSIDE TAXIWAY
FACILITIES
WEATHER
DETECTOR
APRON
AIRSIDE
SIGNAGE
Runway
Runway

A defined rectangular area on a land

of aerodrome prepared for the
landing and take-off of aircraft.
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Runway Markings
• Runway Threshold: Helps identify the beginning of
the runway that is available for landing.
• Runway Centerline Marking: Provides alignment
guidance during takeoff and landings.
• Runway Touchdown Zone Markers: Identify the
touchdown zone for landing operations

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Airport with the most number
of runways all over the world
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
 O’Hare International Airport –
Chicago, Illinois, United States
 Munich Airport:
Two Parallel Runways
Runways Length
• Runway lengths depend on the size of aircraft
to operate and the weather conditions.
• The bigger the aircraft the longer the runway
(take-off and landing distances)
• The hotter the weather the longer the runway
• **The longest public-use runway in the world is at Qamdo
Bangda Airport in China. It has a length of 5,500 m (18,045
ft).
• **The world’s widest paved runway is at Ulyanovsk
Vostochny Airport in Russia and is 105 m (344 ft) wide.
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Runways Length

• For aircraft weights below approximately

90,718 kg, a runway length ~ 1,829 m
• Larger aircraft (Boeing 747, 767, 777, and
787; Airbus A300, A330, A340, A350, and
A380; McDonnell Douglas DC-10 or MD-11;
and the Lockheed L1011) will usually require
runway length at least 2,438 m.

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Importance of Lighting

Lighting systems are important for a/c landing Lighting systems from the cockpit window
during night time. during bad weather.
Poor visibility is mainly due to heavy
snowfall
Runway Lighting
Lighting systems from the cockpit window

Runway Center line

Runway Edge Light System :
Lighting: •White
•White •Alternate white and
•Turn Yellow in red in last 610 m
last 610m •Red in last 310m

Why does the lighting colour

change?
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Runway Pavements

• The surface sections of roads and runways are

known as “pavements”.

• To serve its purpose, a pavement must have

adequate load-carrying capability, good ride
ability and must allow safe operation of
aircraft.
Concrete Pavement
• Concrete surfaces from 23 to
40 cm (9 to 16 inches) thick.
• Can remain useful for 20 to 40
years.
• Commonly used at large
airports.
• It is constructed by aligning a
series of concrete slabs
connected by joins,
Asphalt Pavement
• Asphalt surfaces are from 5 to
10 cm (2 to 4 inches) thick.
• Can remain useful between
15 to 20 years.
• Commonly used at most
smaller airports.
• Pavements are less expensive
to construct.
Taxiway
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 Taxiway

• Strip for aircrafts to move slowly (taxi)

between the runway and apron,
runway and runway & apron and
apron. 18
Taxiway
• Generally, width smaller than runway
• Lightings for night flying
• Can be one or multiple in bigger airport.
• Taxiways should be provided to permit the safe
surface movement of aircraft.

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Taxiway Types

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Taxiway Types
There are four types of taxiways:
• Parallel taxiways: aligned parallel next to runway
• Entrance taxiways: perpendicular to the runway &
located near the departure end of runways.
• High-speed taxiways: to allow aircraft quickly free-up
the runway. (Also known as Rapid Exit) , located at
various points along the runway to allow landing
aircraft to efficiently exit the runway after landing.
• By-pass taxiways: located near apron, to allow aircraft
by-pass other aircraft at aircraft parking area.
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Taxiway Identification

Taxiways can be identified through:

• Taxiway markings (centerline in yellow color,)
• Taxiway signs (have location sign)
• Taxiway lightings (centerline light in green color,
edge light in blue color)
• Taxiway size and pavement strength (width smaller
than runway, pavement thickness less than runway)

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Taxiway Lighting

Taxiway
centre line:
green
Taxiway edge
lights: blue
Taxiway Lighting

• Many airports are equipped with taxiway lighting

to facilitate the movement of aircraft on the
airfield at night or in poor visibility conditions.
• Taxiway lighting includes taxiway edge lights,
taxiway centerlines lights.
Taxiway Markings
• Taxiway Centerline : single continuous
yellow line .
• All taxiways should have centerline
markings.
•

Taxiway
Centerline
What The Importance of RWY/TWY
Markings?
• To provide information that is useful to a pilot during
takeoff, landing, and taxiing.
• To enhance safety and improve efficiency: Same airport
markings for all airports make pilots became familiar.
APRON
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APRON

• An area to accommodate aircraft for

purposes of parking , loading or unloading
passengers, mail or cargo, fueling, or
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maintenance.
Apron

• Also known as RAMP

• Apron sizes depend on the aircrafts handled
by the airport.
• The bigger the airport handling capacity the
bigger the apron
• Provide FBO services
• Fitted with underground refueling system
• Fitted with water supply system
• Fitted with sewer disposal system 29
Airside Signage
Signage

• Airside guidance signs provide direction and

information to taxiing aircraft and any
vehicles and assist in safe movement of
aircraft.
Importance of the Signs

• To show mandatory instructions, information on a specific

location or destination in the aerodrome.
• Characteristics of signs:
• Clear
• Rectangular
• Different colors for each category
• Illuminated (light up)
 guidance signs
Runway distance remaining signs:
Landing distance remaining
Destination signs: To show direction to the
specific destinations (cargo areas,
military areas, international areas, etc.)

Location signs:
To identify aircraft location.

Direction signs: To indicate the intersection

for aircraft turning.

Mandatory signs:
To indicate that aircraft ARE NOT ALLOWED to
enter (runway entrance & critical areas)
Weather Information
Airport WeatherAutomated
Stations
Sensor

• Automated Weather • Automated Surface

Observing Systems (AWOS) Observing Systems (ASOS)
• Every 1 hour
• Every 20 minutes
• Observe weather conditions change rapidly.
• Observes temperature, • Current weather, icing, lightning,, air
pressure.
wind speed & direction,
visibility, cloud coverage.
• Can’t observe sudden
weather change.
Wind Indicators

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 What are the functions
of Weather Detector?
• To prevent aircraft accidents.
• To avoid flight delay or cancellations.
• To make management of the air routes more
efficient
• To improve the safety of the aircraft in the air.

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Navigational Aid Systems
Navigational Aid Systems
There are a number of navigational aids available in
Airports.
• A Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI): helps pilots fly a
perfect approach for landing once they have found the
airport.
• VHF Omni directional range (VOR) to help pilots find the
direction to the airport.
• Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) to determine the
distance to the airport.
• Instrument Landing System (ILS) to find the runway and fly
the correct approach, even if they cannot see the ground.
A Visual Approach Slope Indicator
(VASI):

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 Navigational Aids

Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Range

Station (VOR) Instrument Landing System(ILS)