An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for a plane to take off and to land or a helipad, and often includes adjacent utility buildings such as control towers, hangars and terminals, to maintain and monitor aircraft.
In the aerospace context, an airport is a location where aircrafts take off and land, and where passengers and cargo are loaded and unloaded. It typically includes one or more runways, taxiways, and aprons, as well as various facilities such as terminal buildings, hangars, and maintenance facilities.
Examples of airports in the aerospace context include:
- Commercial airports: These are airports that are open to the public and where commercial airlines operate scheduled passenger and cargo flights. Examples include John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, Heathrow Airport in London, and Narita International Airport in Tokyo.
- Military airports: These are airports that are used by military forces for training, operations, and logistics. Examples include Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, which serves as the primary base for the President of the United States, and Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, which is used for training fighter pilots.
- General aviation airports: These are airports that are used for private, non-commercial aviation, such as business flights, flying clubs, and medical evacuation. Examples include Santa Monica Airport in California, and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
Airports play a critical role in the aerospace industry by providing infrastructure and services needed for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods by air. They are also subject to regulations, safety standards and security measures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, and aircraft operations.