Finding Airports: Location Factors And Considerations

Determining an airport's location can be done in several ways, depending on the tools available and the purpose of the search. For pilots, knowing an airport's location is crucial for navigation, especially when approaching an unfamiliar airport. Digital tools like ForeFlight Mobile can help identify the nearest airport by using features such as the Nearest button on the Airports page or by touching and holding the map in Maps view. Additionally, pilots can use heading indicators, gyro compasses, or HSIs to orient themselves relative to the runway.

For those on the ground, locating an airport can be as simple as using a search engine or a mobile application. For example, searching for an airport on Google will often yield its location, which can then be viewed on Google Maps. Alternatively, mobile applications like Flightradar24 and FlightAware can provide real-time flight path information, including speed and altitude data, for specific flights.

When selecting a site for a new airport, the process becomes more complex. A balance must be struck between aeronautical and air-transport requirements and the environmental impact of the airport. Factors such as flat terrain, proximity to population centres, environmental considerations, and ground transportation access play crucial roles in the site selection process, which can take many months or even years.

Environmental impact

When determining an airport location, a balance must be achieved between aeronautical and air-transport requirements and the impact of the airport on its environment.

Airports of all sizes have an environmental impact, both locally and globally. Aircraft, ground vehicles, and power usage in buildings all contribute to climate change and local air quality issues. Aircraft noise is also a significant concern for local residents. Airports must comply with a range of environmental legislation or face prosecution.

Air Pollution

Aircraft activity, particularly from turbine engines, has been shown to adversely impact air quality near airports. Ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) is often elevated in and around airports, with levels of other harmful pollutants such as black carbon, criteria pollutants, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons also increased. These emissions can have significant health impacts on local residents, including increased rates of premature death, pre-term births, decreased lung function, oxidative DNA damage, and childhood leukemia.

Noise Pollution

Aircraft noise can significantly impact the surrounding population, and airports should be located far enough away from urban centres to minimise these effects.

Wildlife and Habitat Impact

Airports should also consider their potential to damage local wildlife, habitats, and watercourses. This includes assessing the presence of endangered species or significant cultural sites.

Land Use

The construction of an airport can result in undesirable changes in land use, and the relocation of populations. Airports require significant amounts of land, with larger, more modern facilities needing multiple runways and extensive terminal and parking areas.

Water Pollution

Airport operations can also impact groundwater and surface water quality, particularly through de-icing and fuel handling activities.

Energy Use

The power usage of airport buildings and ground vehicles can contribute to climate change and air quality issues.

Transport Links

The development of an airport can also impact regional transport planning and infrastructure. Airports should be located with access to adequate transport links to encourage the use of public transport and reduce local traffic congestion.

Waste Management

Finally, waste generated by airport operations, including aircraft waste and terminal waste, should be managed effectively with high recycling and reuse rates.

Proximity to population centres

When determining an airport location, one of the most important factors to consider is its proximity to population centres. Airports must be situated close enough to population centres to be considered reasonably accessible to their users. However, environmental considerations dictate that airports should also be far enough away from urban centres to minimise noise and other negative impacts on the population.

From a practical standpoint, an airport should be located within a reasonable distance from population centres to ensure convenient access for passengers. This may involve evaluating the distance to the nearest city or town, as well as considering the regional highway infrastructure and public transport facilities. For example, the median distance from a main airport to the city it serves is about 20 km, with 50 out of 100 cities within 20 km of their main airports. Additionally, the availability of land for parking and the development costs of the surrounding area must be taken into account.

On the other hand, environmental concerns play a crucial role in determining airport locations. Airports should be positioned at a distance from urban centres to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on the neighbouring population. This delicate balance between accessibility and environmental sustainability is a key consideration when selecting an airport site.

Furthermore, the potential impact on areas of natural beauty or cultural significance must be considered. Airports should avoid encroaching on environmentally sensitive areas and disrupting local ecosystems. This includes assessing the potential effects on flora and fauna, pollution through chemical runoff, and the presence of endangered species or cultural sites.

In summary, determining an airport's proximity to population centres involves a careful evaluation of accessibility and environmental impact. The selected location should provide convenient access for passengers while minimising negative consequences for the surrounding population and environment. This complex decision-making process aims to strike a balance between aeronautical, air-transport, and environmental requirements.

Ground access

When determining an airport location, ground access is a crucial factor. Airports should be situated close enough to population centres to be considered reasonably accessible to their users. However, they should also be far enough away from urban areas to minimise noise and other negative impacts on the surrounding population.

The site selection process involves evaluating the distance from population centres, taking into account the regional highway infrastructure and public transport facilities, including railways. The availability of land for parking is also a consideration.

The primary goal of an airport terminal is to provide passengers and cargo with access to air transportation and act as a vital link between the airside and landside of the airport. The terminal area includes passenger and cargo terminal buildings, aircraft parking, loading and unloading areas, service areas, automobile parking, and public transit stations.

The layout and configuration of the airport terminal play a significant role in ground access. Various concepts have been developed over the years to optimise the movement of crew, passengers, and cargo. These include the unit terminal concept, multiple-unit terminal concept, gate arrival concept, linear terminal concept, pier finger terminal, pier satellite terminals, remote satellite terminals, mobile lounge or transporter concept, and hybrid terminal geometries.

The airside-landside concept is one of the most significant terminal area concepts, emphasising the physical separation between facilities that handle passengers and ground vehicles and those dedicated to aircraft handling. This concept relies on automated pedestrian movement systems to efficiently shuttle passengers between the two sets of facilities.

Operational capability

When determining a suitable location for an airport, the operational capability of the site must be assessed. This includes evaluating the site's exposure to certain weather conditions, such as wind, snow, ice, fog, and low visibility. It is crucial to consider any obstructions to air navigation around the airport, especially on the approach and takeoff paths. The location's proximity to air-traffic-controlled airspace is also a significant factor.

Another key aspect is the capacity of the land to accommodate the required configuration of runways and other facilities. The land should be flat or have a gentle undulation to comply with restrictions on maximum allowable slopes for runway construction, which are determined by aircraft performance during landing and takeoff.

The ground access to the airport is another factor to consider. This includes evaluating the distance from population centres, the regional highway infrastructure, the availability of public transport (including railways), and the availability of land for parking. Development costs are also estimated, taking into account factors such as terrain, soil and rock conditions, drainage requirements, and local land values.

Airfield layout

The layout and configuration of an airfield are determined by several factors, including the number of runways, their orientation, the shape of the available site, and constraints on the ground and in the air. The location and orientation of runways are governed by the need to avoid obstacles, especially during landing and takeoff procedures. For large airports, obstacles to air navigation must be considered up to about 15 km (10 miles) from the runways.

The operational capacity of an airport is determined by the number of runways available for use simultaneously. Most airports have a single runway. Where crosswinds would be an issue for a significant proportion of operational time, a two-runway configuration is necessary, usually consisting of a main runway and an auxiliary crosswind runway. Depending on the site's shape and available land, the crosswind facility can take on a crossed or an open/closed V layout.

Under visual flight rules (VFR), operational capacity increases from crossed runways to the closed V and open V configurations. However, under instrument flight rules (IFR), crosswind runways cannot be used simultaneously with main runways, reducing the capacity of these configurations to that of a single runway. An increase in operational capacity under VFR can be achieved with close parallel runway configurations.

The layout of larger and more complex airports is influenced by their individual requirements, such as the need to accommodate more passengers and cargo. These airports typically require multiple extended runways, extensive terminal apron areas, and large parking and landside access road areas.

Frequently asked questions