If you are planning to travel or traveling for the first time by air, you must be concerned about special airport systems. It is normal, and we’re fortunate enough to be breathing in a time when traveling has become so easy, unlike a few decades ago.
Traveling via airplane is the easiest and fastest way to reach any destination other than sea or road. Whether you are traveling for the first time or are a frequent traveler, there are some signs that we can see at airports.
It is simple to understand those messages; however, knowing how the airport systems and messages work makes you much more comfortable. Here, we will discuss airport systems most simply and easily.
The Main Functions Of An Airport
All of the procedures carried out at an airport are to ensure your journey goes as smoothly as possible are airport functions or operations. It covers customer service at airports, flying, gateway operators, etc.
When talking about the main functions of an airport, we can divide them into four functions listed below.
1. Aircraft Management
Aircraft operations are those operations or functions that are performed in/for the airplane. It may include the management of safety and security systems or any general operation related to food or beverage management for the passengers.
In simple words, conducting runway and taxiway inspections, organizing responses to airside incidents, accidents, and emergencies, allocating aircraft parking, and providing aircraft escorts, among other things, are all part of aviation operations.
2. Airport Operations
As the name suggests, airport operations are operations conducted at the airport. A passenger’s experience while traveling through the airport depends on these procedures. The services and functions that are done at the airport help improve the customers’ experience.
Airport Systems
Any piece of land intended for aircraft landing or takeoff is referred to as an airport. This definition includes ancillary areas used or planned for the terminal building and facilities and right-of-ways alongside the facilities and buildings.
Airports typically have a landing area, an open region that can be accessed from the air and has at minimum one operationally active surface, like a runway for aircraft to take off and land.
Larger airports may include taxiway bridges, air traffic control towers, passenger amenities, including restaurants and lounges, and emergency services. If we categorize airport systems; we can divide them into four categories, those are;
- General Aviation is those airports open to the public and only used occasionally or that board fewer than 2,500 passengers annually. General aviation accounts for about 88% of airports.
- Commercial Service: individuals who continue on a plane in an international flight that stops at an airfield in any of the 50 States for an activity other than passenger activity, such as refueling or aircraft maintenance.
- Relievers are those airports identified as being necessary to ease traffic at Commercial Business Airports and improve general aviation access for the general public.
- Cargo: airports are those that are only used for the air transportation of cargo with an annual landed weight totaling more than 100 million pounds.
Please have a look at this detailed guide about special airport systems and how they work in detail. Details we include the following;
Detailed Guide About Airport Special Systems
1. Approach Lighting System (ALS)
An approach lighting system, often known as an ALS, is a lighting setup on the approaching end of an airport tarmac. It comprises several lightbars, flashing lights, or a mix.
The current standards and requirements for approach lighting system implementation depend upon the volume of flight operations, the nature of airport services, and the runway operation design criteria.
We are lucky enough to experience living in the era with such amazing innovation in airports. The high-end technologies currently used in airport systems are essential for a safe landing in innovative airports.
Also, it presents the risk of landing undershoots or overshoots. Moreover, approach lighting systems are a crucial part of the runway safety systems to enable a pilot to switch from equipment to visual flights during landing.
2. Passenger Boarding Bridge (PBB)
Passenger Boarding Bridge, Airbridge, Aerobridge, Jet-bridge, and Jetway are a few of the various terms used globally to represent PBB.
An enclosed, elevated tunnel that connects an airplane to a gate in an airport terminal is what is known as a passenger boarding bridge.
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There are numerous configurations of passenger boarding bridges, and depending on the installation, they may be either fixed or mobile.
Passengers can reduce most dangers connected with the obligation to permit passengers to use the ramp by using passenger terminal bridges.
One of the main goals of effective airport operations is the efficient, quick, and safe movement of travelers from the terminals to an aircraft and from the aviation back to the terminal.
Several different PBB types exist, but the Apron Drive-type is the most frequently utilized globally.
3. Flight Information Display System (FIDS)
An airport computer system that airports use to show passengers flight information is called a flight information display system. The FIDS comprises the control or main center, distribution servers, numerous input terminals, and display screens.
In this system, mechanical, electrical, or TV display boards, a computer system controls show flight-related information.
Passengers can easily get the details about their flights on the big screens. This system is pretty beneficial in keeping the passengers updated about the flight.
Moreover, it has many characteristics that allow operational staff at airports control over the presentation of flight-related and other crucial information to the passengers.
The information represented by the FIDS includes departure times, arrival times, destinations, alerts of flight delays or cancellations, etc.
4. Baggage Handling System (BHS)
The term “baggage handling system” refers to a conveyor system used in airports to move luggage from the check-in counter to sections where passengers can load the baggage into the aircraft.
Moving baggage from one side of the airport to the other using a system that can accommodate a shift that lasts as long as the passenger who owns the suitcase is the goal of an effective BHS.
Typically, the baggage handling system in medium-sized and big airports is an automated system composed of belt conveyors, switches called “pushers,” and barcode readers.
The reputation of an airport and its facilities’ ability to attract significant airline operators’ attention is directly related to BHS’s efficiency level.
5. Baggage Information Display System (BIDS)
The Baggage Information Display System is a component of the smart flight information display system that provides the general public and passengers with accurate information about flight status.
This information may include boarding times on screens and other display systems at the baggage carousels and other appropriate locations. Passengers can always get accurate information this way, and their expectations can become leisure time.
At the baggage drop-off and pick-up locations for arrival and departure, the Baggage Handling Information System displays relevant data. It enables the baggage handlers to recognize and direct bags to the places of arriving and departing planes.
6. Resource Management System (RMS)
Resources at airports are scarce, and aviation must use them wisely to get the most out of each one. The Resource Management System is a technology method created to organize and distribute different resources needed in airport operations.
Airports can use the system’s multi-KPI-based algorithm to optimize the use and to provide value and to facilitate easier operational planning. So, the main goal of RMS is to utilize resources while taking into account timely planning for each type of resource.
Additionally, it allows for the most effective use of aviation services through smarter planning and resource management, enhancing the passengers’ experience.
Moreover, it improves operational productivity, leading to greater customer and airline satisfaction levels.
7. Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS)
The term “visual docking guidance system” refers to a stand guidance system that shares insights with a pilot intending to dock his airplane at an airport stand, typically in visual ways.
It makes it possible for them to avoid obstacles and guarantees that jetways can get to the aircraft.
The pilot will see two signals if they are on the centerline of the stand. The pilot will steer toward the green light when one of the lights turns red if they are off center.
This technique depends on the viewer’s position; therefore, it cannot provide an accurate distance estimate for aircraft that have greatly strayed from the stand centerline.
8. Public Address System (PAS)
As the name suggests, it is the system that is used to address passengers regarding any type of announcement. These announcements may be related to flight updates or guiding passengers about what to do after going through each step.
In simple terms, the Public Address System is designed to offer an automatic announcement feature for normal, situational, and emergency announcements in aviation. This system was created with the idea that airports would use it to broadcast normal and emergency alerts to the general population.
Public address systems have advanced from their initial function of disseminating information to the public and among staff members to become an increasingly important component of airport security in recent years.
A customized program deployed at the central servers manages the PAS system’s programming and processing. Multiple calls can be broadcast simultaneously to many areas using the PAS system.
9. Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL)
All ground-mounted lights and accessories that provide pilots and other airport users with visual aids are collectively referred to as airfield ground lighting. It enables more effective traffic flow and improved aircraft navigation to and from gates.
It performs all these functions while preserving or even increasing safety. AGL comprises several aviation ground lights placed in a specific manner.
Any light specifically given to assist flight operations, other than lighting displayed on an aircraft, is an aeronautical ground light.
The entire AGL system includes lighting for runways, as well as for their approaches and any accompanying taxiways and aprons.
10. Airfield Lightning Control System (ALCS)
An airport’s multi-runway operation can use an airfield lighting control system to enable the user to manage several lighting systems on an airfield efficiently. Such as those for the runway, approach, runway, stop bars, and apron, among others.
This lighting system can range in complexity from a basic system regulating a single runway in low visibility situations to at-night airport lighting systems assisting pilots in safely performing landing and takeoff.
With the ALCS system, it is possible to combine the control of numerous distinct airport lighting systems into a single uniform control panel. The system often monitors warnings related to the aviation lighting system hardware, individual bulbs, and generators.
11. Navigational Aids
Navigational aids can be a signal or assistance that helps an aircraft by directing and navigating it to its destination.
These ground-based transmitters support and help airplanes through their approach by giving them directions to the airport from where they are right now on their flight deck equipment.
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Airports function under various conditions; for example, commercial airports must operate at night and must thus be adequately furnished with navigational aids to enable takeoffs, landings, and maneuvers.
On the other side, smaller airports might only operate during daytime hours, necessitating standard runway markings and airfield lights rather than additional guidance and support.
For aircraft to land safely and efficiently, they need to be able to detect their landing zone precisely during times of low light and avoid situations that could be dangerous as they approach.
12. Meteorological Systems
When discussing meteorological systems, the goal of meteorological services to aircraft is to deliver the operational meteorological data needed for reliable, efficient, and safe air navigation.
A meteorological system includes necessary weather instruments that consistently perform in all environmental circumstances.
The systems include reliable and high-quality housings and independent sensors with excellent accuracy for each specific weather parameter.
Also, this system may include actual and predicted meteorological conditions at airports, for certain areas around aerodromes, and during the en-route phase of flights departing from the airfield in the information given for air traffic services units and other aeronautical users.
13. Auxiliary Systems
An auxiliary system is a piece of equipment that supports meeting the energy requirements of a specific place as a primary or additional power source.
It is crucial to guarantee that the system outage or failure rate is extremely low when dealing with certain types of large installations and significant energy supply demand.
To do this, the construction teams must draw on their prior knowledge to put a solid solution compatible with the final application’s demanding requirements into practice.
An auxiliary system is a piece of machinery that supports meeting the energy requirements of a certain place or infrastructure. It can serve as a primary or complementary source.
14. Air Traffic Control Systems (ATCS)
The importance of the ATC system cannot be overstated because it controls air traffic and directs aircraft during takeoff and landing. Since it is solely responsible for preventing air crashes and maintaining traffic flow, the system is of utmost significance.
Airports have ground-based flight crews who arrange and streamline the flow of air traffic to help with that. For an aircraft to land or take off, air traffic controllers must establish a safe separation between it and the ground.
They also give pilots detailed information and directional instructions for arriving and taking off to avoid air collisions.
15. Security Systems
Maintaining safety and security at a top-notch level is a requirement of any airport. The airport administration has set up an independent system called the Transportation Security Administration for that (TSA).
The safety of travelers, their belongings, airport staff, and important data are all ensured by airport security systems.
Additionally, these security systems include particular screening tools, including metal detectors, millimeter wave devices, backscatter X-rays, and cabinet X-ray scanners.
The Final Word
It would be best if you got an idea by now that the infrastructure of any airport is made up of airport systems. It often becomes difficult to examine all of these extremely important systems.
However, assembling a group of experts familiar with airport specifics can be useful.
Also, understanding the airport’s unique systems is crucial for properly overseeing all operations and duties. An airport requires numerous systems that help to run these operations smoothly.
Any of those systems that are unable to monitor certain jobs with credibility or effectiveness may fail abruptly or risk causing anarchy.
Unquestionably, an airport is a complicated, multi-layered system that manages numerous operations and systems to work.
