Airport Operations

The smooth, safe and efficient running of an airport involves the involvement of a number of dedicated teams, from the ground handling team that checks passengers in and loads the plane, to the air traffic control team that ensures the plane takes off and lands safely.

1. Air Traffic Control

Whilst the majority of the world's airports are non-towered, with no air traffic control presence, at particularly busy airports there is an air traffic control (ATC) system whereby controllers (usually ground-based) direct aircraft movements via radio or other communications links. Air traffic control responsibilities at airports are usually divided into at least two main areas: ground and tower, though a single controller may work both stations. The busiest airports also have clearance delivery, apron control, and other specialised ATC stations. This coordinated oversight facilitates safety and speed in complex operations where traffic moves in all three dimensions.

Tower Control

This section controls aircraft on the runway and in the controlled airspace immediately surrounding the airport. Tower controllers may use radar to locate an aircraft's position in three-dimensional space, or they may rely on visual observation and pilot position reports. Tower control coordinates the sequencing of aircraft in the traffic pattern and directs aircraft on how to safely join and leave the circuit. Aircraft that are only passing through the airspace must also contact Tower Control in order to ensure that they remain clear of other traffic.

Ground Control

Ground Control is responsible for directing all ground traffic in designated movement areas, except the traffic on runways. This includes baggage trains, planes, snowploughs, fuel trucks, grass cutters, and a wide array of other vehicles. Ground Control will instruct these vehicles on which taxiways to use, which runway they will use (in the case of planes), where they will park, and when it is safe to cross runways. When a plane is ready to take off it will stop short of the runway, at which point it will be turned over to Tower Control. After a plane has landed, it will depart the runway and be returned to Ground Control.

2. Aircraft Ground Handling

The aircraft ground handling team is responsible for the servicing of an aircraft whilst it is on the ground and (usually) parked at a terminal gate of an airport. Ground handling addresses the many service requirements of a passenger aircraft between the time it arrives at a terminal gate and the time it departs on its next flight. Speed, efficiency, and accuracy are important in ground handling services in order to minimise the turnaround time (the time during which the aircraft must remain parked at the gate). Many airlines subcontract ground handling to an airport or a handling agent, or even to another airline.

Most ground services are not directly related to the actual flying of the aircraft, and instead involve other tasks, such as:

Cabin Service

These services ensure passenger comfort; they include such tasks as cleaning the passenger cabin and replenishment of on-board consumables or washable items such as soap, pillows, tissues, blankets, etc.

Catering

Catering includes the unloading of unused food and drink from the aircraft, and the loading of fresh food and drink for passengers and crew. Meals are prepared mostly on the ground in order to minimise the amount of preparation (apart from chilling or reheating) required in the air.

Ramp Service

This includes services on the ramp or apron, such as:

• Guiding the aircraft into and out of the parking position (by way of Aircraft marshalling)
• Towing with pushback tractors
• Water cartage (to refill fresh water tanks)
• Lavatory drainage
• Airstart units (for starting engines)
• Air conditioning (more common for smaller aircraft)
• Air cargo handling, usually by means of cargo dollies, and cargo loaders
• Luggage handling, usually by means of beltloaders and baggage carts
• Refueling, which may be done with a refueling tanker truck or refuelling pumper
• Catering trucks
• Passenger stairs (used instead of an aerobridge or airstairs, some budget airlines use both to improve turnaround speed)
• Ground power (so that engines need not be running to provide aircraft power on the ground)
• Wheelchair lifts, if required
• Deicing
• Hydraulic mules (units that provide hydraulic power to an aircraft externally)

Passenger Service

This includes services inside the airport terminal such as:

• Staffing the Transfer Counters, Customer Service Counters, Airline Lounges, etc.
• Providing check-in counter services for the passengers departing on the customer airlines.
• Providing Gate arrival and departure services. The agents are required to meet a flight on arrival as well as provide departure services including boarding passengers, closing the flight, etc.

Field Operation Service

This service dispatches the aircraft, maintains communication with the rest of the airline operation at the airport and with Air Traffic Control.

3. Safety Management

Air safety is an important concern in the operation of an airport, and almost every airfield includes procedures and equipment for handling emergency situations. Commercial airfields include one or more emergency vehicles and their crew that are specially equipped for dealing with airfield accidents, passenger and crew extractions, and the hazards of highly flammable aviation fuel. The crews are also trained to deal with situations such as bomb threats, hijacking, and terrorist activities.

4. Weather Observations

Weather observations at the airport are crucial to safe take-offs and landings. Many airports have some form of automated airport weather station, and most large airports also have human observers to provide additional observations to supplement the automated station.