Airport Design and Operation, 3 edition

Book Preface

This book is titled ‘Airport Design and Operation’. However, the reader will not find chapters devoted exclusively to airport design or airport operation. Airport design and airport operation are closely related and influence each other. A poor design affects the airport operation and results in increased costs. On the other hand it is difficult to design the airport infrastructure without sound knowledge of airport operations. This is emphasised throughout the book.

The book does not offer a set of simple instructions for solutions to particular problems. Every airport is unique and a simple generic solution does not exist. The book explains principles and relationships important for the design of airport facilities, for airport management and for the safe and efficient control of operations. We hope that we have been able to overcome the traditional view that an airport is only the runway and tarmac. An airport is a complex system of facilities and often the most important enterprise of a region. It is an economic generator and catalyst in its catchment area. However, this book is focused on one narrow part of the airport problem, namely design and operation, while bearing the other aspects in mind.

This third edition includes some important changes in the international regulations covering design and operations. It reflects the greater attention being given to security, safety and changes on the air transport market with respect to the impact of low cost carriers operations. The third edition contains new parts on airport long-term planning; Reduced Aerodrome Visibility Conditions operation; RESA and EMAS construction; aircraft performance; rapid exit taxiway specifications; dowelling technology in concrete pavement design; fuel storage and leak detection; impact of mobile and IT technologies on passenger terminal design and operations; developments in security risks and their impact on security SARPs; ground transport system improvements and their impact on airport attractiveness; new de-icing chemicals and procedures; changes in rescue and fire fighting and a new chapter on wildlife control. All these changes and additions strengthen the operational content of this book.