Airport Design Blueprint: Runways, Terminals & Safety Planning

Introduction

These are the plans for a new airfield which will have two runways and is seen as the most beneficial project that could be carried out in the region, especially considering financial, environmental, and security implications (Watabe & Noguchi, 2011). These plans will also feature parking spaces, traffic controls, emergency facilities, passenger terminals, and a control tower.

Characterization of the Proposed Airport

This airport would have two runways running parallel to one another, and both will be in use concurrently. The runways will be built to 4-E specification, which comfortably accommodates all present-day commercial aircraft designs as well as those whose designs are still in development. The projected yearly passenger traffic of the airport is 20–30 million travellers. The earmarked site is 1.5 kilometres wide, an estimated 4 kilometres long, and located at sea level. At the north and east of the site, the landscape slopes down to sea level steeply.

In the design, the two planned runways will each be 3.8 kilometres long. Separating them will be aircraft parking spaces, passenger terminals, and short strips serving as taxiways. The major passenger terminal would be where normal passenger activities such as baggage checks, baggage claim for arrivals, ticket processing, passport inspection, and customs will be carried out (Ashford, Mumayiz & Wright, 2011). After this, the screened passengers will make their way to their respective terminals via boarding trains. These trains will be located all across the airport with openings to every terminal. Both runways will have minimum Grade 1 instrument landing systems to aid landing in all weather conditions.

As previously stated, two runways will be built at the airport. Construction will proceed in two major stages, with one runway built per stage and fitted with all required air and ground equipment and facilities. The factor determining the development of both runways is the level of traffic, and this will bring about a planned rise in travellers transported — from the 20 million yearly estimate for Stage A to 35 million for both Stages A and B combined.

The key runway specifications are as follows:

Runways, Taxiways, and Safety Areas

• Two runways, each 3.8 kilometres long and 60 metres wide with an additional 7.5 metres on both sides.
• A 60-metre allowance will be provided at each runway edge.
• The distance separating the centre axes of both runways: 1.194 kilometres.
• Geographic bearing of the runways: 018–198 degrees.
• The runways are 5–25 metres high and have a gradient of less than 1%.

The actual length of each runway has been determined by examining the requirements of its planned serviced aircraft as well as environmental and geographical factors. This 3.8 km runway has all it needs to handle the demands of most aircraft in service today and contains features making it suitable for future aircraft designs.

Following CASA standards for Aerodrome Reference Code 4F, the planned width of the runway will be 60 metres. Additionally, runway shoulders will be installed. The standard width following Code 4F will be 7.5 metres, joining perfectly with the runway and of equal width on both sides. These shoulders should be built with high-grade asphalt capable of preventing aircraft engine blast erosion and of keeping an aircraft that skids off the runway in motion without causing structural damage to it.

The runway strip is the last element upon which the runway width depends. It is 150 metres wide and the runway is located through its centre. The strip is designed as a safe area for aircraft and is built without any fixed equipment or structures apart from aircraft guidance lights. These lights are built to be lightweight and not fully fixed; these measures ensure minimum damage if they are struck by an aircraft. The strip is covered with grass or vegetation with gentle gradients joining with the runway shoulders, and it is designed with an extensive drainage network to prevent pooling of rainwater.

Taxiways are located parallel to the runway. They have a width of 25 metres and 3 exits on each side, making 6 total exits. These taxiways are required for aircraft to navigate between the runway and airport structures. They must be designed to move aircraft around efficiently, with little emphasis on distance, while manoeuvrability is enhanced. Taxiways come in several forms, including rapid-exit taxiways and parallel taxiways, among others, each with specialized uses.

Apart from the taxiway pavement, there must be shoulders on both sides. These shoulders should be 17.5 metres wide and placed at both edges of the taxiways in accordance with Aerodrome Reference Code 4F aircraft requirements. They must be able to withstand aircraft engine blast erosion (Odoni & De Neufville, 2003). Just as with runway strips, taxiway strips should be provided for each taxiway, covered with grass and cleared of all blockages and objects. Finally, a waiting and holding zone should be located at the head of both runways.

Runway path dimensions: 3.92 kilometres in length (3.8 + 0.06 + 0.06) and 0.3 kilometres in width.

A safe area is required at the ends of both runways. This area, called the Runway End Safety Area (RESA), describes a surplus area which can comfortably support an aircraft that departs the runway in an emergency. The RESA is not included when the declared length of a runway is measured. It should be built into the ends of the runway strip as a safeguard in case an aircraft overruns or fails to reach the runway. Based on CASA guidelines, the RESA should be 90 metres long and must not contain any fixed equipment save for lights and pilot guidance markers, which must be lightweight and loosely mounted to reduce damage if struck by an aircraft.

A. Southern direction: Distance from the runway threshold should be 3 km with a slope of 1:50, then a distance of 3.6 kilometres with a slope of 1:40, and then a distance of 8.4 kilometres with a slope of 1:50.

B. Northern direction: Distance from the runway threshold should be 0.3 km with a slope of 1:50, then 3.6 km with a slope of 1:40, and then a horizontal distance of 8.4 km. The take-off position requires additional distance based on landing and take-off safety guidelines and operates with a width of 0.18 km, incorporating a combined gradient of 1:62.5 over a distance of 15 km.

Transition Planes: Located at a gradient of 1:7 to the horizontal.

Levels of Flight Safety During Takeoff and Landing

Horizontal Plane: Located at a vertical height of 0.045 km above the highest runway strip and possessing a 4 km radial distance from the facility managing take-off and landing flight safety distances and associated specifications.

The Conical Plane: Located at a 6 km radius and a gradient of 1:20 from the facility managing take-off and landing flight safety distances and associated specifications.

Bird Restriction Areas: Bird Zone A is located at a 1.5 km radius from the facility managing take-off and landing flight safety distances and associated specifications, while Bird Zone B is located at a 5 km radius from the same facility. Birds often pose a significant threat to aircraft, especially during migration periods.