An airport is a station or terminal located on flat land that has runways, facilities and services for airplane traffic. Airports allow passenger or cargo aircraft to take off and land, in addition to providing fuel and maintenance. Check Countryaah.com for international airports listed by country and state.
The most important airports have several paved runways of more than one kilometer in length, auxiliary streets, warehouses, maintenance hangars, boarding terminals and parking platforms. There are, however, smaller airports whose runways have been delimited on the land itself.
The area control center is one of the most important sectors of an airport. Air traffic controllers perform there, who must direct and manage the movement of aircraft to avoid collisions and other accidents.
The construction of an airport is complex and must take into account various factors. The meteorological conditions of the region in which they are located are decisive since airplanes must be particularly careful with winds when taking off or landing. It is common for airports to be built away from urban centers, for security reasons.
Beyond the safety of air traffic itself (to prevent planes from colliding or hitting the ground), airports must address other issues, especially regarding passenger movement. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, airport security has been considerably strengthened to prevent new terrorist groups from taking over the planes in flight and using them as weapons. Checking luggage has also become stricter and more meticulous, with new and more advanced detectors that analyze in detail the contents of the suitcases.
World’s most advanced airports
Kansai International Airport, Osaka (Japan)
As is often the case with Japanese creations, this airport surprises from the beginning for its ingenuity and the peculiar use of the resources that were necessary for its construction, since it is supported on an artificial island, communicated with land through a 3- bridge. kilometers in length.
Its anti – seismic technology provides the structure with a much-needed degree of security in the land of the rising sun, so often punished by nature and forced to rebuild. During the strong earthquakes of 1995 and 1998, which claimed thousands of victims and left behind unfortunate damage, the airport remained intact.
Terminal T4 de Barajas, Madrid (Spain)
It is one of the largest constructions in the history of the European continent, as well as one of the most expensive. In addition, it is an airport that shows a commitment to the environment, since it promotes the saving of electrical energy through the incorporation of solar panels. The architect responsible for this creation is Richard Rogers, a native of Florence (Italy), and his work earned him the Stirling Prize.
Its construction took more than nine years and was provided with an investment of more than 6 million euros. The terminal extends over an area greater than 785 thousand square meters and is capable of serving more than 70 million passengers. Thanks to its numerous innovations and sophisticated structures, this airport is among the most prestigious in the world.
Pudong Airport, Shanghai (China)
It was inaugurated in 1999 with the purpose of replacing the old international airport in the same city. It is a large airport, capable of accommodating more than 80 million passengers. It was created by the architect Paul Andréu, originally from France.
Among the amenities offered by the Pudong airport is a commercial train that connects its terminal to the city center, a route that travels at a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour.
