Airfields - Description and classification

Airfields play an economic and social role, and are subject to technical and environmental constraints. On the one hand, it often plays a key role in the economic development of a region, since it is at the heart of passenger and freight transport, creates numerous jobs in technical, commercial and other fields, and encourages the development of infrastructure (motorway and rail networks, for example). On the other hand, its activity generates constraints (aeronautical and radioelectric servitudes, clearance zones) and nuisances (noise in particular). The design of an airfield must therefore take account of this context, while respecting the technical constraints linked to its activity: passenger handling, parking, aircraft maintenance, freight transport.

This article, which describes and classifies aerodromes, is the first in a series devoted to aerodromes:

• Aerodromes. Description and classification [C 4 450] ;

• Airfields. Design ;

• Aerodromes. Local data taken into account ;

• Airfields. Construction ;

• Aerodromes. For further information .

It takes into account the specifications of the Technical Instruction on Civil Aerodromes (ITAC), as well as the requirements of the two volumes making up Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO). Both are reference documents for the design, construction, management and maintenance of aeronautical infrastructures.

In addition, the authors have never ceased to point out that, since they are aimed primarily at engineers, they should not only find in these documents the technical knowledge they need for their missions, but also be able to appreciate the degree of complexity beyond which they are advised to call on the Air Base Technical Service (STBA) for aeronautical infrastructure.