AIRPORT SITE SELECTION
The selection of a suitable site for an airport depends upon the class of airport
under consideration. However if such factors as required for the selection of the largest
facilityareconsideredthedevelopmentoftheairportbystageswillbemadeeasierand
economical.
The factors listed below are for the selection of a suitable site for a major airport
Installation:
1. Regional plan
2. Airport use
3. Proximity to other airport
4. Ground accessibility
5. Topography
6. Obstructions
7. Visibility
8. Wind
9. Noise nuisance
10. Grading, drainage and soil characteristics
11. Future development
12. Availability of utilities from town
13. Economic consideration
Regional plan:
The site selected should fit well into the regional plan there by forming it an
integral part of the national network of airport.
Airport use:
The selection of site depends upon the use of an airport. Whether for civilian or
for military operations. However during the emergency civilian airports are taken over
by the defense. Therefore the airport site selected should be such that it provides natural
protection to the area from air roads. This consideration is of prime importance for the
airfields to be located in combat zones. If the site provides thick bushes.
Proximity to other airport:
The site should be selected at a considerable distance from the existing airports
so that the aircraft landing in one airport does not interfere with the movement of
aircraft at other airport. The required separation between the airports mainly depends
upon the volume of air traffic.
Ground accessibility:
The site should be so selected that it is readily accessible to the users. The airline
passenger is more concerned with his door to door time rather than the actual time in air
travel. The time to reach the airport is therefore an important consideration especially
for short haul operations.
Topography:
This includes natural features like ground contours trees streams etc. A raised
ground a hill top is usually considered to be an ideal site for an airport.
Obstructions:
When aircraft is landing or taking off it loses or gains altitude very slowly as
compared to the forward speed. For this reason long clearance areas are provided on
either side of runway known as approach areas over which the aircraft can safely gain
or loose altitude.
Visibility:
Poor visibility lowers the traffic capacity of the airport. The site selected should
therefore be free from visibility reducing conditions such as fog smoke and haze. Fog
generally settles in the area where wind blows minimum in a valley.
Wind:
Runway is so oriented that landing and take off is done by heading into the wind
should be collected over a minimum period of about five years.
Noise nuisance:
The extent of noise nuisance depends upon the climb out path of aircraft type of
engine propulsion and the gross weight of aircraft. The problem becomes more acute
with jet engine aircrafts. Therefore the site should be so selected that the landing and
take off paths of the aircrafts pass over the land which is free from residential or
industrial developments.
Grading, drainage and soil characteristics:
Grading and drainage play an important role in the construction and maintenance
of airport which in turn influences the site selection. The original ground profile of a
site together with any grading operations determines the shape of an airport area and the
general pattern of the drainage system. The possibility of floods at the valley sites
should be investigated. Sites with high water tables which may require costly sub soil
rain age should be avoided.
Future development:
Considering that the air traffic volume will continue to increase in future more
member of runways may have to be provided for an increased traffic.
