Lentokenttä

Lentokenttä is a Finnish term that translates to "airport" in English. It refers to a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Airports often have facilities to store and maintain aircraft, and a control tower. An airport consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for a plane to take off or a helipad, and often includes adjacent utility buildings such as control towers, hangars and terminals.

Structure

Airports can be towered or non-towered, depending on air traffic density and available funds. Because of high traffic volumes, air traffic control is necessary to ensure that aircraft are safely and efficiently operating. Airports are divided into landside and airside areas. Landside areas include parking lots, public transportation train stations, and drop-off and pick-up areas. Airside areas include all areas accessible to aircraft, including runways, taxiways, and ramps.

Runways

Runways are the key elements of any airport. They are the defined rectangular areas on an airport prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (grass, dirt, or gravel).

Terminals

Airport terminals are buildings where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from an aircraft. Within the terminal, passengers purchase tickets, transfer their luggage, and go through security.

Security

Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime. Large airports usually have airport police departments, although there are varying degrees of cooperation with local law enforcement.

See also

• List of airports
• Air traffic control
• Airport terminal
• Runway
• Airport security