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General Airport Layout

The general layout of an airport consists of three (3) areas generally referred
to in the industry as Airside, Landside, and Terminal. While the terminal area
generally lies on the boundary of the airside and landside (as may other
buildings), due to the nature of its use and the special requirements that
apply to airport terminals, it is best treated for security purposes as a distinct
area.

Each major area of the airport (airside, landside, terminal) has its own
special requirements. Airside/landside requirements and operational
parameters should be carefully considered when planning and designing a
new airport or facility. The requirements, barrier and boundary measures
that delineate airside from landside, may have major effects on the facilitys
efficiency, employee and public accessibility, and overall aesthetics.

Maintaining the integrity of airside/landside boundaries plays a critical role


in reducing unauthorized access to, attacks on, or the introduction of
dangerous devices aboard, passenger aircraft. Effective airside security
relies heavily on the integrated application of physical barriers,
identification and access control systems, surveillance or detection
equipment, the implementation of security procedures, and efficient use of
resources.
Airside
The airside of an airport is the movement area of an airport, adjacent terrain
and buildings or portions there of, access to which is controlled.
Typically, the airside is beyond the security screening stations and restricting
perimeters (fencing, walls or other boundaries) and includes runways, taxiways,
aprons, aircraft parking and staging areas and most facilities which service and
maintain aircraft. For operational, geographic, safety, or security reasons, other
facilities such as tenant and cargo facilities may be located within the airside
as well.

1) Dangerous or hazardous areas that could affect the safety or security of a


parked or moving aircraft;
2) Concealed/overgrown areas that could hide persons or objects that might
endanger aircraft or critical airport systems;
3) Adjacent facilities having their own security concerns and provisions, e.g.,
correctional, military or other facilities that could affect or be affected by the
proximity of airside operations;
4) Natural features, large metal structures/buildings or electronics facilities that
might affect ground or aircraft communications or navigational systems;
5) Adjacent schools, hotels, parks or community facilities that might affect or be
affected by the proximity of aircraft and the related safety and security
concerns.
Excluding terminals, which are treated separately below, the
landside of an airport is that area of an airport and buildings to
which both traveling passengers and the non-traveling public
have unrestricted access.
Typically, the landside facilities include patron and other public
parking areas, public access roadways,rental car facilities, taxi
and ground transportation staging areas, and any on-airport
hotel facilities.
Since the landside includes all non-airside areas (other than the
terminal(s), its location is determined bythe airside and perimeter
boundary.
Since the landside is not directly affected by the operation of
aircraft, it generally has less stringent security requirements than
the airside. However, some clear area and communication
requirements may still affect landside design and layout, such as
an airside fence/boundary, aircraft approach glide slopes,
communications and navigational equipment locations and non-
interference areas, and heightened security in the terminal area

LANDSIDE
Terminal
An airport terminal is a building or buildings designed to
accommodate the enplaning and deplaning activities of aircraft
operator passengers. Larger airports or those with general aviation
areas often have more than one terminal. For purposes of this
document, the term terminal typically refers to that main
building or group of buildings where the boarding of public,
scheduled commercial aircraft occurs or from which persons who
have passed through a security screening process will proceed to
boarding facilities located elsewhere on the airside.
When considering passenger and baggage screening security
provisions, it is important for planners and designers to distinguish
the commercial terminal from the general aviation terminal where
charter and private passenger activity typically occur. However, it
is also important to note that security requirements may affect
charter and private aviation as well as scheduled commercial
aviation.
Planners and designers are encouraged to discuss security
considerations with the FSD when developing charter or private
aviation facilities as well as when developing facilities intended for
use by scheduled commercial air carriers or aircraft operators. .
Cargo Screening Checklist:
Access points addressed
Access points for employees/ contractors
Space for additional technology, staffing requirements
Sorting areas, separate from acceptance areas Separation and
Security of cargo prior to and post inspection
Accessibility of building to commercial entities/ employees
Perimeter needs
Facilities for employees
Postal facility inclusion
Emergency response factors
Inclusion of specialized personnel in determining security concerns

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