Dec 10, 2021 – Semih YENİGÜL
“Ankara, flight number 1923 is speaking, I want permission to land.”
Can planes land at any airport they want? If your answer is yes, I’m sorry but you are wrong. Let’s examine this issue together. There are many types of aircraft such as a longer or shorter wingspan, heavier and faster. Many more features like these make every plane different from each other. However, we cannot describe these aircraft as those with longer wings and those with lighter wings. We must classify and categorize them in certain value ranges. For example, we can classify them according to their wingspan. Category C aircraft is with wingspans between 32 and 38 meters. Boeing 737-900 is a good example of a Category C one. The largest aircraft category is the F category. So, which of these categorized planes can land at what types of airports are?
When designing airports, they are classified according to their physical characteristics, capacities, approach types and upper category aircraft type that will use the airport. Yes, it is according to the type of aircraft that will use that airport. The runway and taxiway of the airports are designed in such a way as to provide service to the upper category aircraft that will use that airport. For example, a new airport is being built, and the top category aircraft declared for this airport is Boeing 737-900. This aircraft is the largest one of the Category C. The airport’s runways, taxiways and taxiways on the apron are designed to serve all aircraft in this category and subcategory. However, these areas can be also expanded and redesigned for aircraft in a category higher than the declared aircraft category. Well, if we revisit our question for this airport, can Airbus A380 land at this airport? The answer to our question will be “no, it cannot” because it is a Category F aircraft.
As a result, aircraft cannot use or land at any airport, regardless of their category. The upper aircraft category that will use the airport in our example is Category C. Airbus A380 is a Category F one. The airport in question does not have runways, taxiways and apron taxiways that can serve Airbus A380. Therefore, it is not safe. In short, airports are established to adapt to the largest aircraft category that will use them. Airports that will expand so-called areas for larger aircraft will be safe as long as they follow the standards set by international organizations such as ICAO and EASA.
Let airports grow safely, aviators fly safely.