Systems of Aircraft Parking

Systems of Aircraft Parking

1. Frontal or linear systems

2. Open-apron or transporter system

3. Pier or finger system

4. Satellite system

1. Frontal or linear system

In this, aircraft may just be parked on the apron in front of the terminal building. It is very small and economical system. But its use in limited only to small airport requiring few gate positions.

2. Open apron system

In this system, the aircraft are remotely located in rows from the terminal building for reaching the aircraft in the outermost row, the passenger have to walk a long distance and they may be exposed to a bad weather, noise and hot blast of the jet aircraft. Hence the connection to the terminal building is generally provided by vehicular transport for enplaning and deplaning passengers.

3. Pier or finger system

In this system, the connection of the aircraft is achieved through the piers extending from the main terminal area. It can be T-shaped, straight or Y-shaped. Each pier or finger has a row of aircraft gate position on both sides and aircraft are usually arranged around the axis of the pier in a parallel or a nose-in parking alignment.

4. Satellite system

The small buildings located on the apron are known as satellite. In this system, the aircraft are parked around the satellites. The satellite is usually reached from the terminal building by means of the surface, underground or above the ground connector.