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View Full Version : Difference between Airfield / Airstrip Etc.


Martinburney
2nd May 2003, 18:18
Hi All

Someone has asked what is the difference or definition between an
Airfield, Airport , Airstrip, Aerodrome.

Regards Martin

maggioneato
2nd May 2003, 19:22
Airfield. I always think of as a place with a hard runway.
Airport.Large commercial site.
Airstrip, my favorite, grass.
Aerodrome,old fashioned, so I don't use.
No doubt others will have their opinion. :D

skydriller
2nd May 2003, 19:24
Check out this thread (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88114&highlight=aerodrome)

hope it helps,

Regards, SD..:ok:

Martinburney
4th May 2003, 04:25
Hi All

The following was posted on another forum.

Has he missed anything out.

Regards Martin


From: [email protected]
Reply-to: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent from the Internet (Details)



Hi Everyone,
The list below is my own interpretation of the verious aviation sites
around the UK and Ireland. When you spot the ommisions and the
errors, I would be oblidged if you please let me know. As will be
obvious, I hav'ent seen official lists of any discription, or for
that matter looked for them.

AERODROME
Description used, probably since before the First World War, to
describe a location set aside primarily for the use of aeroplanes.
In everyday use until 1942, when Winston Churchill decreed that
henceforth all "Aerodromes" will be re-titled "Airfield" following
the US entry into the European war. Some publications still use the
term "Aerodrome". Why I dont know, as there is little hope of
bringing the title back into general use.

AIRPORT
Civil passenger and freight operations. Most airports allow general
aviation activity and some also support military bases.

AIRFIELD
Since 1942, the title "Airfield" can discribe any site from a large
military aviation base, right down to a private site with a single
hard runway, with one hanger and training facilities, for which they
have to be licenced

AIRSTRIP
Usually, private grass strip/s, from which one or more fixed wing
aircraft operate. Hanger/s, but no training allowed.

MICROLIGHT AIRSTRIP
Similar to airstrip, but generally with a shorter landing/ take-off
grass areas for microlights, some are not suitable for standard fixed
wing aircraft. Also some are licenced for training.

LANDING GROUND
Military version of the "AIRSTRIP"

TEMPORARY LANDING GROUND
As the title states a temporary version of the military landing
ground.

EMERGENCY LANDING GROUND
Basically, a military landing ground, startegically positioned so as
to receive aircraft in distress, and as a location to land at, when
the home base is not available, for any reason.

BEACH STRIP
This term is used for ANY aviation activity on sand.

HANG-GLIDER / PARAGLIDER SITE
Self explanatory.


HEILPORT
Civil passenger and freight operations.

HELIPAD
This title covers many private sites, from those with dedicated hard
landing areas and marked with a H, to the open grass area, with no
markings, but with multiple helicopter activity.

HELISTOP
Title was used for the landing site at NORTH WALL, Dublin, (equated
to the bus-stop!!). I thought It would be a more appropriate for the
sites that would see just one or two visitors, and sometimes never
used again.

HELIBASE
This is my definition of all military helicopter landing sites, large
and small. Title used to show that it is a military site only and
does not reflect its size.

MARINE
Nearly always followed by the term "Aerodrome". Area of water based
aviation. All private, civilian and military water based aviation
activity is normally shown as "MARINE", and may be on a canal, river,
lough/loch/lake or on the sea.

BALLOON BASE
Home location of the balloon, and probably not a launch site.

BALLOON LAUNCH SITE
Self explanatory.

FREE FALL PARACHUTE DROP ZONE (FFPZone)
Special landing area used by parachutists. can be located on or off-
airfield. But oddly enough, does not give parachutist's the right of
way within the zone.

GLIDER- FIELD/ -AIRSTRIP/-SITE
Location of glider activity. Some sites operate powered aircraft as
tugs. And most would be licenced for training.


AIRSHIP PATROL STATION
First World War military airships site.

KITE BALLOON STATION
First World War kite balloons were inflated at these sites, and
transferred to military warships, attached to the ship by a winch
system and used as lookout points from high above the deck.

AIRSHIP MOORING-OUT STATION
First World War site used for the holding of airships away from their
base stations.

DECOY SITES
Second World War sites constructed in open country in order to
resemble nearby airfields and to attract enemy action away from the
real sites.

STARFISH SITES
Set up in remote areas in order to convince enemy night bomber crews
that they were attacking built-up or other stategic locations, used
during Second World War.

Regards,
Hugo Wilhare.