Apron (airfield)
The run-up ( engl. Ramp or apron ) is used to uncontrolled and controlled airfields as severance, shunting, utility and maintenance area for aircraft . The apron is located in the security area and is therefore only accessible to authorized persons.
The terms ramp and apron are often used interchangeably in everyday language. In official parlance ( ICAO , FAA ) only the term apron is used.
Ramp
Ramp generally describes (roughly synonymous with the German term loading ramp, which is commonly used in warehouse management ), the area in which the preparatory activities are carried out.
On passenger airports directly to the is terminal adjacent area Ramp called. The main function of such a "Terminal Ramp" is the transfer of passengers of "Passenger Gates" ( piers ) to the respective aircraft. This can take place via passenger boarding bridges that protrude into the apron and enable passengers to pass directly from the individual gates. The transfer to parking positions further away from the terminal takes place with apron buses .
At cargo airports or in the cargo area of passenger airports where no terminal is required, the ramp is located near the facilities for handling air cargo (cargo center, warehouse or similar).
The ramp agent is responsible for coordinating the activities in the ramp area .
Apron
In contrast to ramp, apron refers to areas that are intended for the parking and maintenance of aircraft. These can also be located further away from the terminal.
At larger airports, several contiguous areas of parking positions in the ramp area are also referred to as aprons. They are often numbered consecutively as Apron 1 ... n , this number being included in the position numbers of the parking spaces.
particularities
Small and thus lighter aircraft must be lashed to the parking positions assigned to them with lashing straps or ropes at so-called " mooring points " (retaining rings on the ground) so that they cannot be overturned or moved by the action of the wind.
For general aviation ( GA ) there is a small area on the apron that is adjacent to the GAT (General Aviation Terminal) . There is usually a helipad on the apron of airports near the GAT .
