NavAir

🗺 Airport Types & Map Legend

Airports are classified by size and type. The map uses custom icons for each category:

• Large Airport: Major international hubs.
• Medium Airport: Regional commercial or large general aviation airports.
• Small Airport: Light aircraft, private fields, or dirt strips.
• Heliport: Dedicated helicopter landing pads.
• Seaplane Base: Water landing zones for floatplanes.
• Balloonport: Dedicated area for hot air balloons.
• Closed: Decommissioned or abandoned airfields.

📡 Navigational Aids (NAVAIDS)

Ground-based transmitters that aircraft use to determine their position and navigate:

• 
  VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range): Emits signals in 360 degrees. Very common for en-route navigation.
• 
  NDB (Non-Directional Beacon): Older, simple AM radio beacon. The aircraft instrument points toward the station.
• 
  DME (Distance Measuring Equipment): Provides slant-range distance from the aircraft to the station.
• 
  VOR-DME: Combined VOR and DME equipment.
• 
  TACAN: Tactical Air Navigation. Military precision equivalent to VOR/DME.
• 
  VORTAC: A co-located VOR and TACAN beacon. Civilians use VOR, military uses TACAN.
• 
  NDB-DME: Combined NDB and DME.

🔤 Airport Identifiers

Airports use two main coding systems globally:

• IATA Code: A 3-letter code assigned by the International Air Transport Association. Used for passenger ticketing and baggage (e.g., JFK, MAD).
• ICAO Code: A 4-letter code assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Used by air traffic control. The first letters usually denote the region and country (e.g., KJFK, LEMD).

📏 Runway Numbering

Runway numbers are based on the magnetic compass heading the runway points toward, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees and dropping the last zero.

For example, a runway heading 268 degrees magnetic is named Runway 27. Because runways can be used in both directions, the opposite end will be 180 degrees away (088 degrees), so it's named Runway 09. This runway pair is referred to as 09/27.

If there are parallel runways, a letter is added: L (Left), C (Center), or R (Right).

✈️ Wake Turbulence Category (WTC)

Wake turbulence is the disturbed air left behind an airplane. The WTC determines how much separation is required between aircraft.

• Light (L): Max takeoff weight of 7,000 kg (15,500 lbs) or less.
• Medium (M): Between 7,000 kg and 136,000 kg (300,000 lbs).
• Heavy (H): Greater than 136,000 kg.
• Super (J): Used specifically for the Airbus A380 (and sometimes An-225) due to immense wake.