The Mind-Blowing Life Inside The World's Busiest Airport

Naked Science・2 minutes read

Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport handles 250 flights per hour on five runways, checking 95,000 bags daily to ensure smooth operations for 2 million weekly passengers. The airport's advanced technology, like an automated railway system and baggage tracking, minimizes issues like lost bags, while dedicated staff troubleshoots problems like weather delays and baggage discrepancies promptly.

Insights

  • Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest globally, managing 250 flights per hour with five runways and serving 2 million passengers weekly, requiring 63,000 employees for smooth operations.
  • The airport's intricate operations involve a hidden network supplying 11 million liters of fuel daily, a 35-mile baggage conveyor system with advanced tracking technology, and a Porsche transfer service for VIPs, highlighting the airport's commitment to efficiency and passenger experience.

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Recent questions

  • How many flights can Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport handle per hour?

    250 flights per hour

  • What is the daily baggage check volume at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport?

    95,000 bags daily

  • How many passengers does Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport serve weekly?

    2 million passengers weekly

  • How many gates can the ramp tower at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport coordinate simultaneously?

    60 gates simultaneously

  • How much aviation fuel is supplied daily to every gate at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport?

    11 million liters daily

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Summary

00:00

"Inside the World's Busiest Airport Operations"

  • Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest in the world, has five runways handling up to 250 flights per hour.
  • Security staff at the airport check 95,000 bags daily, ensuring no prohibited items are present.
  • The airport serves 2 million passengers weekly, with 63,000 employees ensuring smooth operations.
  • The airport's volume poses challenges, with exclusive access revealing hidden secrets and a dedicated team working 24/7.
  • The airport's ramp tower manages aircraft turnaround across 60 gates simultaneously, coordinating various tasks like fueling and catering.
  • A hidden network of pipes supplies 11 million liters of aviation fuel daily to every gate at the airport.
  • The ramp tower staff troubleshoot issues like baggage discrepancies to prevent delays and ensure efficient operations.
  • Weather delays, especially due to sudden thunderstorms, are the ramp tower's worst nightmare, impacting operations significantly.
  • An automated railway system beneath the airport shuttles 250,000 passengers daily between terminals and gates, ensuring smooth connections.
  • The airport's advanced technology, like baggage screening and automated trains, minimizes issues like lost bags and ensures efficient operations.

18:32

Baggage handling and airport operations revealed.

  • Rare surprises found in baggage handling include dead rats and a complete car disassembled into bags.
  • Baggage moves to stage three, revealing a 35-mile conveyor system with 500 junctions, utilizing microchips and RFID for tracking.
  • Baggage system technicians monitor for issues, with color codes indicating status; jams are common and must be cleared within 1.5 minutes.
  • VIPs with tight connections may utilize a Porsche transfer service for swift transport across the airport.
  • Air traffic control at the world's busiest airport manages 2,700 flights daily, with a focus on seamless operations and safety.
  • Ground controllers handle five parallel runways, ensuring efficient takeoffs and landings with designated controllers for each.
  • Plastic strips with flight plans aid air traffic controllers in managing aircraft movements and ensuring clear communication.
  • TSA's security measures involve x-ray scanners, requiring passengers to remove items like laptops for clearer screening.
  • Specially trained explosive-sniffing dogs like Flint expedite security checks by detecting explosives quickly and efficiently.
  • Wildlife poses a risk to aircraft, with bird strikes being a significant concern; a dedicated team uses pyrotechnics and sound deterrents to mitigate the issue.

38:12

Aircraft Maintenance: Costly but Essential Operations

  • Aircraft overhaul can cost up to £2.3 million, but regular service ensures engines run smoothly for years.
  • Specialist teams work nightly to conduct routine maintenance on planes like the Ron, focusing on tasks like vertical stabilizer maintenance, service, tire changes, brake checks, and engine work.
  • Delta services 21 aircraft types in a hangar with millions of parts, necessitating a vast spare parts store with 2.4 million part types and trillions of actual parts.
  • The system of retrieving parts from the store is managed by state-of-the-art computers, ensuring efficient delivery to mechanics, especially during peak seasons.
  • Delta's maintenance team dispatches 46,6182 parts daily, occasionally facing stock shortages, prompting collaboration with other airlines to avoid grounding planes.
  • Airports conduct essential maintenance during passenger flight suspension, with runways closed weekly for inspections and repairs, including meticulous checks on runway lighting for safe pilot navigation.
  • The airport's night crew ensures thorough cleaning, maintenance, and testing of vital equipment like the Instrument Landing System, crucial for safe landings in adverse weather conditions, before the airport reopens for daily operations.
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