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You know those things that the plane runs on before you takeoff, well it’s called a runway. A runway has to be flat and smooth because if the plane hit a bump it would probably go off course. There are more than 20 different runway layouts! A plane should land and takeoff into the wind to create the most possible lift.
The big tall building that is right in the middle of the airport is called a control tower. Some jobs in the control tower are monitor radarscopes; others scan runways and taxiways, issuing orders to pilots. Being in a control tower is like being in a small and efficient office. While each controller has his or her own set of responsibilities, they all need to work together as a team.
Bibliography
How an Airport Really Works by George Sullivan pages 21, 23, and 73
The Airport Builders by James E. Kelly and William R. Park page unnumbered: Airport Runways