You may have already encountered this problem.

To not have any clue about making your own layout for your model airport.

That’s understandable.

We are not all familiar with airports and we are not all engineers.

However, this is the first step of making your airport.

And probably one of the most important.

Personally, I have been facing numerous issues with my layout for more than 2 years.

When I began, I did not take the time to think about it.

I just followed my random inspiration.

And I started making my layout, in order to have it as quick as possible.

The result ?

A lot of things were not realistic at all.

Spaces between taxiways were not respected, runway dimensions were too big…

Thus, I decided to remake almost 80% of my diorama.

But I was not going to make the same mistake.

I had to find a tool, a reference, to help me having realistic dimensions…
… while still making an airport from my imagination.

I began to look on the Internet

Searching airport charts, diagrams, and ICAO standards about airports.

To be honest, it helped me a lot understanding the way airports were built.

Understanding the dimensions standards for each area of an airport.

Learning ground signs, lighting system and much more.

But I was still facing the same issue :

How do I make my layout with all this theoretical information ?

I had knowledge, but I still did not know how to proceed in reality.

So I kept looking for the Holy Grail on the Internet, when I thought about Google Earth.

I zoomed in to my nearest airport.

I had the perfect overview, with many different perspectives.

Apron, taxiways, runways. Signs, buildings, roads.

The inspiration was right under my nose.

My goal was not to copy the airport at 100%.

I still wanted my own airport, but I wanted a realistic one.

Thus, I redesigned my layout according to what I saw on Google Earth.
I remade my apron with a realistic ground, having the right colours for each material (concrete and asphalt).

But how did I get the right dimensions for everything ?

By using the “ruler” tool on the top tab.

You just have to measure something on the ground, and scale it to your airport.

My fear of having something disproportionate was gone forever.

And one more advantage :

You can zoom so much to the ground that you can access to almost each accurate detail of most of the airports through the world.

And having a great idea of road and apron markings, for example.

It changed my vision of making my airport diorama.

Since, I am still using Google Earth for every improvement I want to make.

To conclude:

If you begin your own airport or plan to remake some areas by yourself,

Having a look at Google Earth first could help you.

And you can even access the app from your smartphone,

Having your free inspiration constantly with you.

And you, where do you get your main inspiration from ?