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Ultralight Fields
 A very large backyard will suffice for most ultralights, which can take off and land in as little as 100 feet. Like the original aerodromes of old, these fields are often very open, with no predefined runway. Pilots just start their takeoff run from the far edge of the field that most faces into that day's prevailing wind.
Single Runway
 Most airports feature only a single runway. That's fine, until the wind blows hard from a direction across the runway. That's because airplanes have limitations as to how much crosswind in which they can safely take off or land. With just a single runway, if the crosswind is too strong, no one can take off or land safely.
When making long trips, it's wise to pick an airport with a second crosswind runway just in case the field is experiencing very unusual winds on the day you arrive.
Pilot Controlled Lighting
 Airports often have lights so that pilots can see and safely use the runways at night. Some airports also have taxiway lights. To save electricity, airport lighting can be activated remotely from the air as the pilot approaches the field. This is done automatically using the aircraft's radio. They can even change the brightness. After about 15 minutes without use, the lights go out.
Airports that have lighting will usually also have what's called a rotating beacon that helps pilots find the airport at night. Civilian airports use a rotating beacon with one green and one white light that shine in opposite directions and sweep the sky much like a lighthouse would, but at a very slight up angle. On a clear night, these beacons can be seen at distances of greater than 100 miles.
Fuel
 Airplanes use highly refined and high-quality fuels. Piston aircraft use 100-octane aviation gasoline. Turbine aircraft use Jet A fuel. These fuels are stored in tanks or trucks and are dispensed with pumps like those used by an automobile gas station. Some airports have installed self-serve pumps so that pilots can refuel their aircraft after hours.
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Grass Strips
 If you own enough land, and if your local and state officials don't mind, you can build an airport using a simple grass, dirt, or gravel strip. The best of these will look like groomed golf course fairways. The worst will hardly be recognizable as anything more than a wide rocky path.
Public or private, the soft touchdown virtually guaranteed by grass will impress your passengers, while taking you back to a simpler time in the history of flight.
Multiple Runways
 Many airports have two or more runways. There's typically one longer runway that faces into the historically prevailing wind, and a second so called crosswind runway that's used when the wind is blowing from an unusual direction.
It's not uncommon to find that the crosswind runway is grass, while only the main runway and taxiways are paved.
In other cases, the larger runway serves airline traffic, while the smaller runway serves general aviation (GA) operations.
Airparks
 Just like there are people who live along a golf course in a golf community, there are some people who live with their airplanes at a residential airpark. These are planned residential communities that feature an airport, streets wide enough to taxi an airplane, and garages large enough for airplanes.
Parking
 Most airports have a ramp, which is a place to park visiting aircraft or based aircraft. The individual parking spaces, which can be paved or grass, are called tiedowns, since aircraft are usually tied down between flights so that they don't move with a strong wind.
Airspace and Airports
Different size airports are also surrounded by different types of airspace, which you can read about on the Airspace page.
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Airports with an operating air traffic control tower are often called controlled because the tower often is called a control tower.