a large commercial airplane speeds down a long paved strip with its engines roaring and wheels spinning rapidly. The aircraft begins lifting its nose as it reaches takeoff speed on the concrete surface. Behind it, another plane waits at the end of the same strip, preparing for its turn to depart. Ground crew members with orange safety vests wave guidance signals from the sides of the paved area. Air traffic controllers in the nearby tower observe the operations through large windows. the strip of hard ground along which aircraft take off and land