Which area of an airport does not have an Object-Free Area surrounding its concourse buildings?

The correct answer identifies O'Hare International Airport as not having an Object-Free Area surrounding its concourse buildings. An Object-Free Area (OFA) is a defined space around certain critical airport structures, like runways and taxiways, where no objects, including parked aircraft and vehicles, should be present. This is crucial for ensuring the safety of aircraft operations during takeoffs and landings.

O'Hare, as one of the busiest airports in the U.S., has undergone multiple renovations and expansions, which may not conform entirely to the conventional Object-Free Area requirements for surrounding concourse buildings. In contrast, LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International, and San Francisco International Airports generally have well-defined Object-Free Areas that enhance their operational safety and comply with regulations set by aviation authorities concerning airport design and layout.

This distinction highlights that not all airports uniformly apply the principles of Object-Free Areas, particularly in more congested or older airport designs like O'Hare, which has a unique set of operational challenges and configuration constraints.