Hardstand

[1][2] The term may also be used informally to refer to an area of compacted hard surface such as macadam.

They also exist, paved or unpaved, at places where road vehicles are parked.

[citation needed] At airports, hardstands enable airliners to board or offload passengers using stair trucks or mobile ramps, and (on smaller aircraft) built-in airstairs, without needing dedicated jet bridges.

A hardstand is configured with a slope for drainage, which with unpaved surfaces serves to slow deterioration.

[3] Hardstands are paved with materials including concrete heavy-duty pavers, which give maintenance flexibility over other products as well as strength for the life of the project; or asphalt; or macadam.

An F-4 Phantom and an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft on an area of hardstand
Enola Gay maneuvers into position at a hardstand on returning to North Field on Tinian following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima , 1945