John, That undoubtedly would be me..;). Yes indeed! Airport surfaces are ramps, aprons, hardstands, taxiways and runways...never a tarmac. Someone please feel free to show me an airport chart that will indicate a direction to the "tarmac".
Mr. Miller - you are NOT being friendly to the non-aviators who so desperately want to sound "cool". Of course there is no "tarmac" in the United States. Those of us who do know what we are blabbering about know that "Tarmac" is an English-licensed-to-the-French name for asphalt. As a bit of history, during the Vietnam war, some reporter who needed to sound important, wrote something that was picked up by the major press " General Westmoreland strode purposely across the Tarmac"...and it stuck. Yes, because a French contractor did pave some of the runways, taxi-ways, and parking areas on Vietnamese airports, it is technically correct to call those "Tarmac". But again - show a little sympathy. You apparently made the mistake of assuming this forum is primarily for legit aviators toexchange tech. info. on AVIATION. Now you know better - that this is a place where the general public can come in here and blabber away to their hearts content about their need to be "accepted" - to see their thoughts in type. Accept it.
You can call it any darn thing you want to! :-) Just don't say "tarmac" to that guy I met at the convention this year. It was tough not to laugh at how worked up he got about it!
Peter and THRUSTT, You are taking John's comments way too seriously. The smile ":)" at the end indicates that it was meant to be taken with triviality. Even though am I quite animated and on a mission to rid the use of the "T"-word, it is more fun than serious, and I tell that to everyone I share with except the media. John was only sharing that I practically go into convulsions when I hear that word as I continue my mission..:).
The official term for the area where aircraft park is in fact, according to the ICAO and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the APRON The FAA’s Surface Movement Guidance and Control System Advisory AC No: 120-57A defines the Apron as “A defined area on an airport intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refueling, parking, or maintenance.” http://flyingwithfish.boardingarea.com/2013/01/19/airport-lingo-ramp-vs-apron-vs-tarmac/
To also add to this ICAO standardization, the FAA has noted for airport operators to remove the word "RAMP" from any NOTAMS, etc.. and replace it with APRON. So "Ramp" will become less used over coming years.