A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for providing data about an airport from an airport mapping database. A first set of elements are stored in the airport mapping database, wherein the first set of elements are visible objects and are identified using a set of geometric features. A second set of elements are stored in the airport mapping database, wherein the second set of elements are non-visible objects and are identified using the set of geometric features. A first element from the first set of elements is associated with a second element in the second set of elements based on an operational relationship between the first element and the second element. A responsive set of elements containing one element from the first set of elements and another element from the second set of elements based on associations between elements in the first set of elements and the second set of elements are returned in response to a query.