What is defined as any location used for the landing or take-off of aircraft?

The term that encompasses any location used for the landing or take-off of aircraft is "aerodrome." While "airport" is a common term that many people may use interchangeably, an airport is a specific type of aerodrome that includes facilities for passengers and cargo. An aerodrome can be a wide range of sites, including airports, heliports, and even other take-off and landing fields that may not have commercial services or extensive infrastructure.

An airport typically has the infrastructure to handle commercial air traffic, passenger terminals, air traffic control towers, and other amenities that support operations. When considering the broader definition, aerodrome effectively encompasses all types of landing and take-off locations, making it the appropriate term in this context. In contrast, a heliport is dedicated specifically to helicopters, and a runway is merely a component within an aerodrome or airport designed for the movement of aircraft on the ground.