Reasons for extending airports rather than creating new ones

Citation

Barnes, J.H. (2003), "Reasons for extending airports rather than creating new ones", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 75 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2003.12775baa.001

Reasons for extending airports rather than creating new ones

Reasons for extending airports rather than creating new ones

John H. Barnes is a Hon. Life Fellow (Cov Un); Hon. Doctor of Technology (DMU); Former H M I for Aerospace Engineering Education; President - The Association of Colleges of Aerospace Technology (ACAT) and The Association of Aerospace Universities; The Aviation Training Association Council, British Council Associate Adviser, Honorary Teaching Fellow – Coventry University and Technical Editor – Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Warwickshire, UK

Keywords: Aircraft industry, UK

There are proposals involving the building of two new airports and/or possible extensions to six existing ones. In my opinion, the best compromise is the expansion of some existing facilities, mainly as the cost and time-scales of developing new airports are formidable with an unjustified compromising of valuable countryside. The present estimate of around 6 billion pounds for a new airport is too modest and action on the preservation of already inadequate resources is required now, not in many years time.

Apart from better financial control and value, the expansion of some airports would help share more widely, the problems of residential blight and the advantages of more convenience to regional populations. Hence, there must be a very cautious approach to any investment in new facilities which will have a limited life. It is also the case that the world is not in the financial state and mood to countenance vast expenditure on projects which have a lower priority than those really necessary to sustain existing provisions and life-styles. For example, well ahead of the needs of air travel are the maintenance and improvement of housing provision, food quality, water and power supplies, air quality and medical, road and rail facilities.

Proposals by the government for improvements in air transport facilities are seen necessary to help generate confidence in UK – business, commerce and industrial concerns. This is by illustrating the intention for the country to continue as a world class travel centre and a major provider for the aerospace industry. However, a major unacceptable situation is long term blighting of residential property. It is wrong to keep people worried for long periods when decisions are made, and generous compensation should follow.

Whatever has been thought the case, a continuing economic policy of global and continual growth is not sustainable. Impending shortages of essential resources have long been recognised and even without having substantial growth a looming serious problem is that of not being able to cope with existing energy and other material demands. Hence, every encouragement should be given towards the attainment of stability in resource availability which will help stave off an inevitable decline in the availability of material resources, in the face of unstoppable until catastrophic, population increase. The Royal Academy of Engineering has only recently criticised the government of being seriously optimistic in the forecast of energy supplies, particularly gas, stating that with this, serious troubles could occur as soon as 2005 for UK.

The problems of falsified stock markets and company profits, corporate theft and dubious other data such as with cost and price indices, unemployment and crime etc. illustrate the reasons for a present ever decrease in public confidence in the ability to provide economic data and forecasting. Much of the weakness in data acquisition is due to rapid changes in the economic and employment scenes. The onset of IT promised rapid and efficient data recording and analysis, has not been achieved despite 20 years of massive investiture in computer facilities.

It is therefore, time to be very cautious and make every effort to retain a status quo rather than to expand in a manner likely to more quickly burn out existing fragile economies.

Aircraft use

As far as aircraft use is concerned, the following is likely.

Business travel will be discouraged by increased cost and the increasing use of video conferencing etc. Leisure travel will suffer from ever-increasing cost. Travellers are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the inconvenience, health hazard, discomfort and time wasting, involved with air travel. Danger when flying though still small, is an increasing worry to many.

Safe and reliable aircraft operation will be an increasing problem due to a long-standing shortage of aircraft technicians. Better component reliability and improved maintenance technology have continually offset this but dependence on this follows a law of diminishing returns.

Runway utilisation trends

Projections of increased runway use and length can be reduced by taking into account more of modern developments.

Runway use can be made more efficient with the steady introduction of larger and more efficient aircraft such as the Airbus 380. This will carry over 700 people which is around twice that of the present large aircraft and up to five times that of the medium size aircraft. It is, however, basically a long haul aircraft and such giant aircraft will have very powerful engines (such as the R-R Trent series) and better structural materials (resin-bonded composites and alloys). This will help to decrease the take off distances. Existing shorter haul aircraft can also be re-engined for higher power and less noise and pollution but there is a limitation due to ground clearance problems mainly due to increased engine nacelle size. Also, helping shorten runways has improved braking and thrust reversal innovations.

A better rationalisation of airline operation is also needed. This will help fill aircraft more efficiently and hence reduce, the number of flights and the use of runway.

The future level of air transport

This is a future of more costly operation and eventual decay due to the following factors.

1. 1.

   A decrease in the availability of presently used hydrocarbon fuels.

2. 2.

   The high cost of substitute fuels. This is due to the energy needs and inefficiency in the synthesis of synthetic hydrocarbons and the electrolysis of water to provide hydrogen.

3. 3.

   Liquid hydrogen is much more bulky than non-renewable hydrocarbon liquid fuels. It also needs massive insulation to keep it at −252°C. Gaseous hydrogen is very bulky and unless better methods of storage by chemical (hydration) methods are achieved it will be impossibly demanding on aircraft space. Added to this are formidable safe fuelling and ground storage problems. The justification for a vast investiture in costly new aircraft is on the grounds of higher efficiency and less pollution but at what pace will this be when over 2,000 airliners are at present moth-balled in the Nevada Desert?

4. 4.

   Liquid hydrogen fuels (methane, butane, propane etc.) are not easy to use for automotive use and hence even more of a problem for aeronautical use.

Implications of extended runways and airports

These are very varied and localised with opposition from residents, but discrete support from many with business interests. The problems are listed below.

• •

  A planning blight on residents effected due to possible pollution and noise. The worst cases are those who are in line with runways noisy take off and landing and those affected by stacking circles. Those living in the flight path are increasingly badly affected at distances of around 4 miles from touch down and 6 miles from take off. Those living at the side of runways will be affected increasingly badly, if nearer than 2 miles. Being up wind is much better as regards noise than the opposite. Stacking will be between 6 and 16 miles in radius at 10 –15,00 feet, this being most noticeable at night but this can be a serious hazard any time.

• •

  The inconvenience and blight of local road “improvements” to cope with increased traffic.

• •

  The problem of fuel dumping is generally denied but happens occasionally when a fully fuelled aircraft has to return. With this over 60 tons of kerosene can be involved with UK aircraft. USA craft use more dangerous petroleum fuels.

Reasons for having new or extended airports

1. 1.

   The enhancement of national prestige.

2. 2.

   A temporary boosted aerospace transport, leisure and manufacturing scene.

3. 3.

   More local and regional employment.

4. 4.

   Better convenience of access to air travel.

Conclusion

To make a reasonable compromise is the best solution and extension is a better solution than the building of new airports. This is because it is better to preserve the present resource and economic situation by allowing modest growth by some airport expansion, which will never the less eventually decline as fuel runs out. Airport expansion decisions need to be made sooner rather than later. Decisions must be reasonably quick to avoid long term blighting. Good compensation is essential for those genuinely affected.

Do not count on a great increase in air travel. Because of increasing costs and short term questionable competition, many airline companies are also struggling. This is illustrated by the financial problems of even major airlines with the moth-balling of over 2,000 aircraft in the Nevada Desert and the continual instability in financial returns and passenger demand!

An impending fuel shortage has also not been taken seriously enough by the airport planners.