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6
ECOCLUB, Issue 89
Runways were re-surfaced by shaving a fine surface in existing concrete and laying a thin layer of new concrete pavement to
make it bond completely, thus reducing the volume of waste generated by 97%.
Reducing Noise
Efforts to reduce aircraft noise include a favourable flight landing charge for low-noise aircrafts, monitoring of aircraft noise,
noise mitigation embankments and restricting aircraft movements at night out of consideration for the local community.
Subsidies are also paid to homeowners and public authorities for soundproofing work and a Community Consultation Centre
provides nearby communities with information on relocation and soundproofing construction methods.
Stakeholder consultation and community information
Attention was paid to communicating environmental initiatives to the community and society by creating a website with
environmental reports in easy-to-read format, an information corner, an environmental report magazine and an interactive,
hands-on display was set up within the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences. Stakeholder consultation also took place during the
development stages of the airport and continues to assess the effectiveness of measures introduced.
Green areas & organic agriculture park created
The airport’s surrounding areas were ‘greenified’, by creating a botanical zone, a rural zone (with a fruit orchard), and aquatic
garden zone and various parkland zones where visitors can stroll and enjoy the natural surroundings and especially cherry trees.
In an effort to re-vitalise agriculture, a “Green Port Eco Agripark”, 19 hectares of restored parkland has been created where
organic farming techniques are being taught.
Recycling & ecotours
The airport authority also takes part in local events, introducing their environmental initiatives and distributing compost made
from airport restaurant’s organic waste. Cleanup campaigns were held and a Kids Cub offers the kids eco-tours (educating them
about nature, solar energy and airplane noise countermeasures).
Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, Greece (http://www.aia.gr/EN/social/environment/statements/body.shtm)
Consideration to the environment is evident in the new Athens airport including landscaping with water-frugal plants based on
irrigation from the airport’s own sewage treatment plant; Noise monitoring and noise hotline telephone; Waste recycling
operations and waste management seminars; energy efficient bulbs have been installed with timer switches.
Urban Green Areas have been created at several Municipalities in the vicinity of the airport including two parks. Training
seminars about “Airports and the Environment” aimed at secondary school students are conducted and annual university
scholarships in for environment/aviation-related subjects are offered.
In an attempt to promote cultural heritage, the airport authority has an exhibition featuring 172 archaeological findings dating
from the Neolithic and Early Helladic through the Post-Byzantine period.
Other airports with eco features include:
Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand: uses a green and environment friendly “co-generation plant” system instead of air-
Ssesamirembe International Solar Airport (SISA), Uganda: the first solar-powered airport.
Hamburg Airport, Germany: certified by the EU. Environmental goals focus on areas, such as refuse management,
energy provision, water pollution prevention, noise protection - both active and passive - air quality maintenance, and
measures to guard against damage to birds - http://www.ham.airport.de/en/umwelt.html
Berlin Airport, Germany: http://www.berlin-
In conclusion, the main features of an eco-airport are similar to any sustainable (eco) project. The issues of recycling (water,
building materials), using alternative energy sources (solar), introducing energy-saving methods (light/temperature sensors),
reducing the number of vehicles needed (i.e. vehicle-free ramps) and minimising noise levels are prevalent. Stakeholder
participation via involvement and education of the local community with regards to protecting the environment (via tours,
seminars) are also major factors as are efforts to promote local culture. Finally, “giving back” some of the land utilised by the
airport via the creation of “green” areas such as parks or organic agricultural land is also important.
The creation of a handful of “eco-airports”
however does not really answer the
many questions surrounding the aggressive
conventional airport expansion, which can be found in websites such as Plane Stupid (http://www.planestupid.com) and
Airport Watch (http://www.airportwatch.org.uk ) in the same way that greener golf courses should not be used as a backdoor
to aggressive golf expansion – Ed.