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Topic 30 environmental issues in aviation

Environmental concerns over the impact of civil aviation in general have grown significantly in recent years. There is no sign that they will diminish and nearly everyone agrees that the debate will grow in importance in years to come with the increase in traffic. Passenger numbers fell after September 11, 2001 and during the SARS crisis in 2004, but the current and forecast worldwide growth rate is at least around 5% per year. Specific issues include aviation’s contribution to global warming, noise and air quality around airports, as well as the destruction of the environment caused by airport development itself.

Aircraft engine emissions contribute to global atmospheric problems such as climate change. One solution to this could be to improve engines and make them more fuel-efficient. Another option would be to increase fuel-efficiency by improving the aerodynamics of aircraft and building them with more lightweight materials. Alternatively, governments could impose very heavy taxes on long-haul flights. The tax money could then be invested into forestation and other environmental projects. Another alternative to this would be to reduce the number of domestic flights altogether and transfer passengers from planes to trains.

Concerns over aircraft noise led to noise abatement procedures to minimize noise for people living near airports. The procedures are not new but they are becoming stricter as traffic increases and complaints grow. Depending on the airport concerned, authorities might restrict the hours when aircraft can land or take off, impose a steep rate of climb or descent on aircraft or ban older, noisier airplanes from using the airport altogether. Aircraft constructors are under increasing pressure to produce quieter aircraft and to a certain extent they are succeeding. When the Airbus A380 flew for the first time in 2005, many people were amazed by how quiet it was.

Air quality around busy airports is another concern. In recent years, partly because of low-cost boom, traffic flying over London has increased greatly. Some child welfare groups claim that there is a direct link with the increasing rate of asthma among children in the London area. The aviation authority contest this.

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