The Catalan airport debate has been characterized lately by the lack of its own initiatives, a magnet for totologists, which create an “artificial climate”, unrealistic, populist, with technical proposals through the media and debates where very interesting concepts are mixed such as Management Models, Runway and Terminal Capacity, Airport Systems, CO2 Emissions, Acoustic Impact, Tourismophobia… which are dealt with in a disorderly manner, which systematically slows down decision-making.
If, in addition, some institutions use the Airport as an instrument at the service of their own interests, instead of a key infrastructure at the service of the territory, we find ourselves in a unique and unprecedented scenario in our European environment.
It is time to change this situation. We know that in order to advance in the development of the future Barcelona Airport, it is essential to reach a consensus on positioning from an environmental point of view. If we find the solution to manage the Delta, we will find the solution to expand the Airport. A correct diagnosis of the different elements of the Delta, an Action Plan for improvement and guaranteeing a coordinated management of the agents involved will be key to breaking with “the taboo of La Ricarda”, a space that is otherwise very degraded.
The technical-operational solution is relatively simple, it is time to create a Technical Commission as the Government promised, in which environmental technicians with knowledge of the Delta and technicians from the airport field make a serious assessment of the environment and propose solutions. Solutions that allow the current situation to be unblocked and transfer to the institutions with decision-making power the best alternatives that allow a positive global environmental balance to be achieved.
From the operational point of view, the options to increase runway capacity (availability of time slots to operate airlines (slots), are limited to two scenarios: 1) Use of independent runway configuration, the best option from the strictly operational point of view and 2) Lengthen the current runway mar.
The first option, approved in the Environmental Impact Statement (01/09/2002), modifies the current acoustic footprint of the cities around the Airport and its implementation depends on the institutions of the territory with decision-making power.
The second option, depending on the length that is decided, totally or partially cancels the current interference of the arrivals runway for aircraft that do not have enough take-off run on the current sea runway. Obviously, from the operational point of view, the objective would be the use of pure segregated runways, that is, that all departures can be made from the current extended sea runway.
It is important to refer to the fact that the option of using the Girona and Reus Airports, which have an important role to play in the Catalan Airport System, does not cancel the current interference with the use of the land-side runway when aircraft cannot take off from the sea runway, and therefore does not solve the runway capacity limitations of Barcelona Airport.
The challenge is to find the balanced solution in the development of the Airport with the improvement of the Delta and its management. To do this, we must involve the affected parties in the solution. The airport manager, in isolation, cannot offer a global response to the current environmental problem of the Delta, since it receives pressure not only from the Airport, but also from the Port and from the surrounding residential, industrial and agricultural development.
The increase in runway capacity at Barcelona Airport, essential to facilitate the increase in long-distance routes, is compatible with good environmental treatment of the action. Extending the current sea runway can serve to improve Ricarda, today a natural space that can clearly be improved, and at the same time reduce the acoustic impact on the airport environment.
We are facing a great opportunity, let’s take advantage of it!
