| 05 those in charge at Heathrow Airport officially | | | | emissions, most generally, but now official caps on |
| published a report that detailed plans for a third | | | | a variety of harmful greenhouse gases. |
| runway and a sixth terminal, and in 2007, the | | | | When Ruth Kelly gave the green light to finalised |
| transport secretary of the time Ruth Kelly ratified | | | | plans for the project last year, she announced |
| the proposals, setting out in more specific terms | | | | that it would not breach emissions guidelines |
| how the project aims would be achieved. | | | | because of advances in aircraft technology; but |
| The announcements were met with strong | | | | Dr. Gunter Wilfert, part of the New Aero Engine |
| dissent. Some estimated that the construction | | | | Core Concepts (NEWAC) team, suggests that |
| would mean the demolition of some 700 homes, | | | | engine technology for aeroplanes might develop |
| and others feared that its effect on pollution | | | | more slowly than is specifically needed for |
| levels would not be reconcilable. | | | | projects like the Heathrow case: |
| With Terminal 5 completed this year, critics are | | | | "Large sums of money have recently been |
| now voicing their concerns once again; Terminal 6 | | | | committed in Europe to reducing the negative |
| is not due for completion until 2020, but it is | | | | environmental effects of aircraft use, and |
| suggested that it will bring British emissions levels | | | | research is already developing technologies which |
| over its allocated limit. As reports show that | | | | can improve the performance of engine |
| Britain has the highest annual CO2 emissions from | | | | components. However, the limitations of the |
| air trips across the whole of Europe, the concerns | | | | existing technologies mean that the industry |
| of critics are certainly not unfounded. | | | | cannot reach the goals set in the Vision 2020 |
| Indeed the E.U have reportedly warned the British | | | | report made by the Advisory Council of |
| government about Terminal 6 and the third | | | | Aeronautical Research in Europe (ACARE). New |
| runway, believing that it may not concur with their | | | | engine core configurations with heat management |
| pollution guidelines; their nitrogen oxide limits, which | | | | and active systems, as well as advanced |
| come into force in 2010, and must be met by | | | | combustor technology, have to be investigated to |
| 2015, will hit dangerous levels in Britain if current | | | | reduce CO2 and NOx [Nitrogen Oxide] |
| airport expansion goes ahead. The E.U have also | | | | emissions...NEWAC will validate the new |
| warned that expansions at Heathrow would put | | | | technologies in rigs or core engine demonstrators |
| nitrogen oxide levels far beyond the maximum | | | | between 2008 and 2010. This will enable the |
| limit, even when the caps are first brought into | | | | engine manufacturer to introduce these innovative |
| force. That means that the government and | | | | technologies in the next generation of aero |
| Heathrow officials would have just five years to | | | | engines which will make it to market around the |
| reduce levels to the accepted maximum, and that | | | | years 2013-2015." |
| date corresponds with planned completion | | | | What is clear, then, is that NEWAC research does |
| estimates for Terminal 6. | | | | not concur with comments made over recent |
| In short, then, supporters of the expansion | | | | years from supporters of the Heathrow |
| project will have a difficult time justifying the plans | | | | expansions project; once again the initiatives that |
| given this apparent condemnation from Europe's | | | | would reduce the emissions of Terminal 6 will only |
| governing body; the benefits of the project - | | | | come into effect after nitrogen oxide limits are in |
| increased revenue and improved job opportunities, | | | | force. |
| to name the perhaps the most significant - | | | | If expansion at Heathrow is to be a legitimate |
| struggle to outweigh the disadvantages that are | | | | success, it is an issue that needs to be resolved |
| associated with increased air travel; CO2 | | | | quickly and effectively. |