How Newcastle Airport goes green

May 20 2008 by Karen Wilson, The Journal

Newcastle International Airport has invested in numerous activities to reduce the impact it has on the surrounding environment:

Emissions

The team at Newcastle airport constantly monitors air quality with the use of highly specialized nitrogen dioxide analysis tubes – 22 are located around the airport.

Five lagoons at the airport play an important role in collecting all surface water, and protect the local water course.

Water monitoring is carried out monthly around the airport site.

All operational vehicles run on bio-diesel, which reduces the emissions generated.

Noise pollution

Five noise monitors have been located in the community around the airport. These are at Ponteland Middle School, Seaton Burn High School, Woolsington, Dinnington First School and Wallbottle Community High.

The noise and radar mapping system in air traffic control helps to create flight paths to avoid as many residential areas as possible.

Newcastle International uses continuous descent approach (CDA) for planes landing. This means the planes glide in to land in a smooth and continuous decent. Before the introduction of CDA, planes would land using a stepped approach, which used an increased amount of fuel and also generated more noise.

A dedicated 24-hour noise complaints line is available. Tel: (0191) 214-3569.

Despite all of these sophisticated activities Newcastle Airport uses to help the environment, they also use some very simple methods too. Newcastle International greatly supports any recycling within the airport. All plastics confiscated at security search points are recycled and a strict corporate recycling policy exists.

Newcastle International will continue to develop and think of new ways to reduce the effect the aviation industry has upon our environment.