WHY THIS 3rd RUNWAY ?

 

GO BACK 2ND CHAPTER - THE ANALYSIS COMMITTEE

2) On September 9th 1997 it was decided to create an analysis committee that would study the different alternatives to expand the airport. It would begin working in the beginning of October 1997 :

A) Why was this analysis committee created ?

B) Who formed a part of this group ?

C) What alternatives to expand the airport were studied ?

 

A) WHY WAS THIS ANALYSIS COMMITTEE CREATED ?

Lluís Tejedor (Mayor of El Prat) (ICV) The Mayor of El Prat de Llobregat, Lluís Tejedor (ICV), didn't want to expand the Barcelona airportNews published in the press on this topic. Instead he opted to develop the Girona airport and to connect it to Barcelona by a high-speed train.
Up against the pressure to expand the airport by the rest of the administrations, an analysis committee, proposed by the City Hall of El Prat, was created to study the different alternatives and their consequences.

 

 

B) WHO FORMED A PART OF THIS GROUP ?

6 people with technical profiles specialized in aeronautic and environmental fields:

  • 2 from the Ministerio de Fomento (the Spanish Ministry for Infrastructures and Transport)
  • 2 from the Department of Territorial Politics and Public Works (Generalitat)
  • 1 from the City Hall of El Prat de Llobregat
  • 1 from the City Hall of Barcelona and the Commonwealth of Municipalities
The view from Gavà Mar: NOBODY DEFENDED US IN THIS COMMITEE

 

 
Jordi Portabella (ERC)

Simultaneously, in the Parliament of Catalonia, Jordi Portabella (ERC) formulated this question :

  • At that moment: in the opposition
  • At the moment of the opening of the third runway: economic promotion councilman for the City Hall of Barcelona and promoter for international flights in the CDRA
 
- Parlament de Catalunya - exp: 314-06364-05 (Question) (September 22nd, 1997)

 

Pere Macias (Secretary of Territorial Politics and Public Works) (CiU)

Pere Macias (CiU) responded:

  • At that moment: Secretary of Territorial Politics and Public Works
  • At the moment of the opening of the third runway: senator in Madrid who would question the Spanish government over this issue.

 
- 19971022 Parlament de Catalunya - Answer from the Secretary of Territorial Politics

 

 

 

C) WHAT ALTERNATIVES TO EXPAND THE AIRPORT WERE STUDIED ?

1 – Strengthening of a multi-airport system Barcelona-Reus-Girona leaving the Barcelona airport how it was

Conexión de los aeropuertos catalanes con tren de alta velocidad

The analysis committee rejects it because it comes to the conclusion that only 10% of the market has a theoretical potential to operate from Reus and Girona. This statistic is far from the capacity needed for full development

The view from Gavà Mar: A completely acceptable solution

 

2 – Construction of a new airport with larger capacity

The analysis committee rejects it because physically it seems inconceivable to situate a new airport in a geographic site in which it would be effective. Moreover, to situate it outside that site would provoke a critical alteration of the territorial equilibrium of Catalonia.

The view from Gavà Mar: A perfect solution

 

3 – The expansion of the present airport

Option 3.1 - Runway parallel to runway 02-20 (transverse runway)

Runway parallel to runway 02-20 (transverse runway)

The analysis committee rejects it because:

  • It would provoke more noise for the closer municipalities of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and El Prat de Llobregat.
  • They point out that the head of the main runway 02 (nearest to El Prat) does not admit at that moment landings or takeoffs, which means that the new runway would be restricted to only partial use as well.
The view from Gavà Mar: Completely acceptable solution

 

Option 3.2 - Runway parallel to runway 07-25 (main runway) on the LAND side

Runway parallel to runway 07-25 (main runway) on the LAND side

The investigation group rejects it because:

  • It would provoke noise pollution problems for 100,000 people in El Prat de Llobregat and, to a lesser degree, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Viladecans and Gavà
  • Technically not viable as a result of the presence of the Garraf massif and the proximity of El Prat de Llobregat.
The view from Gavà Mar: A very acceptable solution

 

 

Option 3.3 - Runway parallel to runway 07-25 (main runway) on the SEA side.

This was the pre-selected option, and they studied various locations:

The view from Gavà Mar: DISASTER.
Even though at a larger distance from the main runway, it would affect less.

 

Option 3.3.1 - To situate the runway at less than 1,035 meters from the main runway

To situate the runway at less than 1,035 meters from the main runway
  • The airport could not operate with independent runways
  • This would limit the development of the new terminal

 

Option 3.3.2 - To situate the runway at 1,035 meters from the main runway News published in the press on this topic

  • Initially this was the proposition supported by the City Hall of Barcelona (PSC+ICV+ERC) and the City Hall of El Prat (ICV) News published in the press on this topic
  • It would maximize the free coastal strip and minimize the impact on the pine grove
  • The space between runways would not permit the construction of a terminal between them
  • The airport could not operate with independent runways
  • The construction would provoke a partial suspension of runway 02-20 during the works
  • The maximum longitude of the runway would be 2,800 meter

 

Option 3.3.3 - To situate the runway at 1,190 meters from the main runway

  • Initially this proposition was supported by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia (CiU) News published in the press on this topic
  • The airport could not operate with independent runways
  • It would allow for the maintenance of runway 02-20
  • The maximum longitude of the runway would be 2,650 meters

 

Option 3.3.4 - To situate the runway at 1,350 meters from the main runway

  • This was the second proposition supported by the Ministerio de Fomento, headed by Rafael Arias-Salgado (PP) News published in the press on this topic
  • The airport could operate with independent runway
  • It would allow for the construction of a new terminal between the two runways
  • It would not affect runway 02-20
  • The maximum longitude of the runway would be 2,800 meters, which means that some types of aircrafts would not be able to use it

 

Option 3.3.5 - To situate the runway at 1,500 meters from the main runway

To situate the runway at 1,500 meters from the main runway
  • This was the first proposition supported by the Ministerio de Fomento headed by Rafael Arias-Salgado (PP) News published in the press on this topic
  • This option facilitates, to a greater degree, the expansion of the flying field and the new terminal
  • However, this option would produce the greatest affects on the protected zones reducing the coastal strip.

 
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