Jazmin Li
Airports are often located near water, and in some cases, they are even built on it. One such airport is Kansai International Airport in Japan, which is built on a purpose-built artificial island in Osaka Bay. The airport was constructed on an artificial island to minimise noise pollution for city residents and to relieve overcrowding at Osaka International Airport. Another airport that is surrounded by water is Malé Airport in the Maldives, which is built on its own atoll, Hulhulé, with the runway sitting just six feet above sea level.
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What You'll Learn
Airports near water: fewer noise complaints
Airports are often constructed near bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans. While this is partly for safety reasons, it is also a strategic decision to curb noise complaints. At cruising altitude, commercial jets are relatively silent to people on the ground. However, during takeoff and landing, when planes fly at a lower altitude, they can be extremely loud. Building airports near water creates a natural barrier between jets and people on the ground, resulting in fewer noise complaints. Water doesn't prevent airplane noise, but it consumes space that would otherwise be occupied by noise-sensitive areas like residential neighbourhoods.
One notable example of an airport built on water to minimise noise complaints is Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan. The airport is located on a purpose-built artificial island in Osaka Bay and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. This design not only minimises noise pollution for city residents but also enables 24-hour operations, which was not possible at the previous airport site. The construction of Kansai International Airport involved significant engineering challenges, including building a seawall, excavating mountains, and solidifying clay using sand drains.
Another airport strategically built near water to reduce noise complaints is Malé Airport in the Maldives. The runway is built just six feet above sea level, and the approach involves descending over the 26-island Maldives archipelago, giving the impression of skimming along the water during touchdown.
While constructing airports near water can help reduce noise complaints, it also presents certain disadvantages. Wind gusts tend to be stronger around bodies of water due to the lack of natural windbreaks like landside hills. This can create challenges for aircraft during takeoff and landing, requiring careful consideration in airport design and aircraft operations.
Despite the challenges, the strategic placement of airports near water remains a common practice to balance operational needs with the impact on surrounding communities. Each airport site is unique, and careful planning is essential to optimise safety, minimise noise, and ensure the comfort of both travellers and residents.
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Water as a safety net for jets
Water has been a crucial factor in the construction and design of airports. While airports can be built almost anywhere, many are located near water bodies. One of the primary reasons for this is safety. Commercial jets, despite their technological advancements, are not immune to mechanical or electrical failures, which may lead to difficulties during takeoff or landing. In such scenarios, a nearby body of water offers a strategic backup solution. Pilots can guide the aircraft over the water, avoiding a potential collision with landside hills, buildings, or other structures. Most water bodies adjacent to airports are designed to be shallow, reducing the risk of significant damage to the aircraft and its occupants.
The presence of water also serves as a natural barrier between jets and people on the ground, helping to mitigate noise complaints. While commercial jets are relatively quiet at cruising altitudes, the noise levels during takeoff and landing can be significantly higher due to the lower altitude. By constructing airports near water, the surrounding water bodies act as a buffer, absorbing some of the sound and reducing its impact on nearby residential or commercial areas. This careful planning ensures a more peaceful environment for individuals living and working near airports.
One notable example of an airport strategically built near water is Kansai International Airport in Japan. This airport is located on a purpose-built artificial island in Osaka Bay. The decision to build the airport offshore was influenced by the need to minimise noise pollution for Osaka's residents and the limited space available due to the surrounding mountainous region. The artificial island increased Osaka Prefecture's area, and the runways, connected to the mainland by a bridge, appear to float on the water.
While water provides safety and noise reduction benefits, there are also challenges associated with constructing airports near water. One significant concern is the impact of wind gusts, which tend to be stronger around water bodies due to the lack of natural windbreaks like landside hills. Additionally, in certain weather conditions, water bodies can pose a risk. For instance, Kansai International Airport experienced flooding in 2018 when it was hit by Typhoon Jebi, leading to a temporary suspension of operations.
In conclusion, water serves as a strategic safety net for jets, providing a backup option in case of mechanical or electrical failures. Additionally, it helps reduce noise complaints by creating a natural barrier between the jets and populated areas on the ground. However, the presence of water also brings challenges, such as stronger wind gusts and potential flooding in extreme weather conditions. Careful planning and engineering are necessary to maximise the benefits while minimising the risks associated with constructing airports near water bodies.
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Airports with dramatic runways
Airports are often constructed near a body of water, such as a lake or ocean, to curb noise complaints. Water acts as a natural barrier between jets and people on the ground. However, this also means that wind gusts are usually stronger due to the lack of windbreaks. Here are some airports with dramatic runways:
Kansai International Airport, Japan
Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, is built on a purpose-built artificial island in Osaka Bay. The two runways appear to float on the water and are connected to the mainland by a four-kilometre bridge. The airport was built on an artificial island to minimize noise pollution for city residents and to overcome limited space due to the surrounding mountainous area.
Paro Airport, Bhutan
Paro Airport in Bhutan is surrounded by 6,000-meter peaks, and pilots must be specially trained to land here. They bank their jets in a sharp right turn before swooping in low over farmhouses.
Harstad Airport, Norway
Harstad Airport in northeast Norway can feel like landing on an ice rink as it is surrounded by icy landscapes.
Malé Airport, Maldives
Malé Airport in the Maldives is built on its own atoll, Hulhulé, only six feet above sea level. The runway is so close to the sea that it feels like skimming along the water during touchdown.
London City Airport, UK
When approaching London City Airport from the west, pilots make a sharp right turn over Waterloo Station and then follow the river to touch down at the Docklands airport.
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Airports with views of the surrounding area
Airports are often constructed near bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans, to curb noise complaints. Water acts as a natural barrier between jets and people on the ground. In addition, a body of water near an airport offers a safety net in case of mechanical or electrical failure during takeoff or landing. Here are some airports with impressive views of their surroundings:
Kansai International Airport, Japan
Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, is built on a purpose-built artificial island in Osaka Bay. The airport's two runways appear to float on the water. The airport was constructed on an artificial island to minimize noise pollution for Osaka's residents. The airport is connected to the mainland by a four-kilometre bridge.
Paro Airport, Bhutan
Paro Airport in Bhutan is surrounded by 6,000-metre-high peaks. Pilots must undergo special training to navigate the challenging descent into a narrow, high-altitude bowl. After banking their jets in a sharp right turn, pilots swoop in low over farmhouses before landing.
London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom
When approaching London Heathrow Airport from the east, passengers can enjoy impressive views of iconic London landmarks, including Canary Wharf, the Shard, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the London Eye. The capital's parkland is also more evident from the air than from the ground.
Venice Airport, Italy
Passengers approaching Venice Airport should sit on the right side of the plane to enjoy the best views. Nine times out of ten, according to a pilot, you will fly in across the lagoon, taking in sights such as the Lido and Giudecca, before skimming low across the water and landing parallel to the Byzantine bell towers of Torcello.
San Francisco International Airport, United States
Although the airport itself is unremarkable, the approach and takeoff at San Francisco International Airport often include views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the city, the Bay, and the Marin Headlands.
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Airports built on artificial islands
There are several airports around the world that are built on artificial islands. These airports are often constructed in this manner due to a lack of available land in the region. For instance, Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport in China is set to become the world's largest artificial island airport. The city of Dalian, with a population of about 8 million, is located on a peninsula with water on three sides and is surrounded by mountains, making it difficult to find suitable land for an airport.
Similarly, Chubu Centrair International Airport, the principal airport for Nagoya in central Japan, is situated on a 4.7-square-kilometer artificial island. Kitakyushu Airport, a regional airport in southern Japan, is also built on an artificial island in the western Seto Inland Sea. Kobe Airport in Japan is another example of an airport built on an artificial island off the coast of Kobe, across Osaka Bay from Kansai International Airport.
Kansai International Airport in Japan is also worth mentioning. While not entirely on an artificial island, it features floating runways that appear to float on the water of Osaka Bay. These runways are connected to the mainland by a four-kilometer bridge and help minimize noise pollution for city residents.
In addition to the examples in Asia, Malé Airport in the Maldives is built on its own atoll, Hulhulé, with the runway just six feet above sea level. The dramatic setting of this airport provides a unique experience for passengers, with the surrounding water creating a sense of skimming along the water during touchdown.
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Frequently asked questions
Airports are often located near water to curb noise complaints. Water creates a natural barrier between jets and people on the ground, resulting in fewer noise complaints.
The main reason is safety. A body of nearby water offers a backup solution in case of mechanical or electrical failure during takeoff or landing.
Kansai International Airport in Japan is located on a purpose-built artificial island in Osaka Bay.
Some other airports with runways surrounded by water include Malé Airport in the Maldives, Barra International Airport in Scotland, and Gibraltar International Airport.
Building an airport near water has some disadvantages, such as stronger wind gusts due to the lack of windbreaks. Additionally, there may be increased risks of flooding or damage from storms and typhoons.
