Roberta Aguirre
Several airports around the world are located near or on water. Some of these include Osaka's Kansai airport, Tokyo's Haneda airport, and Hong Kong's airport. Airports require large areas of flat land, and historically, this type of space has been found in wetlands, marshlands, and floodplains—all near large bodies of water. Airports near water can help curb noise complaints as water creates a natural barrier between jets and people on the ground. However, there are also disadvantages to building airports near water, such as stronger wind gusts due to the lack of windbreaks. Additionally, with natural disasters becoming more common, airports close to sea level are facing the impact of climate change and are having to invest in better protection measures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Noise complaints | Water acts as a natural barrier between jets and people on the ground, reducing noise complaints |
| Safety | A body of water offers a safer landing space in case of emergencies, as pilots can glide the airplane over shallow waters instead of crashing into a hill or building |
| Land availability | Airports require large areas of flat land, and cities tend to have landlocked spaces. Building on water is an alternative to bulldozing neighborhoods or other buildings |
| Cost | In cities with extremely valuable land, it may be cheaper to create a man-made island than to acquire land for an airport |
| Climate change | Airports close to sea level are facing pressure from investors to prepare for the consequences of rising sea levels due to climate change |
| Wind | Airports near water often lack landside hills and other forms of windbreaks, making them more susceptible to wind gusts |
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What You'll Learn
- Airports on water reduce noise complaints
- Safety reasons: Water provides a backup solution for emergency landings
- Airports require large areas of flat land, which are often found near water
- Cheaper to build on water than buy valuable city land
- Climate change: Airports near water are vulnerable to rising sea levels
Airports on water reduce noise complaints
Airports are often located on water due to a variety of factors, including the high cost of land in densely populated cities, and the large amount of space they require. For example, Hong Kong, Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Seoul all have airports located on water.
Airports located on water bodies can help reduce noise complaints from the surrounding communities. Aircraft noise is a significant concern for residents living near airports, and several strategies have been proposed to mitigate this issue. One strategy is to optimize aircraft types, particularly during the takeoff and landing stages, utilizing newer aircraft models with quieter turbo-fan jet engines. Another strategy is to regulate the number of night flights, as reducing night flights can effectively decrease the overall noise-exposed area and population.
In addition to aircraft-specific strategies, proper land use planning can play a crucial role in noise reduction. This includes the installation of sound insulation windows in residential areas near the airport, which can significantly reduce the impact of aircraft noise on the local population. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States is working on projects to reduce congestion and delays at multiple airports, which can indirectly help reduce noise complaints.
While there are no legal penalties for aircraft operators regarding noise levels, many airports actively work with operators to reduce noise through monitoring systems and programs. For instance, the Airport Noise and Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS) is used to measure and monitor loud aircraft noise events, and airports can then collaborate with operators to find solutions. Similarly, the High Range Noise Event (HRNE) Program identifies noise events of 90.0 decibels or higher and contacts the respective aircraft operators to address the issue.
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Safety reasons: Water provides a backup solution for emergency landings
Airports are often situated near water for safety reasons. Water provides a backup solution for emergency landings. Commercial jets can experience mechanical or electrical failure, and depending on the type of failure, the pilot may not be able to land or take off correctly. In such cases, a nearby body of water offers an alternative to guiding the plane into a landside hill, building, or other structure. Most bodies of water adjacent to airports are designed to be shallow, providing a safer landing space in the event of emergencies. Pilots can glide the aircraft over the shallow waters instead of crashing it into an obstacle on land.
The availability of large areas of flat land near water makes it possible for runways to stretch out without the risk of aircraft crashing into something during takeoff or landing. Historically, such spaces have been found on wetlands, marshlands, and floodplains near large bodies of water. For example, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is located three meters below sea level, and Kansai International Airport in Osaka sits around 3.4 meters above sea level.
However, building airports near water also has its disadvantages. Wind gusts are usually stronger around bodies of water due to the lack of natural windbreaks like hills, which can be found inland. Airports near water often lack these landside hills and other forms of windbreaks, which can impact commercial jets during takeoff and landing.
In addition to safety considerations, the proximity of airports to water can also be attributed to practical and convenience factors. Large cities tend to be situated near water, and half of the world's population lives within 60 kilometers of the coast. Given the limited availability of land in densely populated areas, constructing airports on water or near water becomes a viable option. This is especially relevant in cities with high real estate value, where it may be cheaper to create a man-made island for an airport rather than acquiring and demolishing existing structures to build on land.
As natural disasters become more frequent due to climate change, airports near water also face the challenge of protecting themselves from the impact. For example, Kansai International Airport, located on a man-made island in Osaka Bay, experienced severe disruptions due to Typhoon Jebi in 2018, highlighting the vulnerability of airports situated close to sea level to extreme weather events.
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Airports require large areas of flat land, which are often found near water
Airports are often located near water due to several factors, the most significant being the availability of large areas of flat land. Airports require extensive stretches of flat terrain for runways and aircraft take-off and landing procedures. Historically, such expansive flat areas have been found near wetlands, marshlands, and floodplains, typically adjacent to large bodies of water. This proximity to water provides a natural solution for airports requiring significant space.
In addition to the availability of land, water acts as a natural barrier to noise for nearby residents. While cruising at high altitudes, commercial jets are relatively quiet, but during take-off and landing, they can generate considerable noise. Building airports near water helps mitigate this issue by creating a natural buffer between the aircraft and populated areas.
Safety is another critical factor contributing to the placement of airports near water. In the event of mechanical or electrical failure, pilots can guide aircraft over a nearby body of water instead of risking a collision with land-based structures. Most waters adjacent to airports are designed to be shallow, providing a safer landing option in emergencies.
While constructing airports near water offers advantages, there are also disadvantages. Wind gusts, for example, tend to be stronger around water due to the absence of natural windbreaks like hills. This lack of landside elevation can impact commercial jets during takeoff and landing.
In recent times, the idea of building floating airports on man-made islands or artificial structures has gained traction. This concept has been proposed as a solution to the lack of available flat land near existing airports, especially in densely populated cities. While technically challenging and expensive, floating airports could alleviate the need to demolish existing neighborhoods to make way for runway expansions.
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Cheaper to build on water than buy valuable city land
Airports require a large area of flat land so that aircraft have enough room to take off without crashing into something. Historically, this type of space has been found on wetlands, marshlands, and floodplains—all near large bodies of water. In addition, land in cities is extremely valuable, and airports take up a vast amount of acreage. As a result, it is often cheaper to build on water than to buy land in the city.
In fact, it is sometimes cheaper to create a man-made island and put a few runways on it than to purchase land in the city. For example, Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, is situated on a man-made island in Osaka Bay. While this airport has been devastated by strong winds and storms in the past, causing disruption and damage, it is still a viable option for adding airport capacity.
Building an airport on water can also help alleviate problems that cities have with their current airport capacity. For instance, London has considered building an artificial island in the Thames estuary, which would eliminate the need for Heathrow airport and allow the city to repurpose the land. Similarly, San Diego, which only has one runway at its international airport, has seen proposals for a floating airport to increase capacity.
However, building airports on water does have its disadvantages. Wind gusts are usually stronger around bodies of water due to the lack of windbreaks, and airports near water often lack landside hills and other forms of windbreaks. Additionally, environmentalists worry that building artificial islands can negatively impact wildlife and ecosystems.
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Climate change: Airports near water are vulnerable to rising sea levels
Airports are typically built near large bodies of water, such as wetlands, marshlands, and floodplains. This is because large, flat areas are required for long runways to facilitate takeoff and landing, and planes need room to gain altitude, which they can do over water without worrying about tall buildings. In addition, land in cities is extremely valuable, and airports take up a vast amount of acreage, so it is often cheaper to create a man-made island for an airport.
However, this convenience comes at a cost. Airports near water are vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change. A global analysis found that sea level rise associated with a global mean temperature rise of 2 °C would place 100 airports below mean sea level, and 1,238 airports are in the Low Elevation Coastal Zone. This risk is particularly high in Southeast and East Asia, where several airports, such as Osaka's Kansai airport, Tokyo's Haneda airport, and Hong Kong's airport, are on water.
In the United States, LaGuardia Airport in New York City, the 7th largest airport by passenger volume, is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the airport flooded to a level of about 14 feet above Mean Lower Low Water, or about 9 feet above ground level. Climate Central research also shows that there is a greater than 30% chance that the water level will exceed 8 feet above the average local high-tide line at least once by 2030 in Washington, D.C., which would flood parts of Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Europe is also at risk, with Amsterdam's Airport Schiphol, the 11th busiest airport in the world, predicted to be underwater with only half a meter of sea level rise. Kalundborg Airport in Denmark is also at risk from half a meter of sea level rise. While the Dutch have strong water management strategies, such as building dikes and seawalls, these measures may not be enough to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels on airports.
Overall, rising sea levels due to climate change pose a significant threat to airports near water, and urgent action is needed to adapt to and mitigate these risks.
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Frequently asked questions
Airports require large areas of flat land for runways and aircraft to take off. As land in cities is extremely valuable and scarce, it is often cheaper to build on a man-made island.
Yes, Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Haneda Airport in Tokyo, and Hong Kong International Airport are all built on water.
Airports near water often lack landside hills and other forms of windbreaks, which can make wind gusts stronger. They are also more susceptible to flooding and the impact of climate change.
Building an airport on water can help to curb noise complaints as it creates a natural barrier between the jets and people on the ground.
