Environmental Impacts of Airport Operations

Lutehr’s article focuses on the importance of understanding the environmental impacts of airport operations at both local and international level.

According to Lutehr, only by having senior airport management develop such understanding would help in improving environmental quality and relations with airport neighborhood and stakeholders. Lutehr further argues that Airport management should ensure that various stakeholder groups are involved in matters pertaining to airport pollution and therefore agree on ways of pollution control.

The most important stakeholder groups include airport neighborhoods that get affected by pollution and airlines whose activities lead to the pollution itself. Lutehr states water quality, noise, and air as the main forms of pollution emitted from airports and should therefore receive special and utmost attention.

The author has improved his arguments through in depth research. For instance, he has borrowed heavily from EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations concerning pollution. Luther has supported his arguments at two levels. The first one regards what should be done during the planning (construction and expansion) session and during the actual airport operation period.

I completely agree with Lutehr’s arguments considering the impact of airport pollution. Most importantly, Lutehr has pointed the importance of brainstorming of possible pollution even before airports are constructed or expansion projects are undertaken. In other words, feasibility studies of pollution should be undertaken when airport construction and expansion plans are underway.

This would ensure inclusion of pollution control plans in airport operations. As a stakeholder in airport pollution, I find myself well convinced by Lutehr’s arguments, especially considering the wide body of knowledge that supported his assertions. The author has indeed done a good job of convincing readers.

References

Lutehr, L. (2007). Environmental Impacts of Airport Operations, Maintenance, and Expansion. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33949.pdf.

Wayne, L. (2009). Airport Projects Delayed or Canceled. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/business/23airports.html?_r=4&src=twt&twt=nytimestravel&pagewanted=print