Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Governments from the Central-Eastern European region, taking into account
their respective national priorities and circumstances, are encouraged through the
support of the international community to promote sustainability by integrating
economic, social and environmental considerations within decision-making in the
transport sector. Yet, the enlargement process is challenging European transport pol-
icies through forecasts of strong, associated transport growth. Current trends in the
transitional economies show tremendous modal shifts from large market shares of
rail and public transport, which are environmentally preferable, to growing car use
and road freight. There is clear evidence that current trends are not sustainable in
the transport sector of these regions; but aviation has changed tremendously since
the early 1990s.
It can be logically argued that environmental issues associated with aviation are
key limiting factors for future growth of the industry. For economies in transition
within Central-Eastern Europe, this gives rise to a clear contradiction. There is a
need to develop aviation in order to compete more fully in the global economy and
also to assist the process of the EU enlargement. However, environmental measures
and standards prescribed by European legislation and ICAO requirements have to
be demonstrably achieved. This has clearly been a difficult challenge because avia-
tion within EIT countries has been often characterized by an old and inefficient air-
craft fleet. There is universal recognition that, globally, air transport is undergoing
radical change and that EITs must adapt accordingly in terms of airline deregulation
and compliance with new and stringent environmental regulations, and the adop-
tion of cost-effective measures.
New, environmentally sound infrastructure will be needed. By including envi-
ronmental and health considerations early in the planning process, the likelihood of
finding good solutions increases dramatically. In working towards sustainable trans-
port and aviation for Europe, it is important to recognize differences between mem-
ber states - for example, with regard to environmental problems and sensitivities; policy
objectives and responses; behavioural responses to policies; and geographical loca-
tion and economic development. A solution could be the restructuring, regrouping
and integration of airlines to enable them to meet the challenging regulatory and eco-
nomic developments currently taking place in the international air transport arena.
It is clear that the modernization and development of air transport in the Cen-
tral-Eastern European region is a priority; but are these governments able to fulfil
this demand, knowing that aviation is a very expensive sector and that the invest-
ment is long term? For the last ten years, Central-Eastern governments have tried to
meet the challenge by phasing out all Chapter 2 aircraft and buying new Chapter 3
aircraft. However, the possibility of Chapter 4 aircraft in a very short period of time
has left these countries with little hope of developing national fleets, due to financial
constraints. Nevertheless, this represents an environmental gain, as fewer flights will
be operating in the region.
My own view is that, at present, aviation is environmentally sustainable in the
Central-Eastern region. To meet the demand for mobility by air, Western airlines can,
and do, service this part of Europe, while airport infrastructure is developing within
the Western standards framework. Current trends in European aviation are based
upon a simple premise: that aviation can only be managed in a sustainable way if many
countries give up the national pride of having their own fleet and integrate with the
