As aviation charges ahead to become one of the world's fastest growing industries, with passenger numbers and cargo volumes projected to double in the next 20 years, Plane Truth sounds a highly informed note of scepticism. Rose Bridger provides a comprehensive account of aviation's impact, including how new airports are gobbling up farmland and wildlife habitats and inflicting noise and air pollution on communities. She reveals the extraordinary level of subsidy for the industry, from government expenditure on infrastructure to tax breaks, which helps to support the industry in the face of rising oil prices and the global economic downturn. Plane Truth demolishes industry claims that fuel-efficient aircraft and alternative fuels can enable growth without increasing climate change and reveals the symbiotic relationship between aviation and the wider socio-economic problems facing humanity. 'Don't miss this timely and vital book as climate extremes and instability start to impact all of us. Bridger exposes the truth - make sure you read it in this vital book!' - Miriam Kennet, Co-founder and Director of the Green Economics Institute Rose Bridger works on environmental issues in the U.K. in the areas of policy, practical projects and community development. She has been a consultant for the local food sector and campaigned against air freight expansion for a number of years. Plane Truth Aviation's Real Impact on People and the Environment By Rose Bridger Pluto Press Copyright © 2013 Rose Bridger All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7453-3032-7 Contents Acronyms, viii, Glossary, x, A Note on the Text, xi, Acknowledgements, xii, Introduction, 1, 1 The Future of Flight, 7, 2 Feeding the Fuel Tanks, 27, 3 Local Environmental Impacts, 44, 4 Threats to Wildlife and Farmland, 62, 5 Green Garnish, 76, 6 Air Cargo, 90, 7 Industrial Cargo, 103, 8 Arms, Aid and Accidents, 119, 9 Concrete and Overcapacity, 133, 10 Counting the Costs, 147, 11 Real Estate and Revenue Streams, 168, 12 How Aviation Keeps Growing, 187, Notes, 197, Index, 261, CHAPTER 1 The Future of Flight The World's Busiest Airports For many years, rivalry between airports to rank as the busiest in the world, handling the highest number of passengers, was a two-horse race between North America's two main hubs, Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta. O'Hare topped the list from its opening in 1962, but Atlanta began to catch up in the 1980s, and the two airports were in close competition until 1998, when Atlanta edged ahead. Atlanta has been the world's busiest passenger airport every year since, extending its lead over O'Hare. In 2011, it handled more than 92 million passengers. Atlanta Airport is to the south of the city. Seen from above, the grey rectangle, delineated east-to-west by five parallel runways, dwarfs other urban features. O'Hare maintained the position of the world's second busiest passenger airport until 2009, when it was overtaken by Heathrow. But Heathrow has maintained its position as the world's busiest international airport, handling over 64 million international passengers in 2011. Atlanta is predominantly a domestic airport, handling flights between US destinations; 171 of its 199 gates are used for domestic traffic. A successful campaign against a third runway curtailed further growth at Heathrow, but expansion plans lie dormant rather than dead. In 2012, British prime minster David Cameron broke a pre-election 'no ifs, no buts' pledge not to allow a third runway, setting up a commission to rule on the issue of Heathrow expansion. One of the options under consideration is a plan to increase the number of runways to four, entailing encroachment of the airport footprint over land to the west of the established site. In 2010, Beijing Airport handled nearly 74 million passengers, overtaking Heathrow to take second place behind Atlanta. Beijing widened its lead over Heathrow in both 2011 and 2012. John D. Kasarda, a business professor at the University of Carolina and a prominent advocate of aviation expansion, contrasted the rapid construction of Beijing's third terminal with the stalled growth and protracted uncertainty over Heathrow. Beijing's new terminal was built from 'from raw ground' in the same time frame as the planning enquiry for Heathrow's Terminal 5. Kasarda acknowledges the role of autocratic government in the speed and scale of the expansion, specifically the aviation ministry with its doctrine 'Democracy sacrifices efficiency'. Fifteen villages were flattened and 10,000 residents were displaced with no compensation. There was no debate over plans for Beijing's second airport; not even the location was disclosed. Aviation expansion in Dubai is even more ambitious. Dubai Airport is on course to match Atlanta's passenger numbers by 2018. In one phase of the expansion programme, for Concourse 2 and Terminal 3, Dubai Airport was reputedly the largest construction site in the world. Pre