Minister Anciaux wants to close Brussels Airport at Zaventem

[teddybAIR]

Stij,

Although your idea has been thought of and shows some real logic, I don't think you're actually suggesting a solution for a problem there...You're merely confronting people with a dilemma, a decision that is not their responsibility to take. And you're attaching some great consequences to it: the value of their homes.

I'm not saying it has no value whatsoever in it, on the contrary, maybe it needs a little more thinking over to be a valid theory to operate on. Now, its merely transferring consequences and responsibility to other people than the true decision makers who are paid for it to do so.

[Stij]

Stij,

Although your idea has been thought of and shows some real logic, I don't think you're actually suggesting a solution for a problem there...You're merely confronting people with a dilemma, a decision that is not their responsibility to take. And you're attaching some great consequences to it: the value of their homes.

I'm not saying it has no value whatsoever in it, on the contrary, maybe it needs a little more thinking over to be a valid theory to operate on. Now, its merely transferring consequences and responsibility to other people than the true decision makers who are paid for it to do so.

TeddybAIR,

Your comment about the value is correct, I forgot to add that the value of there homes should be calculated as if the Airport wasn't there.

I realise that the decision rests then with the people who live there. But maybe they're the most competent to take the decision if one can live with an airport. If not, they have the opportunity to move away without lossing the value of their houses.

Cheers,

Stij

[eurofighter]

I have read with interest the different responses and ideas for the future of Brussels airport. I am a non-Belgian, resident in the north-eastern part of Brussels Capital region, directly under the take off, and with beautiful weather, landing path of runway 07L/25R. I like the sight of planes taking off, particularly the cargo B747 of Singapore airlines which roars over Evere and Schaarbeek now and then.

I am afraid that the discussion around the airport is rather poisoned by certain politicians, including Mr Anciaux, to manipulate the underbelly feelings of their voters, be it from the North, the Eastrand, Brussels Capital area, or the north eastern part of the airport.

Zaventem will never move away from its current location. As already earlier mentioned, only this year the airport reached again the level of flights and passengers it had in 2001. The current infrastructure is under used, whereas heavy investments have been made in the last 10 years. More flights, passengers and cargo could be accomodated with the current infrastructure. Except that many residents around the airport do not like the nightflights and early morning flights. However hardly anyone complains about the daytime flights.

Due to the inability to reach a political agreement last year on the demands of DHL in my opinion the future for Zaventem is in sight. In a couple of years DHL will leave to Leipzig airport. As a consequence the number of night flights will decrease with thousands per year.

When the number of nightflights significantly decreases, and the owners of Zaventem would focus their growth plans on passenger traffic during the day and evening, then in my humble opinion nobody sensible, residents and politicians, could object to the future development of the airport. Brussels as European capital needs a decent centrally located airport with good connections to European and the world.

The only ones I could image to continue to object would be a handful of extremist greens and people who moved in the Zaventem area in the last couple of years.

[b-west]

As always, it takes a foreigner to look at the situation from a distance and give us argueing Belgians the big picture. Well done Eurofighter

[Atlantis]

Here's my suggestion (It's possible I mentioned this before):

1. Make a list of ALL the houses and appartments that suffer from BRU.
2. Estimate the value of these houses and appartments.
3. Offer the owners of these houses and appartments the choice of selling there house or appartment at the estimated value or signing a document that they accept the airport with all its noise etc.
4. Some owners will sign others will sell.
5. Offer the sold houses again to the market at the estimated price. Those who buy have to sign the document that they accept the airport with all its noise etc.
6. Some will be sold, others will not. Those who are not sold will be those closest to the airport, directly under the runways.
7. Redevelop these areas into office buildings.
8. Sell these offices.

This is not new. This is how Schiphol is handling the problems at this moment and they are questioning the whole thing now like you mention. These are now their words, not mine: "we have regret to spoil a lot of money to isolate the houses near the airport".

[Stij]

Dear Atlantis,

I don't know the situation at Schiphol, but I never wrote the word "insulation".

Cheers,

Stij

[earthman]

Insulation doesn't help in the summer, when you keep your windows open.

[eurofighter]

Insulation doesn't help in the summer, when you keep your windows open.

It's always good to look what happens in neighbouring countries and not make their mistakes again. In Amsterdam airport Schiphol the Dutch government policy for decades has been to support the growth of Schiphol as hub airport, ensuring good connections worldwide, beneficial for the economy. It has paid off as the airport has been the third biggest in continental Europe for a long time.

But like here around Brussels airport many houses and neighbourhoods continued to be built in the wider area around Schiphol airport, increasingly limiting the possibility for planes to take off and land without affecting the residents. Like here, many people suggested an airport to be built in the sea or alternatively in the IJsselmeer. However, like Belgium, the Netherlands is also a very small country. Moving an airport 30 or 40 km will alleviate the people around the original location of an airport, but surely affect again many other people, even if you would build it in a - relatively - unpopulated area.

The current policy for Schiphol is to continue developing at the current site, but with stricter application of flight paths, insulation of some houses, stricter rules on older, noisier, planes that can use the airport. But most important would be, not to build new houses in the direct vicinity of the airport.

[b-west]

Insulation doesn't help in the summer, when you keep your windows open.

Give them an airco

[Atlantis]

Dear Atlantis,

I don't know the situation at Schiphol, but I never wrote the word "insulation".

Cheers,

Stij

The insulation programm is one of the items in the whole protection of the airport. Even habitants signing a letter to not protest against is airport is one of those. We had a debate about that less a year ago on this forum.

That's what I mean to say, it's not new and we have to learn about the mistakes of others.

[earthman]

Perhaps the government should start a (secret) brainwashing operation around airports? Making the people actually ENJOY the sound of planes flying over.

I was in the Amsterdamse Bos the other day, the planes were landing on the Buitenveldertbaan (I think?), and they were coming in very very low over the forest. Except for one plane, I think it had to make a go-around, it seemed much too high to make the runway, and it probably was too close behind the preceding plane as well.

But I'm sure most people don't go there to enjoy the planes.

[TC-MNE]

nobody who has a cartoon, a funny picture about this item?
I'm writing about it in my French homework...

[killerwhale65]

MAREC made some nice ones already in the daily newspapers, but i am not sure if they are collected somewhere.

[TC-MNE]

found one, made by 'Gazet van Antwerpen'

[LX-LGX]

Totally off topic, I know, so webmaster feel free to remove this:

there are interesting developments in the northern part from Belgium which could put on hold the political carrier from our enemy nr 1 for a few years (*).

the man who wanted to close BRU isn't sleeping well these days. The Flemish press revealed that he, as minister, has waived a 400.000 euro loan from elderly home De Overbron (legal status: vzw = asbl = foundation). It's not that unusual that a loan is waived in non profit activities, but his brother Jan Anciaux is director there, thus on the payroll, and the honourable minister himself was even administrator (not on the payroll) till 01/02/2007.

(*) in a civilized word, this scandal would mean the end of his political carrier. But in Belgium, he just will have to remain off screen for a few years.