The Booming Airport
In the 1970s there was a major debate about the future of Birmingham's Airport. Arguments became quite heated, and both sides tried to use statistics to support their case. Local residents did not want the airport to expand and claimed that expansion was neither necessary nor desirable. The airport planners argued that the airport was congested and that there was a rising demand for its services. Comments from two speeches are given below.

Local resident's speech
'The number of passengers using the airport is not rising; indeed there was a drop in the number of passengers in 1974. There were nearly three times as many aircraft landing in 1973 as there were 15 years earlier in 1958. When you consider the amount of noise these extra planes make, it is clear that enough is enough, and the airport should not he expanded.'

Speech of airport expansion scheme expert
'The number of passengers passing through the terminal continues to grow; there was a tenfold increase in the number of passengers between 1955 and 1975. This shows the demand there is. When you consider that there were less than twice the number of planes landing in 1974 than there were 15 Years earlier in 1959, it is clear that planes are becoming larger and we are using them more efficiently. Bigger aeroplanes need longer runwavs. We are providing a service to the community, and the airport must be expanded and be given better facilities.'

Table 6 shows the number of passengers and aircraft over the years 1955 to 1977.

(Source: Civil Aviation Authority Statistics - Airport Guide)
Table 6 - Passengers and aircraft at Birmingham) Airport, 1955 to 1977 (selected years).

1. Use the figures in Table 6 to comment on the two speeches. Do you think the speeches were fair?
2. Did either of the speakers tell any lies? Even if they did not, why might their speeches still not be fair?
3. How many more passengers were therein 1977 than in 1968?
4. How many more aircraft were there in 1977 than in 1968?

Some aircraft carry freight, not passengers.

5. Why do you think the number of aircraft has not risen proportionately as much as the number of passengers?

Discuss the following questions with a friend.

What facilities are there at an airport?
Do they, all need extending?
Do the numbers of passengers and aircraft show that the airport needs extending?
What other informiation might you need to help you decide?

6. Use the results of your discussion and the figures from Table 6 to write two lists. One list is of the arguments for expansion of the airport, the other list is arguments against the expansion of the airport.

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