Environment & sustainable developement

Pau-Pyrenees Airport is committed to environmental protection.

Since the turn of the millennium, particularly since the terminal was built, the CCI has prioritised environmental protection and the reduction of energy costs. These priorities are always factored into every project, every time the Pau-Béarn CCI makes changes to the airport.

The airport is continuing to improve environmental performance, deploying it by:

  • Applying environmental legislation to future projects and existing facilities alike
  • Preventing environmental hazards by considering the environment in daily activities, in all disciplines (assistance, maintenance, cleaning, purchasing, investments, sales, etc.)
  • Raising awareness and encouraging airport staff members and key players to be involved
  • Communicating and promoting dialogue


In keeping with the Environment Round Table and the commitments undertaken by the Union des Aéroports Français, the airport is establishing a clear environmental policy by taking a set of targeted measures for reducing and controlling nuisances in the following areas:

  • Noise
  • Flora and fauna
  • Water
  • Air
  • Energy
  • Waste

By participating in the international Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program developed by ACI, Pau-Pyrénées airport is demonstrating its long-term commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

ACA management commitment

Flora & fauna

Protection, sustainable planning, natural environment management, and biodiversity conservation are growing priorities. For the airport, the challenge is to preserve ecosystems while also limiting dangers to animals, particularly birds.


Objectives

  • Implement targeted, non-disruptive scaring techniques
  • Protect wetlands
  • Provide sustainable, distinct management for landscaped areas
  • Prioritise organic and natural treatments

Pau-Pyrenees Airport noise pollution

For people living near the airport, noise pollution is the most disruptive problem.

The frist Pau-Pyrenees Airport noise pollution charter was signed in 2004.

The noise reduction measures taken in the vicinity of the airport have been formalised in the noise pollution management charter drawn up in cooperation with aeronautics professionals, mayors, and residents associations under the aegis of civil aviation and approved by the Prefect.

View all the official local texts.

 

View all the official local texts (french) :

Charte de Gestion des Nuisances Sonores Pau-Pyrenees

 

Appendix

 

Noise pollution charter

For people living near the airport, noise pollution is the most disruptive problem. The noise reduction measures taken in the vicinity of the airport have been formalised in the noise pollution management charter drawn up in cooperation with aeronautics professionals, mayors, and residents associations under the aegis of civil aviation and approved by the Prefect. The charter is structured on three points:

 

  1. Improving communication
  2. Improving procedures and compliance
  3. Evaluating noise, reducing and preventing disruption

 

Objectives

  • Improve flight paths
  • Limit practice runs
  • Limit the use of APUs (Auxiliary Power Units)
  • Replace GSE equipment with less noisy equipment

 

The Pau-Pyrenees Airport noise pollution charter was drafted in 2004.

View all the official local texts

 

Part.1 -  Généralités (Overview)

 

Part.2 - Activités (Activities)

 

Part.3 -  Plan d'actions (Action plan)

 

Part.4 - Annexes (Appendices)

 

The charter is currently being updated based on discussions with residents and will be approved by the Prefect.

Water

Water is a rare and precious resource. The airport faces two challenges due to the nature of its activities.

  • It consumes significant amounts of drinking water and industrial water, which then become wastewater.
  • Waterproof surfaces occupy a large portion of the premises (runway, parking area), generating run-off water.
  • Repeated use of antifreeze and black ice removal products leads to additional pollution, as does fuelling aircraft with kerosene.

 

The drinking water network has been replaced, and consumption at the airport is monitored regularly so that we can better control our consumption.
In keeping with water legislation, the airport has taken measures to store, separate, and continuously measure rainwater with the aim of protecting run-off areas.
We have replaced and improved our frost- and ice-removal equipment and invested in training, allowing us to better control our de-icing methods, therefore ensuring aerial safety and optimising product use at the same time.


Objectives

Encourage sustainable water usage
Maximise the use of non-harmful and biodegradable products
Prevent the risk of pollution, especially hydrocarbon pollution
Make regular, qualitative evaluations of wastewater
Reduce the impacts of run-off from the airport area in the aquatic environment (Water management study)

Ensuring compliance with water legislation by 2015 will cost €1.8 million.


2009
  • Terraces created along the runway to retain water
2012
  • Three basins created for rainwater storage and treatment
  • Basin created to isolate and treat accidental pollution
  • Polluting substances monitored continuously via COD testing
2013/2014
  • Rainwater collection networks repaired and/or replaced, treatment and bypass
  • Structures set up between runway collectors and the Hialé watercourse
  • Networks repaired in commercial car parks

Air

Air pollution is, without a doubt, the form of pollution that we will focus on in the coming years. The airport’s emissions of pollutants must be reduced to limit greenhouse gases and to preserve air quality at the airport. Many European airports have begun analysing and compensating for carbon emissions.
http://www.airaq.asso.fr/

 

Objectives

  • Gradually replace existing vehicles with new vehicles that have a reduced impact on the environment
  • Provide electricity to airplanes to limit the use of auxiliary power generators
  • Limit the use and dependency on air-conditioning, heating, and power generators that emit pollutants
  • In the long term, replace the cooling tower and the air conditioning units
  • Assess the quantity of greenhouse gases through carbon accounting

Energy

To preserve resources and to limit or possibly reduce energy costs, the airport has taken measures to reduce energy consumption. A 2009 energy evaluation revealed areas where energy could be saved, and demonstrated potential benefits in the longer and shorter term.

 

Measures  

  • Reduce energy consumption by instating an energy-saving action plan
  • Continue replacing incandescent and halogen lights with LED or energy-saving lights
  • Improve thermal insulation in buildings
  • Consider renewable energies (biomass or other), etc.

Waste

The airport encourages sorting to reduce the amount of waste it produces. Raw materials wasted, increasing waste management costs, insufficient waste treatment capacity... it is high time to reduce waste production.

Several relevant measures have been taken in recent years.

 

Objectives

  • Raise awareness amongst airport employees and users about sorting by creating a practical information guide to educate people and encourage them to dispose of waste properly
  • Organise collection for bulky waste
  • Control unauthorised dumping
  • Include clauses on cleanliness and environmental friendliness in construction/renovation specifications and contracts
  • Limit the production of hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste at the source
  • Provide a continuous stream of information about waste production in the airport with the aim of reducing waste