Ota Airport
Encyclopedia
Ota Airport was the planned site for the new Lisbon airport located in Ota
, 50 km north of Lisbon
, the capital of Portugal
from the late 90's till January 2008 when the project was aborted. There is already a small airstrip there but that was to be removed prior to construction. Completion of the airport was projected around 2017. The airport would have two runways on the borders of the airport property and should be able to accommodate the Boeing 747
and perhaps the Airbus A380
. Ota Airport would likely serve the airlines and their destinations that currently serve Lisbon Portela Airport. After over eight years of debate other options such as Alcochete at 38.774903°N 8.88193°W, were still being discussed as a viable alternative. The deadline for a final decision was set by the Government as December 2007). Another commonly cited alternative is Alverca do Ribatejo
at 38.885834°N 9.028611°W and the Montijo Air force base at 38.715251°N 9.032822°W. The decision process can be qualified as a typical analysis paralysis
.
According to final governmental decision, the OTA location was turned down in favour of Alcochete Airport
, an area used currently for Portuguese Air Force
exercises. The location is closer to Lisbon center and to the Center of mass
of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area
, with future expansions guaranteed. Planes can land and take off from different directions. Also, the site is already state property.
As the decision is instead in Alcochete, the Vasco da Gama bridge will be the main road connection, while a ferry boat and a nearby third crossing on the Tagus River would also serve the airport.
is also strong. According to polls as at November 2007, public preference is clear for Alcochete (63%) vs Ota (15%) http://jn.sapo.pt/2007/11/14/primeiro_plano/cavaco_aeroportonas_maos_lnec.html.
But still lacks an environmental impact study to confirm that Alcochete is indeed the best place to build a large infrastructure like an airport, and that same environmental impact study could overturn that decision over to Ota again.
Ota (Alenquer)
Ota is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Alenquer. It has a population of 1,198 inhabitants and a total area of 46.36 km².-Ota airport:...
, 50 km north of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, the capital of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
from the late 90's till January 2008 when the project was aborted. There is already a small airstrip there but that was to be removed prior to construction. Completion of the airport was projected around 2017. The airport would have two runways on the borders of the airport property and should be able to accommodate the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
and perhaps the Airbus A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
. Ota Airport would likely serve the airlines and their destinations that currently serve Lisbon Portela Airport. After over eight years of debate other options such as Alcochete at 38.774903°N 8.88193°W, were still being discussed as a viable alternative. The deadline for a final decision was set by the Government as December 2007). Another commonly cited alternative is Alverca do Ribatejo
Alverca do Ribatejo
Alverca do Ribatejo is a city and a parish in Vila Franca de Xira Municipality in Portugal. It covers an area of 17.89 km² and had a population of 29,086 as of 2001. It was promoted to city status in 1990. It is a city and a suburb near the Tagus River , in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area...
at 38.885834°N 9.028611°W and the Montijo Air force base at 38.715251°N 9.032822°W. The decision process can be qualified as a typical analysis paralysis
Analysis paralysis
The term "analysis paralysis" or "paralysis of analysis" refers to over-analyzing a situation, so that a decision or action is never taken, in effect paralyzing the outcome. A decision can be treated as over-complicated, with too many detailed options, so that a choice is never made, rather than...
.
According to final governmental decision, the OTA location was turned down in favour of Alcochete Airport
Alcochete Airport
New Lisbon Airport is the currently planned site for construction of a new Lisbon Airport, scheduled to replace or complement the current Portela Airport in the year 2017.-History:...
, an area used currently for Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
exercises. The location is closer to Lisbon center and to the Center of mass
Center of mass
In physics, the center of mass or barycenter of a system is the average location of all of its mass. In the case of a rigid body, the position of the center of mass is fixed in relation to the body...
of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Lisbon Metropolitan Area is a territorial zone that includes 18 municipalities in Portugal. The smaller Grande Lisboa area is a subregion of the NUTS II Lisbon Region by its own right....
, with future expansions guaranteed. Planes can land and take off from different directions. Also, the site is already state property.
Transportation
The proposed Portuguese TGV high speed train would have a stop at Ota with connections to the rest of the country.As the decision is instead in Alcochete, the Vasco da Gama bridge will be the main road connection, while a ferry boat and a nearby third crossing on the Tagus River would also serve the airport.
Controversy and Public Opinion
The decision process has been controversial, with defenders of the various offers arguing with all sorts of facts and visions. Local lobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
is also strong. According to polls as at November 2007, public preference is clear for Alcochete (63%) vs Ota (15%) http://jn.sapo.pt/2007/11/14/primeiro_plano/cavaco_aeroportonas_maos_lnec.html.
But still lacks an environmental impact study to confirm that Alcochete is indeed the best place to build a large infrastructure like an airport, and that same environmental impact study could overturn that decision over to Ota again.