Thu, Oct 14, 2010
A 700 Foot Extension Would Preserve Existing commercial
Service
The FAA has told Hilton Head Island airport
(KHXD) officials that any proposal to extend the runway on the
resort island to less than 5,000 feet would receive a cool
reception from the agency, and would be difficult to justify in
terms of funding.
In a letter sent to county administrator Gary Kubic, the FAA's
Scott Seritt said that an extension of less than 700 feet "would
not justify the cost."
The argument is a familiar one pitting residents living near the
airport against the airports' desire for a longer runway. The
Island Packet reports that consultants studied extensions
of 300, 700, and 1,100 feet, and some town officials have said that
the 700 foot option would preserve the turboprop-based commercial
service to the airport, increasing safety for those aircraft while
minimizing disruptions to the surrounding residential
neighborhoods. But the 5,000 foot runway would still not be
sufficient for larger business jets or regional jets operated by
the airlines. Regional jets would require a runway of at least
6,500 feet.
The FAA seems to be pushing Hilton Head to go for the longest
option studied, a 5,400 foot runway. Seritt said in his letter that
if the county does not make the longest possible extension now, the
funds for such projects might not be available in the future.
KHXD
The paper reports that county administrator Kubic said the
likelihood of reduced federal funding for the shortest option make
it "very unlikely," and that a 5,000 foot runway seemed to be a
good compromise. He said that the airport does not generate enough
revenue to undertake any runway extension without the 95 percent
funding offered by the FAA. State and local sources split the
remaining 5 percent.
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