Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Airport could reopen for emergencies

Friedman scheduled to open for business May 10


By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

Despite dozens of large trucks and heavy construction equipment moving like hungry ants on Friedman Memorial Airport's runway and taxiways, the temporarily closed airport could be reopened momentarily to accommodate emergency helicopter and airplane flights if needed.

In response to a question, Airport Manager Rick Baird told the five-member Airport Authority at a special meeting Thursday, April 27, that standby provisions are in place to reopen the field in emergencies. The board meeting was in lieu of a May meeting so some members could take vacations.

That would most likely mean medical evacuation flights, Baird said.

Friedman has been closed since April 24 for major runway and taxiway construction and lighting improvements. It is scheduled to reopen May 10. No flights by air carriers or general aviation aircraft are allowed until then.

The main element of the $3 million project, funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, is to add a 600-foot safety zone at the south end of the northwest-southeast aligned runway before an equivalent amount at the north end is closed. Other work includes new storm drains and new runway lightning.

Baird said that prior permission would be required for emergency flight operations off the closed field.

While confirming emergency flights could be permitted, Baird showed the board photo slides of heavy equipment working around the runway, explaining why Friedman could not remain open for regular operations.

Baird also confirmed that a longer closing of some 37 days probably would be scheduled for May and June next year to completely resurface the runway—either with what is known as porous friction course or with shallow perpendicular grooves—to provide landing aircraft with non-skid surfaces.

Baird described the PFC surface as like a Rice Krispies bar.

He said more airports are now choosing to groove runways. He said the engineering staff is continuing to evaluate grooves versus PFC.

The project will cost another $3.5 million, also funded by the FAA.

He said this would be the last scheduled airport closing before Friedman closes and a new airport opens around 2016.

Airport Authority member Len Harlig asked Baird if the airport had a sprinkler system. No, Baird said—a sprinkler system was shut down some 20 years ago and the airport's water rights relinquished.

Baird later said he had no further details, since the system was shut down before his arrival as manager.




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