Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Federal grant allows major changes at Terre Haute Regional Airport

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) – The Terre Haute Regional Airport has many updates in the works. But the most recent change comes from safety concerns.

The Terre Haute Airport has three runways and one is in need of a facelift.

“Really our main concern with this was safety,” said the Executive Director of Terre Haute Regional Airport, Jeff Hauser.

Aside from the crumbling pavement and expensive upkeep, the risks with this runway created concern.

“One of our runways, our third and shortest runway, has what they call a hotspot in it,” said Hauser.

Airport officials like Jeff Hauser say a hotspot is where two runways intersect at a 45-degree angle instead of a 90-degree angle. This creates a risk and confusion for the pilots.

“Depending on the wind, the wind could turn them at an angle where it looks like they’re landing on the right runway when really they’re on the wrong one,” said Hauser.

Thanks to a new federal grant, the airport is transforming this runway into a taxiway. The federal government awarded the airport with a $3.5 million grant for the project.

“Our two main runways are in great shape, but the age on this one was starting to show and without that federal aid we weren’t able to take care of it,” said Hauser.

The new area will be a designated spot for planes to get to one of the two main runways. A transformation that will keep the airport in line with the most recent FAA guidelines.

“Inherently there’s always going to be risks in flying but if we can eliminate as many as possible it just makes it much safer for everyone,” said Hauser.

Ensuring every takeoff and landing is a smooth ride.

Construction will begin in the spring. Airport officials say sections of the runway will be closed but the airport as a whole will remain open. This project is expected to be completed by the end of summer.

Source:   http://wthitv.com

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