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Board of Aviation To Paint Runway

Information reprinted with permission of the Courier Times, local newspaper New Castle, Indiana

Board of Aviation to paint runway

Posted: Monday, November 3, 2014 1:17 pm

The local Board of Aviation Commissioners recently voted to make some improvements to the New Castle-Henry County Municipal Airport.

The board heard from John Baer, who provides consulting services to the group. Baer said a quote from Accurate Striping of Yorktown to repaint the ground markings at the local airport for $6,850 would be "hard to beat" and suggested the board hire the firm and get the work done as soon as possible.

 

The board agreed to do only the minimum painting required, the runway centerline and numbers, as the group anticipates receiving funding needed to construct a new runway in the next year or two.

"Spending seven grand is worth the elimination of a potential liability," board member Brad Crowe said.

Mayor Greg York suggested moving forward with the needed work as soon as possible and the rest of the board agreed that would be in everyone's best interest.

It was also reported the Federal Aviation Administration has identified two issues at the airport on County Road 400S. One is the proximity of the nearby county road to the west end of the runway and the other is a large tree located on private property that could create a possible obstruction for aircraft approaching the existing runway.

"The road is a medium risk but the tree is a bigger problem," Baer said.

He advised the board could do nothing about the tree and risk possible night flight restrictions or remove or lower the tree, which would require an agreement of some sort with the landowner. Crowe volunteered to meet with the landowner and see if a deal can be made to either top the tree or cut it down completely.

It was agreed not much could be done about the proximity of the road to the existing runway.

In a final matter, Baer said it could be May of next year before the board finds out whether or not the FAA awards funds needed for the construction of a new runway. A longer runway is needed to accommodate small jets and larger propeller-powered aircraft.