Major Changes Coming To Sonoma County Airport
SANTA ROSA (KCBS) – A deadly crash that killed 47 passengers in Kentucky in 2006 is causing airports around the country to make fixes to their runways, including at the Charles M. Schultz-Sonoma County Airport.
The flight crashed on takeoff after a flight officer mistakenly took a runway that was too short.
Sonoma County Supervisor Mike McGuire said plans are in place to fix the Santa Rosa airport.
"The north end of the airport's two runways terminate at the same point, which could result, particularly in bad weather, in the pilot choosing the wrong runway," said McGuire.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
The Federal Aviation Administration established new runway safety standards that have now been mandated by Congress.
Some of the runway work at the Sonoma County Airport is included in an $84 million proposal to expand the airport, which will go before the county Board of Supervisors later this year.
But the Sierra Club Sonoma Group is taking issue with the expansion.
"If 747-type aircrafts come in, those are quite a bit louder than the ones currently flying," said Steve Birdlebough, Chair of the Sierra Club Sonoma Group.
Birdlebough said they have concerns about both the potential for noise and pollution. The environmental review process will allow the concerns to be aired.
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