The Nebraska City Airport Authority took a step Thursday toward construction of a parallel paved taxiway intended to increase safety.
The authority ordered engineering for the first phase of the taxiway project, which will extend from the north end of the runway to the existing entrance near the office building.
Pilots currently taxi on the runway to reach a takeoff point or a parking area after landing. The paved taxiway will decrease the amount of time a plane spends on the runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to pay for the taxiway that parallels the 4,100 feet of the original runway constructed in 1991, but not a 200-foot extension constructed later.
The cost of the taxiway for the extended area is the responsibility of the local airport board and the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics.
“The FAA is making a strenuous effort to prevent runway incursion, so a parallel taxiway is very high on the priority list to prevent someone from pulling out onto the runway,” said authority member Arlin Stutheit.
Stutheit said the authority agreed to start with the north end because it is the longest stretch back to the entrance and the least expensive. Engineering is estimated to cost $75,000.
Board Chairman Steve Stehlik said the taxiway is will improve safety.
“Even though pilots are supposed to be talking to each other when they are on the runway and when they are approaching to land, there is a chance a landing pilot will not know there is a plane on the runway,” he said.
Since runway construction in the early 1990s, the authority has constructed a building, ramp space and a $500,000 automated weather system.
Stehlik said the taxiway is an important improvement that was included in the original airport designs. The new taxiway will be moved over 60 feet, however.
“When all phases are completed, it will be the largest project since construction of the runways,” he said.
Other airport priorities are more hangar space and paving the crosswind runway.
