Commentary: Invest in Saint John Airport Modernization
Huddle publishes commentaries from groups and individuals on important business issues facing the Maritimes. These commentaries do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Huddle.
By David Allen
Much has changed in the airline industry since the days when I took my flying lessons from a crusty Royal Flying Corp veteran who, after a half-dozen or so hops in his little Piper J-5, announced casually, “I guess you’re ready.” I thought I was as well. Now, looking back over a half-century of experience as a bush pilot, a commercial airline pilot, and as a senior executive in the aerospace industry, I appreciate just how dramatically my industry has changed.
When I received my pilot’s license in 1964, the Saint John Airport had been in operation for only a few years. Airline pilots of that era relied on instrumentation, both in the air and on the ground, which was essentially the same as that used during World War II. Since then, technological innovation, government regulations, superior training, better weather forecasting, and advanced aircraft design have all combined to make air travel the world’s safest mode of transportation.
Keeping airplanes and their passengers safely in the air is just one part of the flying equation. It can be argued that getting them up and down is even more important. It is for this reason that airports around the world invest billions of dollars on improved runways and advanced landing systems. The flying public expects it and airlines and their regulators increasingly demand it. Saint John is no exception.
For this reason the directors and management of the Saint John Airport authority have begun planning a multi-million dollar runway modernization program. One of the key aspects of this program will be the lengthening of our long runway from 2,100 to 3,050 metres. This is important for several reasons.
Larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 used by Sunwing to serve Saint John, can comfortably operate from our existing long runway. But rain or snow contamination on a runway can increase takeoff and landing distances by 30 per cent or more. This problem is managed in Saint John today by operating departing aircraft below their maximum take-off weights, which means aircraft have unused range and payload. In the future, however, we hope to entice our operating partners to use Saint John for longer-distance destinations, particularly to the United States. Having a 3,000-metre runway makes this a much more attractive proposition.
Centre-line runway lighting is also a safety feature all airline operators appreciate. Such lighting is part of our modernization plan. High-intensity centre-line lights are imbedded into the middle of the runway at 15-metre intervals. This greatly aids precision landing approaches, makes low-visibility take offs safer and easier and enhances safe ground movement. Saint John is the third foggiest airport in Canada. As the flying public knows, this frequently creates challenging airport operations. I would emphasize, however, that the Saint John airport is actually well situated in spite of the fog and other weather concerns. Since nothing is more important than safety in the aviation field, the installation of centre-line lighting and other runway lighting improvements will allow passengers to benefit more from the airport in those conditions.
Finally, we must consider our future. As airlines begin to operate larger next-generation aircraft, their performance expectations from airports will increase. So too will the demands of regulators who continually seek ways to make air travel safer. While Transport Canada’s regulatory changes are positive for aviation safety they come with a cost. For all airports, including Saint John, regulation changes almost always result in mandated capital and maintenance expenses.
To sustain our important place in the community, the Saint John Airport needs to be ready to respond with the safest, most modern operation available.
David Allen recently retired as President and CEO of The Saint John Airport. He has more than 50 years’ experience in the aviation industry.
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