Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 22, 1993 TAG: 9307220128
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's what the Roanoke Regional Airport must spend to upgrade direction and location signs for pilots on the runways and taxiways.
"I'm all for safety, but this seems to be a bit much. It seems to be misuse of funds," said Johnson, chairman of the Regional Airport Commission.
The Federal Aviation Administration is requiring all airports to install new signs to upgrade safety for planes on runways and taxiways.
The federal agency called for the new signs because of incidents of planes colliding on the ground as they were leaving or entering runways.
Jacqueline Shuck, executive director of the Roanoke airport, said Wednesday that federal funds will cover 90 percent of the cost of the signs.
But that didn't make Johnson any happier.
"It is still taxpayers' money, even if it does come from the federal government," Johnson said.
Johnson said he understands the need for better signs at big airports, but Roanoke has only two runways.
John Katon, operations manager for the airport, said approximately 130 new signs will be installed. The FAA's regulations cover the size, shape and color of the signs.
The cost estimate includes the underground electrical system for signs that must be lighted at night.
The airport also will be affected by another new federal regulation, Shuck said.
The Environmental Protection Agency has decided that airports must meet the same waste-water discharge standards as industries.
Shuck said this means airports will be prohibited from discharging the water from washing planes into the storm-sewer system.
The wash water either will have to be recycled or discharged into the sanitary sewer, where it will be treated before it is discharged.
Shuck said airport officials will meet with aircraft owners and tenants to explain the new regulations. The airport will have to develop a system for washing planes to meet the requirements, she said. Airport officials don't have an estimate of the cost.
Commissioner Fuzzy Minnix said some aircraft owners apparently blame the commission for the regulations.
"This shows that we are unduly criticized sometimes for things we don't control," he said.
Also Wednesday, Johnson, a Roanoke County supervisor, was re-elected chairman of the commission for a one-year term. Kit Kiser, director of utilities and operations for Roanoke, was elected vice chairman, succeeding City Manager Bob Herbert.
by CNB