ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602080019
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: What's on your mind?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: I was talking with a USAir employee about Roanoke's jet service, and he said one reason we have so few jet flights is because the runway is too short for Boeing 737s and 727s. What is Roanoke planning to do about the runways, or whatever is needed to get larger equipment into Roanoke?
C.F., Roanoke
A: It's a widely held perception around the valley that Roanoke Regional Airport's runway length is the reason so few big passenger jets land here. Actually, that's a misperception.
The reason so few big planes land here is that Roanoke doesn't generate enough passengers to fill many large jets.
Some facts:
Roanoke's east-west runway - the longer of the two - is 6,800 feet. By comparison, Washington National Airport's main runway is 6,869 feet.
Six flights per day into Roanoke use Boeing 737s, and three others use smaller jets. Thirty-six flights per day use prop planes.
USAir has a maintenance base in Roanoke that depends on 737s landing here, and the runway length is no deterrent, airport manager Jacqueline Shuck said. The base has between 150 and 200 employees.
The biggest plane flying in and out of Roanoke is a United Parcel Service 757.
Runways of Roanoke's length can handle Boeing 757s and A300 Airbuses. Both of those planes land at Washington National, but Roanoke just doesn't have enough passengers to fill those wide bodies.
If Roanoke had more jets and fewer commuter flights, overall service would be diminished, Shuck said. There would be fewer than 45 flights per day, and fewer destination cities.
What's on the horizon to improve jet service in Roanoke? A new class of jet aircraft that seats 50 to 70 passengers is serving cities Roanoke's size, and Shuck says she hopes regional carriers will buy more of these jets for Roanoke routes.
This aircraft is reported to be faster, comfortable and well-received by passengers.
The widely held notion that a short runway limits Roanoke air service dates back to the early 1970s, when Piedmont Airlines told Roanoke it needed a longer runway.
An airport with 9,000-foot runways was proposed for southern Bedford County.
"Not in our back yard," said Bedford's residents and supervisors, quashing any chance of getting federal funds to help with the expected $54 million cost.
Roanoke, which wanted to keep the development that goes with an airport, then extended the east-west runway by 900 feet and built a new terminal.
There never was any guarantee that an airport in Bedford County would have assured Roanoke of hub status.|
Bus snow routes
Q: Why don't the schools use snow routes for buses so they can open without waiting for every street to be cleared?
R.L., Roanoke
A: Roanoke uses snow routes solely to get children home when storms start during the day.
They were used last year when an ice storm worsened between 8 and 9 a.m.
Roanoke County doesn't use snow routes.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RoatimesInfi.Net. Maybe we can find the answer.
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