Ann Arbor Airport officials study extending runway

Sometimes bigger can be better. With that in mind, officials at the Ann Arbor Airport are looking to lengthen its runways.The Ann Arbor City Council recently approved a environmental impact study on extending the airport’s runway. However, if the extensions happen don’t let your expectations get carried away. It won’t be rivaling Metro Airport any time soon. It’s more about improving what the airport already has and making it more efficient.Airplanes using the airport have had trouble keeping to the current runway, sometimes having to taxi off the end. This extension would solve the problem.”It makes us a safer airport,” says Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport.The airport is already in the middle of expanding its facilities. It’s spending $2.5 million to build six hangars and a new maintenance shed. The runway extension would probably start after that project is finished.”If the stars all line up, you’d be talking sumer 2010, best case,” Kulhanek says.Source: Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor AirportWriter: Jon Zemke