City hopes to extend airplane runway 1,000 feet

There is currently an environmental study being conducted to determine noise and air quality impacts to surrounding neighborhoods.

By Emily Blackwood
| 12:36 p.m. April 5, 2017

Ormond Beach Observer
News

An extra 1,000 feet on Runway 8 could make it possible for pilots to take off with more fuel and passengers from the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport.

Airport Manager Steven Lichliter said the extension would make the runway slightly over 5,000 feet, which is generally accepted as the minimum standard. He said the addition is mostly for safety reasons.

"For a very long time there’s been a desire within the flying public to see the runway extended," he said. "A lot of poeple want to use the aiport for business purposes but have to go to Flagler or Daytona because we can't meet those needs."

The needs being things such as the availability of hanger space and longer and safer runways. Some aircrafts can't take off on the current runway with a full tank of fuel or the maximum amount of passengers because the runway can't support it.

Hoyle Tanner and Associates and KB Environmental Science are the two companies hired to determine the environmental impact of the extensions when it comes to things like air quality and noise. The study began in March and will likely be finished by the end of the summer.

Lichliter said it will be at least two more years until the project is complete.