Agency May Issue FONSI In March

The City of Conway, AR has needed a new airport for years. Development has encroached on the existing airport, Cantrell Field, raising concerns that aircraft encountering trouble now have few options but forced landings in populated areas.

The Conway Log Cabin reports some pilots have expressed concerns that a jet experiencing engine failure during takeoff would come down in the Conway Commons shopping center. That's not an unfounded concern; as ANN reported last year, a Citation 500 ran off the west end of the runway July 2 and struck a home, killing two.

The city has planned for years to build a new airport in the Lollie Bottoms area. It's ideal for keeping planes and population separated because it's surrounded by farms. The downside is that farms are considered by the FAA to be a natural attractant of birds, and concerns about bird strikes have kept approval on hold since 2002.

Residents have also worried that Conway would use eminent domain to take land from current owners. City officials say much of the needed land has already been purchased by the city, and eminent domain would be used as a last resort for holdouts among owners of the last few needed parcels.

Conway hopes to finally get the project past environmental concerns in March, when it's hoped the FAA will issue a FONSI, or Finding of No Significant Impact, for the new airport. A 30-day comment period will follow any such FAA decision.

FMI: www.conwayairport.com