But Airport Tenants Raise Concerns About Quality Of Repairs

Nearly three years after a US Air Force transport plane left two-inch ruts in the soft pavement of runway 4-22 at Las Cruces International Airport (LRU), it appears the runway may be close to finally reopening... but that doesn't mean everyone is happy.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports a final inspection of the newly-resurfaced runway is imminent. "We anticipate conducting a final inspection of the runway within days," City Manager Terrence Moore said last week. "If that inspection is favorable the runway could be opened shortly after that."

As ANN reported, at least three aircraft -- traveling in support of an August 2004 reelection campaign rally for President Bush -- landed on the 7,500-foot runway, despite warnings from Las Cruces airport personnel the runway surface couldn't support the weight of the loaded planes. The Air Force maintains it had permission to land there, although from what authority, exactly, wasn't made clear.

City officials say it was a fully-loaded C-17 Globemaster III -- transporting vehicles and other equipment -- that made the deepest impressions on the runway, made soft by the summer sun. Original estimates put the cost of fixing the runway, the longest at LRU, at over $2 million.

Last year, the USAF negotiated a $603,754 settlement with the city for the damages, which were caused when the C-17 back-taxiied on the runway. The city then awarded a $1.25 million contract to an Albuquerque contractor to make the repairs.

That contract called for the repairs to be completed within 90 days, but unusually wet weather in New Mexico stalled construction efforts. Now, the runway is finally poised to reopen... but that doesn't mean everyone is happy.

"I don't know what the specs (specifications) for the pavement surface call for, but I visited the runway after a rain storm," Hal Kading, manager of LRU fixed-base operator Southwest Aviation, wrote in a recent email to city Public Works Director Michael Johnson. "There were many puddles signifying an uneven surface. More disturbing were many areas of low longitudinal joints with standing water.

"I suggest a review of the specs and inspection with a long straight edge to ensure the airport is getting what it's paying for."

Airport Advisory Board member Leon Billstone says he's also aware of the problems.

"This whole 4-22 thing has gotten to be a 'ho hum' situation with those in power Š it makes one wonder just what is going on," Billstone said. "We cannot have a runway fixed and open after three years, but then we can open the runway for the CAP (Civil Air Patrol) gliders and their tow planes. And then we close yet another runway, 8-26, because we have workers within the safety area from time to time.

"The general discontent with this whole mess is showing more each day among the tenants and users, but it seems as when someone mentions it, it just brings more conversation."

Moore told the Sun-News he's aware of the concerns, and that city leaders have spoken with the contractor to ensure the problems are fixed before the first (lightly-loaded, please) plane touches down on 4-22.

"That exactly why this final inspection is necessary and proper," Moore said. "We also need to ascertain that those concerns raised by Mr. Kading and Mr. Billstone have been taken care of. If they have been done adequately then the city can proceed with opening the runway. If not, the repairs will have to continue until there is a satisfactory outcome."

FMI: www.af.mil, www.las-cruces.org/airport