Necessitated By Shift In The Earth's Magnetic Poles

The runways at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (KCIT) are slated to be renumbered sometime in 2019 due to shifts in the Earth's magnetic poles.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the Wichita Airport Advisory Board was notified of the need to renumber the runways at a meeting earlier this week. Changes in magnetic variation have caused the runway's numberings to no longer agree with the headings established when the airport was built in 1954.

There are parallel 1-19 runways at KCIT, as well as an intersecting runway 14-32. They would be renumbered 2L/R-20L/R and 15-33.

The FAA conducts evaluations of magnetic variation every five years, according to the agency website. Runways are renumbered when there is a shift of more than 3 degrees. In recent years, Oakland, CA, Las Vegas, NV and Tampa, FL have all renumbered their runways.

KCIT officials estimate that the change will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for repainting the pavement and changing all of the signage at the airport. The bulk of the cost will likely be covered by an FAA grant, according to Brad Christopher, assistant director of airports for the airport authority. The work would most likely be completed sometime in 2019 when the airport already had repair work planned.

FMI: Original report