Wed, Feb 20, 2013
Lengthened Runway Strengthens Airport’s Capabilities To Handle Large Aircraft
After six months of construction and a five-year FAA approval process, DuPage Airport (KDPA) has completed construction to extend its secondary runway. The 1,343 foot extension strengthens capabilities at the general aviation facility that serves corporate flight departments and national security operations.
Completed in January, the project brings the length of the airport’s secondary runway to 6,350 feet, and provides significant operational flexibility. The extended runway affords the airport with two runways capable of accommodating large corporate jets such as the Boeing Business Aircraft. Spanning 7,570 feet, the airport’s primary runway is the second longest in the Chicago area after O’Hare International Airport.
“The extended runway gives us additional flexibility and added safety by allowing us to use the secondary runway as a backup when maintenance is being performed on the primary runway,” said airport Executive Director David Bird. “The airport can now handle a larger volume of aircraft, allowing us to increase our customer base and offer continually improved operations.”
The $3.5 million cost for the project was funded one hundred percent with DuPage Airport Authority revenue and employed 33 construction workers. Construction did not impact flight operations, Bird noted.
Other facility improvements in the pipeline include a $9 million widening of the primary runway and interior renovations to the airport’s café, lobby and pilot’s lounge. The Authority has also announced a 2013 tax levy abatement of $500,000, bringing total abatements since 2010 to $2.5 million.
DuPage’s vital role was as a reliever airport was put to the test during last year’s NATO summit, when traffic quadrupled in volume without a single delay. The airport served as transportation hub for the 2012 Ryder Cup at nearby Medinah Country Club, experiencing record activity of planes transporting athletes, fans and corporate sponsors.
More News
“We achieved full mission success today, and I am so proud of the team. It turns out Never Tell Me The Odds had perfect odds—never before in history has a booster this >[...]
NonDirectional Beacon An L/MF or UHF radio beacon transmitting nondirectional signals whereby the pilot of an aircraft equipped with direction finding equipment can determine his/h>[...]
About 5ft Above Ground Level, The Airplane Stalled, And The Left Wing Dropped Analysis: The pilot reported that this flight was conducted as part of phase 1 flight testing of the n>[...]
Aero Linx: Brodhead Pietenpol Association The Brodhead Pietenpol Association is a newly reorganized (in 2017) non-profit educational corporation that grew and developed from an ear>[...]
Also: VerdeGo Contract, Medi-Carrier, Gambit 6 UCAV, Blade Urban Air Mobility Pilot Archer Aviation has inked a deal for control of Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR), also known as>[...]
Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.17.25)
See All