"Longer runway means bigger business at Huntsville airport"

Monday, May 17, 2004

Longer runway means bigger business at Huntsville airport
By Abby Foster 
The Decatur (AL) Daily


HUNTSVILLE - The Boeing 747-400 dwarfed U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby,
R-Tuscaloosa, as he extolled the virtues of Huntsville International
Airport's newly extended west runway at the ribbon-cutting this morning. 

The Cargolux plane took off from the runway, flying over the assembled
dignitaries, and headed nonstop for Luxembourg with a full tank of fuel and
full cargo. The Cargolux line carries electronics, machine parts and
chemicals. 

"This is infrastructure that will bring growth and trade to this area like
you've never had before," Shelby said. 

He and U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, supported the three-year, $31
million project in the federal government. 

Four skydivers from Skydive Alabama plunged earthward from a plane, carrying
a ribbon for the officials to cut. On the ribbon was written, "Ready For
Take-Off." 

The runway, originally 8,000 feet long, has been extended to 12,600 feet.
This allows heavier planes to take off from Huntsville International, so
even Boeing 747-400s can carry full cargoes and full fuel tanks. Now those
planes can leave Huntsville, and fly nonstop to Asia and the Pacific Rim
without needing to refuel. 

Huntsville's runway is now second only to Miami's in length in the
southeastern United States. The runway is expected to expand the business
capabilities of the airport, allowing for larger, faster and more efficient
airplane traffic. More runway space should allow the airport's current
operations to run more efficiently. 

"The opening of the runway extension brings us closer to the global
marketplace than ever before," said Rick Tucker, executive director of the
Port of Huntsville. 

The airport also designed the longer runway to accommodate airplanes still
in development, like the Airbus 380, the largest commercial plane currently
in development.


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