Gallatin Field Planning Paved Parallel Runway?
Way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, local pilots pressed Gallatin Airport Authority to improve the sod landing strip next to crosswind runway 3-21. Then manager/director Teddy Mathis ramrodded through the current location, which parallels main runway 12-30. The ultimate goal of the Authority was to bloat infrastructure into parallel runways, keeping us little GA airplane drivers from the “real” airline traffic. This, of course, would defeat the entire original purpose of improving the dirt strip to begin with.
Sure enough, talk is now afoot to “go parallel.” How and when do these projects start? There has been nothing in the public Airport Authority Monthly Meeting Agendas which would warn the public that this upgrade is in the works. Yet, in this email from the airport, here is mention of the wheels turning towards turning the sod strip into a second runway. I guess this constitutes “public notice?”
May 15, 2014 PILOT MEETING
WHEN: Thursday, May 15th
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Airport Fire Station Conference Room (Old Terminal Building)
This meeting will provide an opportunity to address any questions and/or concerns pilots have on Air Traffic Control or Airport Operations. … Updates will also be provided on the interchange project and the parallel runway environmental assessment. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, May 15th.