Equipment is part of $800,000 renovation

Pilots landing at the Lebanon Airport since it re-opened at the end of October have had the benefit of a new approach lighting system, part of a $800,000 improvement project by the Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA).

Christopher Cummings, ODA planning and projects manager, said the older Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) used by pilots to help land their planes is no longer approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA paid for the installation of a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system and 95 percent of the runway improvement project through a $1 million grant. According to the FAA, PAPI lights have a visibility of 3 miles during daylight and 20 miles at night.

Other work done during the eight-week project included widening the runway by 5 feet on both sides and improving taxiways and runway water drainage.

Work on the runway was completed Oct. 25, one day ahead of schedule, Cummings said.

The airport is owned by the state, and a private contractor, called a fixed base operator (FBO) provides services such as fuel, aircraft rentals, maintenance and instruction. Larry and Donna Know, who run the FBO Lebanon Air Aviation, had been critical of the ODA for only giving pilots 36 hours notice before closing the airport in September.

The airport was unavailable for takeoffs and landings during the construction.

Cummings said the ODA would begin a second, $1 million, phase of construction in May or June, after the ground has dried out from winter rains. At that time, new runway lights will be installed and the runway itself will be resurfaced. The airport will be closed again during the work period.

Initial estimates put the late spring construction time at two months, but Cummings said he does not expect it to take that long.

"We're looking at a month, hopefully less," he said. "We're going for the least amount of time possible."