I read today's AVwebFlash with great interest. The article about the Martin Co., Fla., airport that wanted to shorten the runway to accommodate noise complaints (On The Fly, Nov. 27) could have been written about our local airport in Canton, Mich., (1D2). This state-owned airport now sports a safer runway because now it's shorter. I have to admit though, it was also grooved.Our runway ended close to a bordering road, so to create a "safety zone," last month they removed some pavement, painted chevrons for a couple of hundred feet, and relocated the taxiways and lights so that now we have a shorter and "safer" runway. Of course, nothing is as it seems so just for good measure they were restricted from adding any pavement at the opposite end, even though there was ample room to do so. To ensure that it also looks good, a four-foot decorative fence was installed that gives us something to clear should we be too low, that far from the end of the runway. I have to admit though, it was also grooved.So you see, Michigan proves that you can have a safer runway by shortening it.Name withheld by request
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/features/reader-mail/avmail-dec-4-2006