Why is a longer runway needed at Gnoss Field?
The need for the project is two-fold, but ultimately comes down to safety. First, most aircraft that depart from Gnoss Field (there are approximately 95,000 operations there annually) cannot do so with a full fuel tank or passenger/cargo load. The existing runway is simply too short for aircraft to take off safely at their rated fuel and passenger/cargo capacities. As a result, many aircraft departing Gnoss Field have to stop at another airport to refuel during their flight to their intended destination — a measure that would not typically be necessary, if these aircraft could operate at their full fuel capacity. In addition, aircraft are frequently forced to make two roundtrips to transport what would otherwise be a normal passenger and/or cargo load. Thus, to takeoff safely from Gnoss Field, many aircraft are forced to operate in a highly inefficient and wasteful manner. Second, the runway safety areas (RSAs) at Gnoss Field — defined surfaces at each end of the existing runway th
