Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | August 7, 2017 | wbjournal.com BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor Creating a reliable airport Worcester airport officials hope a $32-million upgrade establishes the facility as a new regional transportation hub W orcester Regional Airport is betting a $32-million landing system can overcome the facility's faults and a declining airline departure trend to create consistent commercial service. The new system, called CAT III, adds more lighting the airport's two runways, adds a so-called jughandle to allow planes to turn around or move to the side if needed, and includes technology to help pilots orient themselves hori- zontally and vertically in poor visibility. Once the CAT III is in place in December, planes could land with visi- bility down to 600 feet or a 50-foot ceil- ing, an upgrade from the 1,800 feet with 200-foot ceiling now. The difference will lead to flights landing with better predictability, poten- tially encouraging airlines and passen- gers to use a facility ranked ninth among New England airports – after suffering from fog and unpredictable weather because of its hilltop location. "We're in the clouds. We're not just in fog but in the clouds more than we'd prefer, and more than our airliners would prefer," said Andrew Davis, the Worcester airport director. "It's basically a standard, almost a demand, of airlin- ers now that want assurance they can get their passengers in and out, to have CAT III." The new technology alone "won't cause airlines to flock to Worcester, but it gives them one less reason to rule out service," said Henry Harteveldt, the president of the travel industry analyst group Atmosphere Research Group. Already, the CAT III system has attracted JetBlue to fly to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport once the system is complete. Runway 15-33 5,000 feet long, 100 feet wide New localizer antennae provides greater accuracy to pilot in low visibility to ensure aircraft is on the correct horizontal path. This alows the pilots to make lateral adjustments as they approach the runway. New taxiway allows pilots to turn off or onto runway, rather than U-turn on the runway. This reduces aircraft time on the runway, thereby improving safety. Approch light system for CAT III consisting of lights mounted to towers at 100 ft. intervals for 2,400 feet from the end of the runway. The existing lights are 200 feet. Relocated glide slope antenna provides information to pilots about their elevation along the airport approach. This allows pilots to adjust as needed to land safely. Runway 11-29 7,000 feet long, 150 feet wide Passenger Terminal Airport Drive Goddard Memorial Drive Worcester Regional Airport improvements Upgrades to attract airlines The CAT III upgrades are the latest in a line of airport improvements since the Massachusetts Port Authority bought the airport from the city for $14 million in 2010. In 2012, Massport spent $12 million to resurface the main runway and add emergency end-of-run- way stopping systems, while increasing aircraft rescue, safety and firefighting vehicles and positions. The new improvements seek to level out what has been an up-and-down relationship with airlines for the past three decades. In 1987, when Continental started Andrew Davis, the director of Worcester Regional Airport, said the new landing system will result in airlines sending more flights out of Worcester. P H O T O S / M A T T W R I G H T M A P / W O R C E S T E R B U S I N E S S J O U R A L

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