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Blame feds for delays, airport chief says FAA rules haven�t yet taken longer runway into account By Tony Boom A bureaucratic haze, not fog, has canceled or delayed numerous flights out of the Medford airport, including one scheduled to carry Ashland High School students to a debate with Cuban students. "Fog isn�t stopping flights," said airport manager Bern Case. "A piece of paper we need from the FAA is stopping flights." A longer runway and new airport instrumentation have been in operation for more than 30 days, but the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to issue new takeoff and landing rules for the revised setup. Instead, airlines must follow guidelines that were in effect two years ago. Six flights were canceled Monday morning, although the airport had the required 200-foot ceiling and 1,800 feet of visibility for the largest aircraft it handles, a Boeing 737. The old criteria called for a 1,800-foot ceiling and 4,500 feet of visibility. "The airlines have to use the same criteria as a guy in a private Cessna," said Case. "There�s no reason not have a paper out in 30 days when you invest $14 million. "Safety and lives come first, but it�s totally frustrating because we have the capacity (for full operation) today." Both airlines and the airport have been urging the FAA to issue the new procedures for more than 30 days, Case said. His office notified 4th District Congressman Greg Walden of the delay Monday. Consulting engineer Rob Norton of Corvallis has also been in touch with the FAA to gain the rules, known as special instrument flight procedure charts. Norton said the delays are "not typical of other projects. They were available right away. It�s a shame. Everything else is done." Phone calls to FAA representatives in Oklahoma City, Renton, Wash., and Chicago were not returned. An unidentified FAA representative in Oklahoma City said flight procedures manager Karen Trendell could not speak directly on the issue, and referred questions to a public affairs representative. At noon, the airport was still full of passengers, many of them unhappy, according to a volunteer who works in the airport�s information booth. Conditions had improved by midday and flights were beginning to land and take off. FAA rules regarding takeoff and landing are given to airlines based on type of aircraft, flight crew expertise and the airport instrumentation. Horizon Air, for example, can land with less visibility because its aircraft have slower landing speeds than United�s 737s. Planes usually won�t take off unless the conditions allow landings, so that a plane could return to the airport if a problem arises. A 2,100-foot addition to the runway brings its length to 8,800 feet. A new lighting and guiding system were part of the project. The project was funded by an $8 million Oregon Lottery grant, $4 million in FAA grants and passenger facility charges. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.