Capuano seeks halt on new runway

By Mac Daniel, Globe Staff  |  December 10, 2005

US Representative Michael E. Capuano yesterday urged the Massachusetts Port Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration to halt the construction of a runway at Logan International Airport until safety issues are resolved.

Capuano, a Somerville Democrat who represents some of the communities that have fought the new runway, wrote the letter after learning of the 17th runway incident at Logan in 14 months.

''It is abundantly clear that much more must be done to address safety on the runways," he wrote to Massport's CEO, Craig P. Coy, and Marion Blakey, FAA administrator. ''I am writing to urge in the strongest possible terms that construction of runway 14/32 cease immediately until these safety issues are completely addressed."

Blakey told a congressional subcommittee last month that the construction on Logan's already cramped airfield is distracting some pilots, who mistakenly crossed into runways being used by other planes.

''Why then does construction continue?" Capuano asked in his letter. ''Passenger safety should be given the highest priority at all times, and continuing to work on a project that the FAA has identified as a problem is simply stunning to me."

Laura Brown, FAA spokeswoman, said yesterday that a number of incursions at Logan were related to a hold-short line, where planes are supposed to wait before crossing runways, that was relocated because of the construction. In response, Brown said officials gave additional guidance to controllers and pilots about how they talk to one another while navigating the airfield.

Officials at Massport, which operates the airport, have disputed that the $85 million runway project, which started in April and is scheduled to be complete next year, is a factor in the episodes.

Massport officials declined yesterday to comment on the letter.

FAA officials said Thursday that on Nov. 29 the airport reported its 17th runway episode in the past 14 months, the most of any US airport during that period.

Two planes, a Continental Airlines 737 that had just landed and a Northwest Airlink commuter jet that was taking off, came too close to each other, and investigators classified the episode as a runway incursion. But officials said the chances of the two planes hitting were remote, with the aircraft 3,600 feet to 3,800 feet apart horizontally when the commuter plane left the ground.

That episode occurred a week after FAA and Massport officials announced more than 40 safety recommendations. FAA officials said only one of the short-term recommendations has been put in place.

Logan has been put on the short list for an advanced ground-radar system that works better at night and in bad weather. Massport officials last month pledged to spend nearly $9 million of the authority's funds to speed the installation of the new system. Once approved, however, it would not be online for at least two to three years, officials said.

''That is a completely unacceptable timeframe," Capuano wrote in his letter. ''Installation of this radar system should be given the highest priority, especially in light of this most recent incident. Until that system is fully in place, construction of runway 14/32 should cease."

Mac Daniel can be reached at mdaniel@globe.com.