Regional Affairs

Light pole project could shorten Fort Myers runway

AOPA is objecting to plans to build a light pole that would force Page Field in Fort Myers, Fla., to shorten Runway 13 by an additional 180 feet. Encroachment over the years already has reduced the length of Runway 13/31 by at least 700 feet, making it the shortest runway at the airport. In a Jan. 10 letter to the FAA, AOPA asked that the proposed light pole be lowered by nine feet, bringing its height to 35 feet msl and allowing operations at Page Field to continue unimpeded. AOPA cited the potential safety and economic impacts of continuing to shorten the runway and pointed out that high-density development around the airport makes future runway expansion unlikely.

January 18, 2008