Tim Dalton, manager of the Logansport-Cass County Airport, was pleased to learn the FAA has approved the Airport Authority’s plans for a 5,000-foot runway extension. And while Dalton said the process to this point has been difficult, it isn’t over yet.

Construction on the new runway cannot begin until the airport has secured funding through the FAA, which is still undetermined as the federal organization has several projects ahead of Cass County’s on its priority list.

But speaking at the monthly Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation board meeting Friday, Dalton said he expects the first phase of the extension to begin late next summer. That will include preparation work and drainage improvements, and he said the full runway should be complete by 2010.

The expansion is the third phase of an airport overhaul that also includes a recently completed T-hangar and a new operation center, which the airport held a ground breaking for this week.

However, 14 months ago, Dalton wasn’t confident the runway project would move forward at all.

FAA guidelines stipulate that airports should not be located within 10,000 feet of a landfill because of the likelihood for attracting birds and other wildlife. The close proximity of Oak Ridge Landfill, which also has an expansion project in the works, caused FAA officials in Washington D.C. to deny the airport’s proposal in March 2007. The rejection came despite an environmental study stating the expansions would not cause any additional problems dealing with wildlife, Dalton said.

Through more than a year of negotiations, an additional environmental impact study and work by state and local government officials, Dalton said he received word last Friday that the extension had been approved.

“It took just an immense effort for a federal agency to see things our way,” he said. “It’s not often that happens, but I think it did because I believe we were right.”

The airport did make some concessions, Dalton said.

The airport authority had to pass an ordinance prohibiting any feeding of wildlife at the airport as well as discontinue a lease for sod farming on the south end of the airport property. Additionally, the airport must obtain a depredation permit to reduce the bird population if it becomes a problem and also issue notams to airport users about bird sightings.

The airport must also employ a wildlife biologist temporarily to educate staff on dealing with wildlife and also to report on wildlife sightings.

“We need to stay committed so that the problem we don’t have now stays that way,” said Dalton.

Dalton said agreeing to the conditions was a “no brainer” so that the runway extension would go through.

In addition to the expanded space, the extension will allow aircraft to fly in at lower altitudes for a precision approach, which Dalton said means an easier landing under bad weather conditions. It will also allow the airport to accommodate larger aircraft — up to 85 percent of the private jet models in use.

Dalton said the project will also include drainage improvements and utilities upgrades, indicating that nearly all of the utility lines will be moved underground.

Dalton said he is hoping to host an open house some time next year to allow the public to view some of the airport upgrades.

“I’m a little biased, but I think we’ll have one of the premiere airports in the area,” he said. “... If you look at who we’re competing with — Kokomo, Rochester, Monticello — I think this puts us in a better position.”

Carla Knapp can be contacted at (574) 732-5150 or via e-mail at carla.knapp@pharostribune.com