b'36 HRL RUNWAYSRunway Extension at Valley Intl Takes Cargo Capacity to New Heights and Upgrades Tech for Nav AidsBY JENNIFER DAACK WOOLSONThey say everythings bigger in Texas. And although biggerThe plan was to extend Runway 17R-35L by 1,100 feet on isnt always better, its definitely a good thing at Valleythe south end, creating a 9,400-foot option for airport users. In International Airport (HRL) in Harlingen, TX. The airportsparticular, the added length would allow cargo haulers to increase recently extended 17R-35L runway is now the biggestlongest their capacity to 70% of the maximum gross takeoff weightrunway in South Texas and one of the most technologically advancedgenerally the most they carry to avoid decreasing aircraft longevity. in the United States. At 9,400 feet, it provides big benefits for theProject leaders also opted to make HRL the first airport in the cargo haulers and airlines that use the Rio Grande Valley airport.United States to tie all of its nav aids into a fiber optic transmission Another, more minor, change: The runway is now designatedsystems line: the remote transmitter/receiver (RTR), runway visual 18R-36L to reflect slight magnetic shifts over the last few years. ranges, both instrument landing systems, the VHF omnidirectional Back in 2019, HRL noticed it was missing out on cargo capacityrange (VOR) and distance measuring equipment. Were 100% on because FedEx and DHL aircraft were departing with only 40% offiber now, Wren reports proudly. Theres no more copper on this their available load factor. With three runways, the longest of whichairfield. Were one of the most technologically advanced airports in was only 8,300 feet long, standard operating procedures wouldntthe nation at the moment.allow the widebody 767s to take off with more weight.Next came vertical guidance surveys and land acquisition for a We knew we had a need for a runwayprotection zone beyond the end of the runway.extension, explains Assistant Aviation Director We were able to do all of that within about an 18-month period, Bryan Wren. There had been a 40-year battlewhich is fairly quick, Wren says, noting that many airports take with the two other commercial airports withinthree to five years for such prerequisites. During this time, HRL 30 miles of us about who was going to do theleaders also created a plan to fund the $35 million project over a runway extension first. Now, we realized wetwo-year construction period. The FAA picked up about 80% of the actually had a justified need. cost, with airport passenger facility charges covering the remainder.BRYAN WRENExpansion and Upgrades Tech-Driven Safety Boost Wren and his project team wasted no time running a cost-benefitAlthough expanding cargo capabilities was a huge win, Wren says analysis to secure FAA buy-in. The resulting 1:3 ratio busted the 1:1the biggest benefit of the project is increasing the safety margin ratio needed to move forward with an environmental assessment,for every aircraft that takes off and lands at HRL with a special which was completed in just six months. September 2024AirportImprovement.com'