b'40 APN RUNWAYSTime for Improvements observing field conditions and getting input from the National The airports main runway had been kept operational with a numberGuard, it became obvious that more money would be needed to of superficial fixes when Hylko arrived at APN in 2021. And thedo a complete reconstruction.FAA had already strongly recommended a major reconstruction forFAA funding was only applicable to the portion of Runway 1-19 the whole runway. Hylko and the National Guard were especiallyused for civilian purposesmainly daily flights to/from Detroit by interested in improving the landing zones at the north and southSkyWest Airlines, but also general aviation traffic.ends. We worked closely with the airport, the FAA and theWe got approval from the FAA for a complete asphalt rehab consulting firm [RS&H] to make this happen, he says. for the center section of the runway, Joye explains. But to get The military was responsible for rehabilitating about 1,750 feetthe money needed for the complete reconstruction, including at each end of the runway with reinforced concrete. Constructionthe concrete surface at the ends, we relied on Maj. Hylko. He crews demolished and then crushed the old concrete into gravel,did a terrific job acquiring the funding for that part of the project. which was then used in the new base. Next, 16 inches of newGetting military approval for a project such as this usually takes concrete was installed over it. The arresting cables were placedfrom three to five years. Hylko moved very fast, and we got the 1,500 feet from the threshold of each end of the runway.money in less than a year.Knowing it would be a complicated project, That funding, approximately $44 million, came from the the airport began planning discussionsNational Guard Bureau.with RS&H, its engineering consultant,Replacing the arresting cable system was an important as early as 2020. Working with airportcomponent of improvements made by the military. It is used as an officials, we originally thought we would beextra safety measure for military jets needing to make emergency doing a rehabilitation of the existing runwaylandings. Such aircraft have tailhooks that can latch onto the pavement, recalls David Joye, principalcables, which are like those found on aircraft carriers. When not in engineer, Aviation, for RS&H. But afterDAVID JOYE useabout 99% of the timethe cables retract into the runway. Learn more about D.S. BrownsDelpatch Elastomeric ConcreteDelastic Compression Seals dsbrown.com | 419-257-3561 |January | February 2025AirportImprovement.com'