b'20 Runway Improvements Pave the Way forONT RUNWAYSContinued Growth at Californias Ontario Intl BY CHRIS JONESWith fully loaded cargo planesWas this a complicated scope of work?plus diversions from southwestern U.S. regularly carrying payloads ofNo question.airports, often arriving with low fuel reserves. more than 300,000 pounds,But the tasks were made increasinglyAccordingly, airport leaders emphasize a runways at major airports are designed anddifficult due to a pair of tightened FAAreadiness to accept flights regardless of built to withstand intense pressures. deadlines coupled with airport-imposedweather conditions. Although Runway 8R-26L Facing a wholly different type ofmoratoriums that restrict scheduled airfieldis the shorter (by 2,000 feet) of ONTs two pressure, a team at Ontario Internationalclosures during peak traffic months. Forparallel runways, it includes an essential Airport (ONT) recently flexed its physicalONT, the weight of time simply could notfeature for operational stability: a Category III and mental muscles to finish some crucialbe ignored. Instrument Landing System that helps aircraft runway and airfield improvements underarrive safely even when visibility is low. Working within the proverbial weight of several distinctthose phases was veryWhat began as a three-year project and challenging deadlines. critical, says Michaeltimeline when designers first set to work Last October, the Los Angeles-areaBishara, the airportsin 2020 on the runway rehab was later commercial airport completed a multiyeardirector of Planningreduced by FAA mandate to just 24 rehabilitation of its Runway 8R-26L.and Design. It wasmonths, in part to maximize availability Concrete nearing the end of its servicea bit of a challenge;MICHAEL BISHARA of the Cat III system. In addition, phasing life was removed from the center keelbut between the design team and the FAAshad to allow passenger carriers to reach sections of the 10,200-foot-long strip,guidance and backup, we were able to do it. their terminals north of the runways, and and approximately 80,000 square yards ofalso ensure year-round runway access to/concrete was poured to replace it. Tis the Season from the cargo carriers facilities that are Passenger traffic surges at ONT during thescattered from the northwestern corner of Adjacent taxiways were rehabilitated,the airfield to the southeastern edge. two older taxiways were removed, andspring and summer, but Bishara says it was a new taxiway was added. Crews alsocargo operations that drove the projectsSeasonality came into play as well. installed new navigational aids, LEDintricate scheduling needs. The airportCargo peaks during the weeks between lighting and electrical componentshouses West Coast bases for Amazon Air,Black Friday in November and the including a relocated airfield lighting vaultFedEx and UPS. Last year, their collectiveChristmas season as gift giving drives retail with modern constant current regulators.volume made ONT the eighth-busiest U.S.sales and related freighter movements. An advanced stormwater mitigation systemairport by landed cargo weight, accordingThat business is so vital to tenants rounded out the $90 million project thatto the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.that ONT management forbids airfield was primarily funded through FAA AirportBeyond its year-round cargo flow,construction from mid-November to Improvement Program grants. ONT receives long-haul overseas flightsmid-January to ensure cargo flights are unimpeded.September 2025AirportImprovement.com'