we got the news today that the city is actually moving forward with the stopway plan instead of just tearing everything up. i am honestly blown away by how many people jumped in to help get this done. stay tuned because i will be keeping a close eye on the …
May 5, 2024
Final supporters
The City of Driggs, ID, which has provided us a wonderful full-service airport, is proposing, to reduce noise impact and meet FAA regulations, to move the airport runway 2,000 ft. to the North. This will require shortening the available runway for much of this Summer by 2,000 ft., during construction at the North end.
They will then close the airport for 1+ months while they dig up the 'unused' runway at the South end. We feel there is a better way to utilize that portion of the runway than discarding it.
A "Stopway" could be created from the unused runway, (shown below), which would be available for emergency use only in overruns and aborted takeoffs, marked with yellow chevron lines and red lighting at night. The Stopway would be available for testing for several Winters, to see if it prevents aircraft damage from overruns and aborted takeoffs ... and then continued, shortened or removed as necessary.
The major safety concern is due to the fact that when the runway was widened, around 15 years ago, the downhill grade from North to South was required to be leveled at both ends of the runway for a length of approximately 2,000 ft .. which gives North landing aircraft a more level surface to touch down on, and South landing aircraft a more level surface to decelerate and stop on.
With the new proposal that more-level area of the South end of Runway 22 is being removed, so the last 3,000 ft. of runway for aircraft landing from the North will now be all downhill. That may result in problems with runway overruns and aircraft damage especially during the Winter months. The same problem could occur with an aborted takeoff heading to the South.
The preservation of that 2,000 ft. of more-level runway, and conversion to a Stopway, will not change the proposed runway 'shift' project in any way, will not slow its construction, and in fact it should allow it to be completed a month sooner, AND it will remove the requirement to close the airport for 1+ months this Fall, and it will be less expensive .. or at least delay the expense of digging up perfectly good runway until sometime in the future ... if necessary.
We see no reason why the city of Driggs should not consider this proposal for a safer runway 'shift' project, and propose, and endorse, this small Stopway alteration to the FAA. We hope this petition will indicate the support of pilots, especially those flying in and out of Driggs.
SIMPLER, SAFER, QUICKER, AND LESS EXPENSIVE .. WHY NOT?
Thank you Driggs, ID for all you are doing for the general and business aviation community. Let's work together to get this improvement done.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
April 25, 2024
59 Comments
Thanks for bringing this to my attention! I agree wholeheartedly! Aside from the added safety, sounds like a really bad use of taxpayer dollars to go digging up a perfectly good runway.
as a landowner in the Sweetwater Division and pilot I whole heartetly support the runway to move 2000 feet to the North but for safety concerns it makes perfect sense to have this Stopway. It clearly would be a inexpensive way to add on to the Safety of the Driggs Airport
Maintaining a "Stopway" on a sloped runway that is often contaminated in the winter when the surface is already in place seems like a simple and low cost way to improve safety at a popular GA airport. Please don't dig up existing infrastructure when it can help improve safety!
Turning the south 2000’ of the runway into a stopway is the only common sense course of action. When the runway is wet or contaminated by snow we usually have to cease operations. Having a stopway available will greatly enhance the usability of the airport and save money in the process.
30,000 + hour pilot ATP & former KDIJ Airport Board Member. This proposal is the best solution and far better than dirt (mud) or grass. Why remove a superior surface that is in and paid for?
This makes much more sense than completely removing an area the could be used to increase the safety of our airport and the people that use it.
The runway proposal to close/move part of the Driggs runway is actually less safe than leaving the (extended) runway as is. Among other things, the proposal will increase the descent angle to risky levels. That with the shortened runway length will result in greater, significant required braking for landing aircraft which, with wet and or snowy runways conditions (both of which are regular conditions ay Driggs), will-not may—result in unsafe landings and runway excursions.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
we got the news today that the city is actually moving forward with the stopway plan instead of just tearing everything up. i am honestly blown away by how many people jumped in to help get this done. stay tuned because i will be keeping a close eye on the …
May 5, 2024
Final supporters
The City of Driggs, ID, which has provided us a wonderful full-service airport, is proposing, to reduce noise impact and meet FAA regulations, to move the airport runway 2,000 ft. to the North. This will require shortening the available runway for much of this Summer by 2,000 ft., during construction at the North end.
They will then close the airport for 1+ months while they dig up the 'unused' runway at the South end. We feel there is a better way to utilize that portion of the runway than discarding it.
A "Stopway" could be created from the unused runway, (shown below), which would be available for emergency use only in overruns and aborted takeoffs, marked with yellow chevron lines and red lighting at night. The Stopway would be available for testing for several Winters, to see if it prevents aircraft damage from overruns and aborted takeoffs ... and then continued, shortened or removed as necessary.
The major safety concern is due to the fact that when the runway was widened, around 15 years ago, the downhill grade from North to South was required to be leveled at both ends of the runway for a length of approximately 2,000 ft .. which gives North landing aircraft a more level surface to touch down on, and South landing aircraft a more level surface to decelerate and stop on.
With the new proposal that more-level area of the South end of Runway 22 is being removed, so the last 3,000 ft. of runway for aircraft landing from the North will now be all downhill. That may result in problems with runway overruns and aircraft damage especially during the Winter months. The same problem could occur with an aborted takeoff heading to the South.
The preservation of that 2,000 ft. of more-level runway, and conversion to a Stopway, will not change the proposed runway 'shift' project in any way, will not slow its construction, and in fact it should allow it to be completed a month sooner, AND it will remove the requirement to close the airport for 1+ months this Fall, and it will be less expensive .. or at least delay the expense of digging up perfectly good runway until sometime in the future ... if necessary.
We see no reason why the city of Driggs should not consider this proposal for a safer runway 'shift' project, and propose, and endorse, this small Stopway alteration to the FAA. We hope this petition will indicate the support of pilots, especially those flying in and out of Driggs.
SIMPLER, SAFER, QUICKER, AND LESS EXPENSIVE .. WHY NOT?
Thank you Driggs, ID for all you are doing for the general and business aviation community. Let's work together to get this improvement done.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
April 25, 2024
59 Comments
As a Challenger 604 aircrew that flies N54JC freequently taking our owner to his ranch, we concur with the proposal made by Dr Sugden. Its a safety issue!
Thanks for bringing this to my attention! I agree wholeheartedly! Aside from the added safety, sounds like a really bad use of taxpayer dollars to go digging up a perfectly good runway.
as a landowner in the Sweetwater Division and pilot I whole heartetly support the runway to move 2000 feet to the North but for safety concerns it makes perfect sense to have this Stopway. It clearly would be a inexpensive way to add on to the Safety of the Driggs Airport
Maintaining a "Stopway" on a sloped runway that is often contaminated in the winter when the surface is already in place seems like a simple and low cost way to improve safety at a popular GA airport. Please don't dig up existing infrastructure when it can help improve safety!
Turning the south 2000’ of the runway into a stopway is the only common sense course of action. When the runway is wet or contaminated by snow we usually have to cease operations. Having a stopway available will greatly enhance the usability of the airport and save money in the process.
30,000 + hour pilot ATP & former KDIJ Airport Board Member. This proposal is the best solution and far better than dirt (mud) or grass. Why remove a superior surface that is in and paid for?
This makes much more sense than completely removing an area the could be used to increase the safety of our airport and the people that use it.
The runway proposal to close/move part of the Driggs runway is actually less safe than leaving the (extended) runway as is. Among other things, the proposal will increase the descent angle to risky levels. That with the shortened runway length will result in greater, significant required braking for landing aircraft which, with wet and or snowy runways conditions (both of which are regular conditions ay Driggs), will-not may—result in unsafe landings and runway excursions.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
As a Challenger 604 aircrew that flies N54JC freequently taking our owner to his ranch, we concur with the proposal made by Dr Sugden. Its a safety issue!