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` ,R <br /> <br /> F <br /> j ~ EUGENE <br /> ~ ~ AIRPORT <br /> City of Eugcne <br /> Mahlon Sweet Field <br /> 28855 Lockheed Drive <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97402 <br /> 54 U682.5430 <br /> Fax 541/682.(,838 <br /> For Immediate Release <br /> New Instrument Landing System will benefit Eugene Airport users this winter <br /> i <br /> With Winter weather quickly approaching, the Eugene Airport is pleased to announce that the <br /> long awaited Category II Instrument Lighting System (CAT II) upgrade at the Airport is complete <br /> ~ and will be operational as of September 10`h, 1998. This is a similar type of instrument landing <br /> system to those in operation at larger airports like Portland and Seattle. <br /> This new "CAT II" system should eliminate approximately half of the Eugene weather-related flight <br /> diversions that have inconvenienced hundreds of passengers in past winters. In addition to <br /> improving customer service at the Eugene Airport, the "CAT II" system will make it more cost <br /> effective for airlines to operate out of Eugene by reducing expenses associated with landing at <br /> 'alternate airports and busing passengers to Eugene. Weather conditions at other airports, <br /> ,however, could still result in delayed or canceled flights. <br /> The "CAT II" upgrade is comprised of additional runway lights, approach lighting, landing signal <br /> transmitters, and visibility measuring equipment. Working together, "CAT II" system components <br /> reduce the pilot's required runway visibility and decision height requirements by 50%. This new <br /> system will allow airline pilots to fly the "CAT II" ILS approach with 1/4 mile visibility and descend <br /> to a decision height of 100' before making a visual siting and a final decision whether to land. <br /> This is a major improvement as more than 2000 commercial flights arrive or depart at the Eugene <br /> Airport each month. The upgrade is also available for general aviation pilots who average over <br /> 6500 operations each month. Weather conditions can vary greatly from year to year, with fog and <br /> inclement conditions playing an important role in aircraft operations. <br /> The overall cost of the "CAT II" upgrade is approximately $4.3 million. Approximately $2.9 came <br /> from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Facilities and Equipment funds secured through the <br /> assistance of Rep. Peter DeFazio. The Airport also received approximately $1.3 from FAA Airport <br /> j Improvement monies to fund the installation of the centerline and touchdown lights. The City of <br /> Eugene Airport added another $130,000 as the airport's share of that project. The system will be <br /> commissioned this fall, with a ceremony commemorating the commissioning scheduled for <br /> October 1998. <br /> For more information, please contact: Mike Boggs, Airport Manager or Mike Coontz, Operations <br /> Supervisor at (541) 682-5430. <br /> <br />