Culminating a two-decade-long effort, a new 8,600-foot runway was dedicated Aug. 25, 2017, at Taos Regional Airport (KSKX) in New Mexico.
The new runway is perpendicular to the original runway. It will enable pilots to operate more safely at times of the year when wind directions make the airfield more challenging, according to FAA officials.
The project also comes with important provisions aimed at protecting the lands and lifestyle of the Taos Pueblo.
“An airport is a treasure. It is the lifeblood of a community, an asset that must be nurtured,” said FAA Administration Michael Huerta, who cut the ribbon on the new runway. “The result of our collaborative efforts is a project that will improve both the safety and utility of this important regional transportation link, while respecting the traditional values and unique culture of the Taos Pueblo.”
Federal grants totaling about $25 million paid for most of the project cost.
The environmental review for the project included extensive government-to-government consultation with the Taos Pueblo, Town of Taos and numerous state and federal agencies, according to officials.
This resulted in a number of mitigations, including the installation and operation of a passive noise monitoring system.
The system, which began operating in 2014, will support a pre-project and post-project comparison of flights over the Taos World Heritage Site and adjacent lands.
Additionally, the FAA raised the voluntary minimum flight altitude above the World Heritage site from 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet.
“We got this project right because all of the stakeholders approached this in a spirit of collaborative partnership,” Huerta said. “Without tenacity, dedication and determination we would not be standing here today.”
I don’t know what the elevation of the Taos World Heritage Site is, but the Taos airport is almost 7,100 ft. MSL. So instead of being able to cross the World Heritage Site at 9,100 in my Cessna 172, I have to go to 12,100?!? That seems like it will be a struggle for lower-powered aircraft. Also, with the budget concerns of the FAA, wouldn’t it have been cheaper for the Administrator to remain in Washington to make the announcement of the new runway instead of flying to New Mexico to do it?
For whatever its worth, there was a key operative word contained in the statement related to overflight of the World Heritage Site, that being “voluntary.”
“….the FAA raised the voluntary minimum flight altitude above the World Heritage site from 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet.”
Also, there is a more preferred east/west route with a lower mountain pass just a couple miles to the south of Taos Pueblo, through the US Highway 64 corridor. It is a relatively small area to avoid and clearly marked on the charts. We’re trying to be good neighbors here and it has not been reported as an inconvenience by any of the local pilots or regular visitors to the area.