(audio is courtesy of KMIZ Television)

The runway at Columbia Regional Airport (COU) will be closed for emergency construction starting Tuesday.

Columbia City Hall – file photo courtesy of Missourinet Columbia affiliate KSSZ

Columbia interim city manager John Glascock made the announcement during a Monday afternoon press conference, telling reporters that pilots have expressed concern about a “crown” on the runway.

“Pilots, you know we want them to be safe, we want them to be up front with us and if we need to do this, we need to do this. It’s their safety as well as ours,” Glascock says.

Glascock tells reporters air service will be closed at Columbia Regional until next Tuesday, which is April 16.

Representatives from both Fort Worth-based American and Chicago-based United Airlines met Monday with Columbia city leaders and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials to discuss the situation.

Glascock says there’s an elevated crown on the runway, that’s causing concern. He says city officials want to address the pilots’ concerns and ensure customers have a good experience while traveling in and out of COU.

“The crown can cause the feeling of hitting a bump during take off and landing, even though runway 1331 is fully FAA-compliant, we want to address the pilot’s safety concerns,” says Glascock.

Mr. Glascock says the FAA requires the crown, to assist with water drainage. He says the emergency construction will allow for smoother take-offs and landings.

Columbia Regional Airport provides nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare and Denver.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet