March 19, 2006 ADIZ Prompts Airport Expansion

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By Russ Niles, Newswriter, Editor

It's a general rule that if there are losers there must be winners and Cambridge-Dorchester County Airport in Maryland is planning to take full advantage of the challenges faced by its neighbors. The airport is just outside the Washington Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and traffic counts have been up considerably since the imposition of the complication-inducing restrictions at other airports. Operations increased by about 15 percent last year, largely due to an influx of recreational pilots skirting the zone. Now the local county council is hoping to attract charter operations by lengthening the runway. The 4,500-foot runway will be lengthened by 900 feet to accommodate charter operators. The council approved spending $485,000 to acquire a five-acre property and move the owners to another home. The FAA is also helping out with the expansion costs.