Reno area’s No. 2 airport undergoes $10 million runway project

Monday, Feb. 23, 2004 | 2:34 a.m.

Reno area's No. 2 airport undergoes $10 million runway project RENO, Nev. - A $10 million renovation project is under way to help the Reno area's No. 2 airport prepare for an expected increase in business.

The project calls for a rebuilt runway at Reno Stead Airport, home to the Reno National Championship Air Races and 200 other tenants.

Also in the works is a new $5 million high-tech instrument landing system, which would allow pilots to land in poor visibility.

Heavier traffic is expected at the airport as Reno-Tahoe International Airport increases daily flights.

"Rather than be down in Reno and mixed with commercial traffic, we hope people will come out here and see the facilities and safety devices, and hopefully some of them will decide to relocate here," airport manager Skip Polak told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The 5,000-acre airport also features 3,000 acres that could be developed commercially.

Some of the land will be developed by the Nevada Army National Guard, an airport tenant.

"We are open to discussion with developers - we've gotten the zoning approvals," said Dean Schultz, manager of airport planning.

But any tenants must be willing to shut down every year for the weeklong Reno Air Races, one of Reno's largest tourist attractions. Competitors buzz above the airport every September.

Finding such tenants will be a major challenge, Schultz acknowledged.

"It certainly is going to narrow our market," Schultz said. "(But) we are certainly not going to propose anything that would hinder the air races."

The air races are too popular for anyone to consider ending for development, said race president Michael Houghton.

"It is a great event for the community and from an economic standpoint, anything that would affect the races would not be good for the community," Houghton said.

Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal