New taxiway to make Boston Logan safer

When two airplanes come too close to each other on the ground, that’s a runway incursion. They can be deadly, so deadly that the National Transportation Safety Board continues to put measures to cut their occurrence at the top of its Most Wanted List. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Massachusetts Port Authority appear to be listening.

Construction is starting at Boston Logan International (BOS) on a $43 million centerfield taxiway. The 9,300-foot affair is designed to afford air traffic controllers more flexibility in positioning aircraft so they can cross active runways. The idea is to make those crossings safer, to reduce incursions. Another benefit of the taxiway: flights should spend less time reaching their gate. That saves fuel, and makes fewer flyers fume.

The new centerfield strip is designated Taxiway Mike. Construction will start at the north end of the airfield and move southerly, towards Runway 15R/33L (runways are designated by points on the compass). Taxiway Mike itself is a parallel affair, located between Runway 4L/22R, and 4R/22L.

Don’t look for an immediate benefit; Massport says work will take a couple of years to complete.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler