| Show Mar Runway Of Re fed a Veric Airport r I ata ti s n 1 I I I M A A i i I iii ail 41 f n THIS CRACK laced along the top of ofa a frost bump recently appeared in the Vernal airport runway Staff photo Cracks and frost bumps in the I runway of Vernal's newly rl re- re remodeled modeled airport present no ha I zard to air ail traffic said Frank Merrill station agent for Fron tier Airlines but the cracks I could cause worsening runway I damage and ha have e been subject to Federal Aviation Agency in- in inspection inspection FAA opinion has not L been en made public yet The southern half of the run way which was paved and give n other improvements totaling last year has develop develop- developed ed several minor cracks and two frost bumps with larger cracks running across its width THE WIDEST crack about In an inch across and six to seven seren inches deep has walnut sized portions of paving chipping out lf hf it increasing the damage arger hand sized are laying loose within the cracks and could conceivably become dislodged later Even with its new bumps and cracks the runway is far sup sup- superior to conditions existing ten years ago Mr l 1 remark ed cd THE FROST bumps or paving cracks are not serious enough to cause a landing or taxiing aircraft any difficulty Mr 11 Merrill stressed This is a pleasant contrast with conditions which existed at atthe atthe the airport prior to its remodel remodel- remodeling remodeling ing where bumps and irregularities in the runway surface caused officials to fear for the undercarriages under of landing air air- aircraft craft TEMPERATURE lions Hons during January may have been responsible for the paving damage the airport officer not not- noted ed Repeated thawing and free free- freezing zing plus the extreme cold temperatures have caused moisture to freeze in the ground beneath the asphalt heaving and buckling it it Airport officials look for a worsening of the condition as the winter continues into spring with more thaw freeze cycles |
