Release date: 
Friday, May 11, 2012

May 11, 2012 (Ottawa) – The Ottawa International Airport Authority announced that it is ready to start construction on runway 07/25. Part two of a three-part plan, the 8,000 foot runway will be reworked and resurfaced during the summer months, commencing June 1st.

The runway was last resurfaced in 1994, when the airport was managed by Transport Canada, prior to the establishment of the Airport Authority and transfer of operational responsibility from Transport Canada to the Authority in 1997. The runway currently meets Transport Canada guidelines, however once the construction is complete, it will reach far beyond and will conform to the standards set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United States Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

The project will include the following components:

  •  Removal of the surface layer of asphalt from the runway;
  •  Replacement of runway lighting and electrical wires;
  •  Construction of a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at both ends;
  •  Replacement of NAV CANADA’s Instrument Landing System (ILS); and
  •  Regrading and repaving.

Closure of the east-west runway during construction will result in the north-south runway 14/32 being used for all commercial traffic. This will mean a temporary reprieve of aircraft noise for communities in the east and west, and a temporary increase in noise for communities in the north and south.

“In keeping with our commitment to safety, it’s important that we continue to invest in airport infrastructure” said Paul Benoit, Airport Authority President and CEO. “We know that there will be disruptions to some operations and to some communities due to this construction project, but they will be minimized as much as possible and they will be temporary”.

OMCIAA operates Ottawa International Airport without government subsidies under a 60-year lease transfer agreement with Transport Canada. The OMCIAA’s mandate is to manage, operate and develop airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of the National Capital Region.

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