Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WARWICK, R.I. -- If there's growth in commercial cargo flights in and out of Rhode Island, it is better suited to the airport at Quonset Point than T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, according to Kevin Dillon, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC). Speaking before a group of residents from the Oakland Beach area Thursday night, Dillon answered questions about the corporation's proposed runway expansion, preferably to the south. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to publicly announce next month whether it will approve the expansion and if it favors the southerly direction suggested by Dillon. In the meantime, Dillon has been meeting with residents throughout the city to try to answer their questions. The issue of more freight flights from carriers such as Federal Express and UPS came on Thursday night as residents listened to Dillon explain that a longer runway will clear the way for longer flights emanating from Green because planes will be able to carry heavier loads in the form of increased passengers, cargo or fuel for a cross-country flight. The planes won't necessarily be bigger, Dillon said, noting that many of the larger jets that fly from Warwick have to limit their passengers and rely on stops at regional hub locations because of Green's runway, which is short by industry standards. Given that fact, some residents wanted to know if a longer runway will also then invite more cargo planes to Warwick. Dillon said, "Not necessarily," and there are a number of reasons why. First, he said, Green has a voluntary midnight curfew, and most freight carriers fly through the night. Also, he said, the airport is not set up to handle a big increase in freight carriers, so his choice, as head of the airport corporation, would be to encourage cargo flights at Quonset. In addition to Green and Quonset, RIAC also manages three other airports in the state: Newport, North Central and Westerly. The FAA meeting on Green's expansion proposal is schedued for June 3 at 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

 Tags  business

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