Draft EUG Master Plan Update, February 2010

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CHAPTER 4 ALTERNATIVE PLAN CONCEPTS end, while aircraft continue to operate on the runway. Another option is to temporarily close the shorter parallel runway during construction, shifting 100% of the aircraft operations to the longer primary runway. The best course of action should be determined during the planning, environmental, design, and construction phasing of the project. The implementation of the extension should include consideration of additional details, and quantification of effects and impacts. 2.2 Taxiways EUG benefits from an elaborate taxiway system, including full parallels to both runways, a midfield connector (a portion of which accommodates two simultaneous aircraft), and several routes to terminal areas, which provide direct travel among touchdown, terminal, and take-off. One feature expected to increase the efficiency of aircraft ground movement is the addition of acute angle (or “high speed”) taxiway connectors. Taxiway connectors are the shorter sections of pavement bridging the gap between the runway and the parallel taxiway. These connectors have traditionally been configured to be at right angles (90 degrees) to the direction of the runway and taxiway, allowing an aircraft exiting the runway to turn either direction onto the parallel taxiway. However, a right angle connector intersection requires the aircraft to slow considerably, by wheel-braking and reversing the engines, loosing its momentum from touchdown. The aircraft then must increase engine power to accelerate across the connector, and then repeat the process to negotiate the second right-angle turn onto the parallel taxiway. This abrupt and repetitious action between brake and acceleration negatively affects the efficient movement of the aircraft around the airfield. It results in a shift in the steady flow of the aircraft movement experienced by the onboard passengers, and also in wear on the aircraft. It also expends more fuel in reversing the engines to slow, thrusting the engines to connect, and thrusting again once on the parallel taxiway, resulting in increased exhaust emissions, and in increased noise from the revving engines. The acute angle taxiway connector capitalizes on the motion and energy of the moving aircraft, as the pilot directs the aircraft gently from the runway onto the connector, and gently onto the taxiway, without significant change in direction or speed. It allows aircraft to more quickly exit the runway, making it available for other aircraft. It also encourages aircraft to take direct paths between runway and terminal. Operators using EUG benefit from several existing acute angle connectors. Taxiways A4 and A6 allow for efficient transition off a runway by an arriving aircraft using the aircraft’s momentum. Taxiways A3, A7, and A8 are also acute angle connectors, but because of their location near the runway ends, are more conducive to direct routing than to steady aircraft movement, as there is not sufficient distance for an arriving aircraft to touchdown and exit the runway at A3, A7, and A8. Improvement Alternatives It may be beneficial to locate acute angle connectors either as a replacement of an existing right angle connector or as introduction of a new taxi route. 4-9 Eugene Airport Master Plan Update (February 2010)