Construction Forces LAX Runway Shift

Some airplanes at Los Angeles International Airport will begin using a shorter runway Monday as a result of construction activity, which likely will produce more noticeable aircraft activity for residents just north of the airfield.

Runway 24L/6R on the north side of the airport will remain shortened until September 2016 while construction crews make improvements to the Runway Safety Area, which is on the end of the runway and is designed to provide an “extra margin of safety” for landing and departing aircraft, according to Los Angeles World Airports.

While many planes will be able to operate as usual on the shortened runway, some heavier planes that fly long-distance international flights may need to use a different runway.

Each airline will decide whether its planes should use the shortened runway or must be switched based on factors such as the flight’s destination, load factor, weather conditions and aircraft performance, airport officials said.

The Instrument Landing System on runway 24L/6R will also be deactivated during construction, but since most landings are done on a different runway, it likely won’t affect many arriving flights during the day, according to the airport.

The only types of flights the system deactivation will affect are those that usually land on runway 24L/6R during night-time “over-ocean operations.” These landings, which take place from midnight to 6:30 a.m., will instead take place on northern runway 24R/6L.

As a result, residents living adjacent to the north side of the airport may notice more overnight aircraft activity, airport officials said.

--City News Service