This year, the growing intensity of traffic at the Prague International Airport at Ruzyně will require – aside from regular upkeep - a more extensive investment project, to the extent of at least CZK 350 million.  The project will involve the renovation of the main take-off and landing runway 06/24 (its dimensions are 3,715 m x 45 m), construction modifications of the check-in area, and the construction of new taxiing surfaces connecting to the main runway.  The goal is to increase the capacity of the current runway system, in a situation when the airport does not yet have a parallel runway, and to build quick turning lanes, which will shorten the time spent by each aircraft on the runway.  The construction work is co-ordinated with the Air Navigation Company  (Řízení letového provozu ČR, s.p.), so that the impact on the acoustical situation in the vicinity of the Prague – Ruzyně, especially in the densely populated areas of Prague 5, 6, 13, and 17, and in the neighbouring settlements, will be as little as possible.

The planned work will also involve a time-limited shutdown of the main runway, and a temporary move of air traffic to the side runway 13/ 31 (3,250  m long, 45 m wide).  Construction work, whose first stage will be commenced on 15 February, will be time-limited, will take place during full operation, and will be co-ordinated so that it would be finished in the shortest time possible.

The Czech Airport Administration actively informed the representatives of the Prague neighbourhoods and surrounding settlements concerned.  The mayors and civic associations of the neighbourhoods and settlements near the airport, as well as the relevant institutions, have been informed about the renovations and the schedule of the work.  The Czech Airport Administration set up a special “Blue” telephone line 220-111-188 for the inquiries and suggestions of the public.  Written inquiries may be sent to the following e-mail address: zivotni.prostredi@csl.cz or by post to: Letiště Praha – Ruzyně, útvar Životní prostředí, K letišti 6, 160 08  Praha 6.

Take-off and landing runways, taxiing surfaces, and light security equipment at the Ruzyně Airport are subject to annual upkeep, in line with international norms regulating the safety of civil aviation.  Their repairs only take limited periods of time, are done during full operation, and are scheduled so that they would be completed as fast as possible.  Regular runway maintenance is performed by the Czech Airport Administration before every summer season, after the winter, which is operationally demanding, and which, as in the case of regular roads, has a certain adverse impact on the technical condition of the surfaces of the runways, which are, among other things, stressed by dynamic impacts, caused by the movement of airplanes.  The consequences of the disintegrative process must be removed before every winter, in order to guarantee the maximum adhesiveness of the surface, and therefore also safety, during winter operation.

“The capacity of the current runway system is stretched to the maximum and it must be increased through building modifications,”, said the Deputy General Manager of the Czech Airport Administration, responsible for the Airport Operation Section, Ing. Petr Hloušek.  “Otherwise, the airport could not smoothly respond to the demands of carriers and would generate flight delays.  We must realise that every delay at the Prague airport is immediately carried over to other airports in Europe,” he added.  “According to the plan, work will first be done on the main runway, 06/ 24, which will undergo, aside from the construction of fast exits, also regular maintenance of the runway surface and of the light-safety equipment.”
 
Given the dynamic development of the Prague – Ruzyně Airport, which is already one of the key addresses in the European air space, the airport development plans count on building a parallel runway by at least 2007.  This runway, which will run parallel to the existing main runway, is called RWY 06R/24L, or also the BIS runway, and will have a significant ecological benefit, which will enable a maximum reduction of traffic on the current secondary runway 13/ 31, and will decrease the noise pollution over densely populated parts of Prague, with 170,000 inhabitants.

SCHEDULE OF WORK ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE RUNWAY SYSTEM IN 2005:

A. Main work

• 15 February 2005 – 16 March 2005
The intersection of taxiing surfaces C and G will undergo repair, which will require a change in the mode of operation on runways: the main runway 06/ 24 will only be used for take-offs at that time, and the side runway 13/31 for landing.
• 21 February 2005 – 31 March 2005
The 1st stage of work on increasing the capacity of the main runway 06/ 24 is planned, which will be closed at night, between 22:00 and 06:00, and night-time traffic will be transferred to runway 13/ 31.
• 1 April 2005 – 15 May 2005
The 2nd stage of work on increasing the capacity of the main runway 06/ 24 is planned for this time, and, at the same time, in order to save time, the regular spring maintenance of the main runway 06/ 24 will take place.  The runway will be closed and all traffic will be transferred to the side-runway 13/ 31.
• 16 May 2005 – 12 June 2005
During this 3rd stage of work on increasing the capacity of runway 06/ 24, the main runway 06/ 24 will be closed at night, between 22:00 – 06:00, and night-time traffic will be transferred to runway 13/31.

B. Regular fall maintenance

• 26 September 2005 – 29 September 2005
The main runway 06/ 24 will be closed, in order to prepare for the upcoming winter operation.  Among other things, the runway will be cleansed of the layers of rubber in places where the wheels of the landing aircraft touch its surface, and treated with an anti-skid solution.  Traffic will be moved to runway 13/ 31 and most landings will take place in the direction of Prague Butovice – Prague Řepy – Prague Airport, whereas take-offs will go primarily in the direction of Dobrovíz and Hostouň.
• 30 September 2005 – 14 November 2005
The side runway 13/ 31 will be closed for fall maintenance, including the removal of layers of rubber before winter operation.  Traffic will go to runway 06/ 24, in the direction of Prague - Suchdol – Prague Airport – Jeneč.