City staff to prepare runway‑shift resolution after public workshops; council told change could save millions and reduce noise impact

Prescott — Airport Director Rick Kreider and aviation planner Charlie McDermott of Dibble Engineering briefed the Prescott City Council study session on Sept. 23 on a proposal to shift the primary runway at Prescott Regional Airport and to extend and strengthen it for larger aircraft.

McDermott said the change — described by the Federal Aviation Administration as a “runway shift” — would relocate some existing pavement from one end of the runway to the other (moving the runway threshold) and add new pavement at the far end. He told council staff would prepare a formal resolution for council consideration next month if the council agrees on the approach: “that’s called a runway shift… taking some pavement off one end and putting new pavement on the other end.”

Engineers and airport staff said the benefits include placing the runway protection zone entirely on airport property, moving takeoff and climb noise farther from the Deepwell Ranch community, eliminating obstacles that now penetrate the OEI departure surface, and reducing the need…