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Picayune officials: runway paving finished but FAA flight check and PAPI activation remain
Summary
City staff told the Picayune City Council that runway paving and shoulder work are complete and PAPI lights are installed, but FAA flight checks and striping remain before all systems are active; airport operations continue under NOTAMs.
The Picayune City Council heard an update on the airport project at its Nov. 4 meeting, where city staff said runway paving and shoulder work are complete but final instrument checks remain pending.
The city engineer told the council the runway pavement and shoulders have been brought up to grade and that the PAPI lighting — precision approach path indicators used for visual glide‑path guidance — has been installed. "The paving of the runway was successfully completed," the city engineer said, and crews are finishing required clearing in the aviation hazard easement.
City staff said the airport is operating under current NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions), which permit continued use of the field while some systems remain offline. "Right now, the airport is open," a city official said, noting that the beacon and PAPIs will not be put into service until the Federal Aviation Administration performs a flight check.
Officials said the FAA schedules flight checks months in advance and that crews are "booked out," so the flight check could take place several months from now. Staff also said striping cannot be applied until asphalt curing is complete — a minimum 14‑day waiting period — and that striping may require a temporary closure of a few days when it is performed.
The city described the pending steps as standard federal and operational requirements rather than technical problems. Council members asked about timing; staff said they are maintaining close contact with contractors and FAA representatives and will provide further updates when a firm flight‑check date is set.
Next steps identified by staff include completing the hazard‑easement clearing, applying runway striping after the curing window, and scheduling the FAA flight check required to activate PAPI aids.
The council did not take a vote on the airport matters during the public update; staff framed the report as an operational status briefing and timeline for remaining certifications.
