Lexington airport adds signage

Aug. 14, 2007

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- New markings to lead pilots to the right runway have been added to the tarmacs at Lexington's Blue Grass Airport, where 49 people were killed in a Comair crash nearly a year ago that happened after their plane attempted to take off from the wrong strip.

Airport spokesman Brian Ellestad said the Federal Aviation Administration suggested the changes.

"Markings such as these have only been used at larger airports," Ellestad said in an e-mail. "Under FAA guidance, several steps have been taken to go above and beyond what is required for airports our size."

Comair, based in Erlanger, Ky., believes the action will enhance safety, spokeswoman Kate Marx said.

Since the Aug. 27 crash, the airport has said its signs and markings were found to be in compliance with FAA regulations.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigated the crash, said last December that both Lexington runways "had appropriate runway holding position and taxiway location signs at the taxiway entrance to each runway."

But the NTSB said July 26 in announcing its findings that the flight crew's failure to spot various clues to their location at the airport caused the crash. The board's recommendations included adding enhanced markings to all taxiways and runways at commercial airports, similar to those at the nation's largest airports, and now at Lexington.

The changes were made as part of a standard post-crash review, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said. "They came up with a proposal, and we approved it."

The NTSB declined to comment.

Marion Queen of Lexington, daughter of Leslie Morris II, who with his wife, Kaye, died in the crash, said she was sorry changes weren't made before the accident.

"It makes you a little angry that it's fixed. I mean, I'm glad it's fixed," Queen said. "But this whole thing didn't have to happen -- that's the sad, worst part of it all."

Whether the markings at the airport were insufficient has been an issue since the crash. The plane was trying to take off from the shorter of two runways, one not used for commercial flights.

Comair, the Air Line Pilots Association and attorneys for the lone survivor, First Officer James Polehinke, have said the airport had deficient markings and signs prior to the crash. All lauded the changes.

"The signage, markings and paintings are really important parts of the system of safety, and we're happy with the steps the Lexington airport is taking -- , said H. Bruce Brandon, one of Polehinke's attorneys.

Capt. Terry McVenes, executive air safety chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, praised the changes. "We always are looking for improvements, no matter what airport it's at. We try to get away from the blame culture. As long as we continue to improve the system and all components of it, it's good for the traveling public."