Atlanta Toasts Airport's Fifth Runway

"My primary motivation was to make this runway happen," he said. "Logistical nightmares that need solutions are just problems that need to be solved --- and that's fun for me. I like seeing all the pieces come together. It's dynamic, it's interesting, and that's what happened with this project."

Delta's chief pilot, Jim Graham, and colleague Kevin Mathison were at the controls of the 767 that made the inaugural flight Tuesday.

Mathison told cheering passengers just before takeoff that their plane --- dubbed Flight 1028 to match the runway's numerical designation --- was "No. 1 for the runway, of course."

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