Massport: Worcester airport visibility improved

The federal government and the state agency that oversees Worcester Regional Airport have made it easier for aircraft to take off and land, according to the state agency, the Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport.

Massport said it and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had identified and removed trees from the runway and approach areas to help address visibility.

Yet the state agency said the FAA this month reduced the minimum visual range – what’s called runway visual range, or RVR – which measures how far one can see down a runway. The minimums were reduced from 4,000 feet to 1,800 feet as a result of the clearing of trees at the airport, Massport said in a statement.

The agency noted that JetBlue, which began commercial passenger service from Worcester in November, could have benefited from fewer canceled and diverted flights if the change had been implemented before November.

The RVR reduction brings the airport’s runway into the Category I standard setting by the Federal Aviation Administration for landing approaches. Category I, or CAT I, establishes a minimum RVR of up to 2,400 feet. Massport said reducing the minimum was an interim step to address low visibility conditions, with the long-term goal of installing a so-called Category III instrument landing system, which allows operations in near zero visibility for RVR and decision height, or the height of the cloud ceiling.

“This is another important step in maintaining the momentum that began with JetBlue’s arrival to Worcester Regional Airport,” said Tim Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Visibility issues have forced JetBlue to divert some flights to other airports, including Logan International Airport in Boston. Massport said the percentage of flights that are operating as scheduled into and out of Worcester is similar to those at other smaller New England airports.

“I am pleased that the City of Worcester and Massport are working together in a collaborative fashion with our federal and state delegation to ensure the Worcester Regional Airport has the technology it needs to continue on the path to success,” Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty said in the Massport statement.

“The enhancements to the navigation system will help address weather issues and make Worcester Regional Airport an attractive alternative to residents of Worcester and Central Massachusetts.”

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