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Southwestern Vermont Airport Facing Design Changes

The Vermont Transportation Agency is considering design changes at the airport that serves Bennington to help it meet federal requirements due to take effect in 2015.

State Aviation Administrator Guy Rouelle says the new regulations require "safety areas" at each end of the runways for planes that over- or under-shoot their landing approaches.

The west end of the runway at the William H. Morse state airport is considered deficient.

He says the state has contracted with a design engineer to develop several alternative solutions.

The Bennington Banner reports that one of the possibilities being considered is to move the runway to the north. Such a move would reduce the effect of Whipstock Hill, which can create a difficult approach for pilots, especially those not familiar with the terrain.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.