Taxiway to Be Used as Runway at Las Américas Airport in Santo Domingo During Maintenance Work
The Airport Commission has been briefed on progress for a project led by AERODOM, in coordination with the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), aimed at mitigating the impact of necessary operational closures due to maintenance of the main runway at Las Américas International Airport, José Francisco Peña Gómez (AILA). These closures are expected to become more frequent as the infrastructure continues to deteriorate.
Regular runway maintenance is critical to ensuring airport safety and operational efficiency. Daily inspections are performed without closing the runway, while routine maintenance every three to six months may require partial closures.
Major tasks like resurfacing are carried out every five to ten years, and complete structural overhauls typically occur every 20 to 30 years. These procedures are carefully scheduled to minimize disruptions to air traffic.
In 2023, AERODOM completed a maintenance project on runway 17-35 at AILA, investing over USD 3 million. The project involved a partial nighttime closure from August 7 to 20 (11:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.), during which 54,000 square meters of pavement were renewed and 57,000 square meters rehabilitated.
Given this precedent and the prospect of more extensive future work, it is anticipated that the main runway may be inoperative for several days or weeks, affecting normal flight schedules.
To minimize operational impact, AERODOM and IDAC are advancing a project to enable taxiway Juliet as an alternative runway, reviving its use between 2007 and 2009, when the main runway underwent an extended intervention.
Following a technical evaluation by IDAC, and in accordance with Dominican Aeronautical Regulations (RAD) 14 Vol. I and RAD 11, the agency certified on March 14, 2025, that taxiway Juliet meets the safety standards required to serve as an auxiliary runway.
The project includes load and capacity studies, along with infrastructure upgrades, to ensure its operational viability during extended closures of the main runway.
This upgrade will allow continued airport operations, reduce disruption for passengers and airlines, and facilitate scheduled maintenance without compromising safety.
Additionally, AERODOM, in partnership with VINCI Airports, unveiled in 2024 the preliminary design for a new terminal at Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, intended to accommodate the double-digit air traffic growth in the Dominican Republic. Construction is set to begin in mid-2025.
AUTOR
Desde 2017, haciendo periodismo aeronáutico. Award-Winning Journalist: Ganador de la edición 2023 de "Periodismo de Altura", otorgado por ALTA. Facts don't care about your feelings.
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