HERSHEY -- The University's Board of Trustees approved long-term plans to expand University Park Airport this weekend, including a $3.5 million proposal to expand the main runway for larger planes.

The plans, contained in a master plan compiled by airport officials and representatives of an aviation engineering firm, were based on predictions about several growth areas which will affect the airport by the year 2005, said Robert Finley, assistant to the vice president for business and operations.

According to the plan, the number of passengers on scheduled flights is expected to increase from last year's figure of 68,000 to 243,000, Finley said. Also, the total number of aircraft take-offs and landings will increase from the present level of 35,717 to 83,719, he added.

Based on these forecasts, Finley said the airport has identified three major areas of consideration -- runway extension, noise-disturbance levels and general facility development.

The main runway is currently 5,000 feet long and the master plan calls for an immediate extension of 1,700 feet, Finley said.

"A 6,700-foot runway will be able to accommodate the slightly larger, 50-passenger, pressurized aircraft that we expect to see in the very near future," Finley said. "We don't expect to see large jets circling the Centre Region."

Whenever large aircraft enter into a discussion about airport expansion, residents in the surrounding area immediately worry about high level of noise, he said.

Robert Dannaker, airport manager, said the committee travelled to surrounding townships and held three to four meetings in order to hear community input. The communities' prime concern was the possibility of increasing levels of noise as a result of the longer runway, he added.

The airport's master plan included a study on the present level of noise, as well as predicted levels after the 1,700-foot extension, Finley said.

"The expected aircraft activity level would only slightly increase the noise in the area," Finley said. "No homes are located in this area."

He said the University has no control over what the surrounding townships construct on lands near the airport, but added that he wants any development to make all parties happy.

"Putting homes too close to the airport would not be responsible," he said.

Finley said the airport decided early in the planning process to form a committee that included as many key Centre region planners and government officials as possible. The committee also included representatives of the Federal Aviation Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Bureau of Aviation, which cover 95 percent of the airport's expenses.

"Our steering committee meetings typically involved 21 to 22 people with everyone interacting very openly and very honestly," Finley said. "A full environmental impact analysis and a public hearing process are part of the plan."

Finley said the airport is the seventh busiest scheduled passenger airport in the state, which makes a plan of development for the next 10 to 15 years of great importance.

As more passengers flock through the airport's terminal, Finley said the terminal must be expanded, along with parking and hangar space. The additions to the terminal are expected to be built on both the east and west sides of the existing building, he added.

The airport has also provided space for the relocation of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard from their present location on the Univeristy's campus, Finley said. The Guard will lease 15 acres of land and construct 80,000 square feet of buildings.

"The presence of the Air National Guard at the airport will not result in any objectionable military aircraft activities," he added. "The mission of this group is radar operations and air-traffic control."