Anti nuclear campaigners claim an inadequate runway at Wick Airport is justification for halting airborne nuclear cargoes between Dounreay and the US. Military flights carrying highly enriched uranium have just begun and are set to continue for several years. Local SNP MP Paul Monaghan has claimed the planes are unable to take off safely because the runway is too short. He bases his concern on research that claims to show the US Air Force C17 Globemaster requires a “safe” runway length of 7,600ft. Wick John O’Groats Airport, which was recently upgraded by the UK Government at a cost of £8million, is 6,000ft long. Mr Monaghan, who represents Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: “I’m very concerned to learn that the huge Boeing aircraft being used cannot take off safely from Wick John O’Groats due to the short runway length.
Press & Journal 3rd Oct 2016 read more »