RPTR ALLEGES THERE IS AN FAA ARPT DESIGN CRITERIA REQUIREMENT FOR A FULL-LENGTH PARALLEL TXWY FOR A RWY THAT HAS AN ILS APCH WHICH IS NOT BEING MET AT DRO.

Narrative

THIS IS TO REPORT A GENERAL AND CONTINUING SAFETY HAZARD AT THE LA PLATA COUNTY ARPT; DURANGO; COLORADO (DRO). THE ARPT DOES NOT HAVE A CTL TWR. IT HAS AN ILS APCH TO RWY 02 WITH STANDARD CATEGORY 1 MINIMUMS OF '200 AND 1/2.' IN ORDER FOR A DEPARTING ACFT TO USE THE FULL LENGTH OF RWY 02 FOR TKOF; THE PLTS MUST BACK-TAXI FOR APPROX 1800 FT TO REACH A SMALL TURN-AROUND AREA. THIS IS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF A FULL-LENGTH PARALLEL TXWY. FAA ARPT DESIGN CRITERIA REQUIRE A FULL-LENGTH PARALLEL TXWY FOR A RWY THAT HAS AN ILS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AT AN ARPT WITHOUT A CTL TWR. THE FAA HAS FAILED FOR YEARS TO ENFORCE ITS OWN SAFETY CRITERIA AT DRO. WHEN THE WIND FAVORS RWY 02 AND THE VISIBILITY IS RESTRICTED; ESPECIALLY IN SNOW OR BLOWING SNOW; AN ACFT ON SHORT FINAL WOULD BE UNABLE TO SEE A BACK-TAXIING ACFT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. IF ALL PLTS PROPERLY PARTICIPATE IN CTAF ADVISORY COMMUNICATIONS THE PLT ON THE ILS APCH AND ANY BACK-TAXIING ACFT WOULD PROBABLY BE AWARE OF EACH OTHER. BUT; THAT IS A HIGH-RISK ASSUMPTION TO MAKE. DRO HAS SCHEDULED COMMUTER AIR CARRIER SERVICE SO I PRESUME IT IS A PART 139-CERTIFIED ARPT. THAT MAKES THIS SITUATION EVEN MORE INEXCUSABLE. WE CAN ONLY SPECULATE ABOUT THE RISK THIS PLACES ON THE CREWS AND PAX OF THOSE COMMUTER FLTS; NOT TO MENTION PRIVATE FLT OPERATIONS AT THE ARPT.