The territory’s sole international airport has been seeing debris and cracks in its main runway asphalt this winter through inspections – after it was newly paved last summer as part of $5.1 million worth of work.

Responding to the Star’s inquiries, the Yukon government confirmed that Thursday afternoon, saying it was common and a result of cold temperatures over an extended period of time.

That can lead to the asphalt contracting and then cracking – resulting in debris on the runway.

Such debris is classified as “foreign object debris (FOD),” also known as substance or articles that can damage aircraft or equipment, Oshea Jephson with the Department of Highways and Public Works (HPW) wrote this morning.

Explaining that there are regular programs that monitor this type of material, he added that there was “limited asphalt FOD” thanks to the overlay work done last summer.

That debris that can cause damage to a plane and equipment at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport if it is not removed.

However, Jephson explained that FOD was “significantly reduced” because of the work last year and “no aircraft have been damaged that we are aware of.”

However, at least one pilot with about a half dozen years of experience told the Star it was the first time he’d heard of asphalt breaking loose from the runway.

While the situation is not what he would consider normal, the pilot did acknowledge that it could be the result of cold temperatures.

Over the last nine days or so, the weather has led to cracks and debris on the runway – which Jephson said “is normal and expected behaviour for asphalt in cold weather environments.” That’s after inspections increased around Jan. 9.

These runway inspections “are part of operations at all airports and are not unique to Whitehorse.”

Those inspections are three-tiered and happen year-round, he said.

They involved staff driving or walking along the runway to test infrastructure in place to make sure it is safe “and in regulatory compliance.”

They can increase based on weather, environment and infrastructure involved.

Jephson was not able to say whether there were similar situations in previous years during the colder seasons.

Jephson said Thursday afternoon that it wasn’t akin to “giant tons of rocks, but little flecks and specks.

“ ... Asphalt cracking is expected, and normal. As expected for any paved surface, the runway overlay has experienced cracking this winter,” Jephson said.

With the cold snap of the recent weeks (temperatures dipped down to -27 C as of Jan. 7), the pilot wondered what measures were in place to accommodate the colder weather that will inevitably hit the territory each year.

“These inspections are being done out of an abundance of caution and the runway continues to be safe,” Jephson said.

The department said there are no longer increases in inspections after they began on Jan. 9.

“Because asphalt cracking is a normal process, Whitehorse airport has an annual crack sealing program that fills cracks in runway surfaces,” the department said.

That work is done during warmer temperatures as it allows the crack sealant to stick to airside surfaces, but since inspections are part of the maintenance budget for the site, there is no additional cost to YG.

Joe Sparling, Air North’s president and CEO, confirmed Wednesday that he’s aware of the airport doing regular checks and inspections after takeoffs and landings. It had begun issuing advisories within the last week or so, he said.

“Of course it is (frustrating),” Sparling sighed, noting that the delays in his experience for planes have tended to last about five to 10 minutes.

“It is a safety issue, but they’re doing their best to deal with it.”

For its part, YG said there had not been any “significant delays to flights as a result of inspections.”

But Jephson also added that the cold weather increased runway inspections, which “did cause delays for some aircraft.”

Another member of the aviation industry the Star spoke to said there was a 15- to 20-minute delay of at least one aircraft landing because of the problem and extra inspections. That aircraft was obliged to circle the city until receiving authorization to land.

The situation has developed just over six months after YG explained that the main runway would be resurfaced with asphalt beginning in July 2018.

That pavement overlay project came with a $5.1 million price tag, beginning last July 8, with work anticipated to take up to six weeks to wrap up.

The government added then that part of the long-term work for a complete reconstruction was being planned to begin within the next seven years, but that its secondary runway was also available for flights when the main one was closed.

Jephson added this week that design work to replace the runway is expected to start sometime this year.

Built in 1943, the main runway at the site saw an increase in traffic (aircraft arrivals and departures) of seven per cent over the last year.

The terminal itself opened in 1986, but there have been expansions to it since then.