Denton Airport spreads wings

Denton Airport has undergone a number of changes recently and will expand and upgrade its facilities and services.

Last year, airport officials partnered with the Texas Department of Transportation to complete plans for the extension and expansion of the Southeast Taxiway.  This $1.2 million project will provide access to more than 30 hangar pad sites on approximately 20 acres and provide development site opportunities for a facility accommodating more than 250 base aircraft and more than 150,000 operations per year.

Land acquisition plans are complete for a 1,000 foot runway extension project that will extend a runway to 7,000 feet. Officials said that this extension will not only improve flight safety by resolving a non-standard runway safety area, but will also increase the capacity of the Texas Aviation System in North Texas and the Denton Airport which continues to see year after year growth in jet operations.

The Denton Airport was also awarded federal funds for completion of a perimeter fencing project that will enhance security gate access throughout the airfield.  

An additional seven gas wells were drilled on airport property, providing a projected $8 million  in revenue over the next five years supplying necessary capital funds to further expand aviation infrastructure and services for the rapidly growing reliever airport. 

The City of Denton worked closely with the University of North Texas and US Aviation Group over the past two years to assist in creating a new Four Year Aviation Program at UNT.  This program was officially approved and announced in November 2009 and will graduate its first student in December 2010.  UNT is working with DTO flight schools to provide flight training as part of the program.

In January 2010, the FAA committed to increasing tower operation hours by four hours per day, providing a 16-hour tower operation from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

Additionally, DTO has worked with the FAA to implement radar service at Denton for more than four years. As a result of the work and the 2011 Super Bowl in Arlington, the FAA will be installing radar equipment at the airport by the end of this year.

Last year, Denton Airport business operators completed a $5 million project in office, hangar, and maintenance facility construction covering more than 100,000 square feet. 

TxDOT’s Aviation division has recognized the tremendous growth activity at the Denton Airport and agreed to help focus on the airport’s goal to be the “North Texas Airport of Choice” through partnering with the City of Denton through its business plan initiated in 2009.  This plan is expected to enhance the efficiency of the operation and improve the services provided to the flying public through strategic planning.

The Denton Airport was named Reliever Airport of the Year by TxDOT at the 28th Annual Texas Aviation Conference, held April 7 to 9 in The Woodlands, TX.