- The new PAPI 4’s have been installed on Runway 35 and are fully operational. They were constructed within a 90/10 FAA grant administered by TxDOT Aviation. Due to an extremely wet site, the fact that the work was carried out at night with a runway closure required, and a wet winter, the project was difficult to achieve. Once the FAA has made a routine check, they will be noted on the aeronautical charts.
- The T-Hangar Project was bid in late February and was taken to City Council on March 18, 2007. A total of 99 t-hangars, three air conditioned restrooms, a pilots suite with flight planning, TV, vending, and a shower will be constructed.
The T-Hangar project began in 2000, with the purchase of 66 acres of land in 2001. As a trade for three affected acres of wetlands, thirty acres of farmland were restored to wetlands at the entrance to the Brazos Bend State Park. The next phase of the project involved the construction of two taxiway bridges over existing oxbow lakes, very likely the only ones in the United States. The total project cost including land, wetlands mitigation, infrastructure, utilities, roadway, parking, apron, fencing, landscaping, t-hangars and interior build out is topping out at over $24.5 million. There is no question that this will be the premier t-hangar complex in the state. It is, in fact, the largest project ever undertaken by the Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division.
- SpawGlass was the successful bidder for Phase 2 of the Terminal Apron. Utilizing a $2.7 million FAA grant, the airport will be able to nearly double the existing ramp area. Construction began in late March.
Included in the project is the rebuilding of the north entrance to the terminal apron, to bring it up to proper specifications. As a result, that entrance will be closed for the entire 150 days of construction. The sole access to the apron will be the south taxilane entrance. The ATC Tower will provide control of this access. Aircraft departing the terminal area are directed to contact Ground Frequency at 121.4 MHz prior to starting up their engines.
Project completion is expected in September 2008.
- A bid process will take place within the next year for the removal of the existing t-hangars. As soon as the T-Hangar Project is completed, based customers’ aircraft will be relocated to the new complex, and the existing t-hangars will be demoed. The Airport will implement the quickest and easiest means of removal. A single contract will be awarded to remove the hangars, including pavement, electrical and plumbing. Requests for individual hangars are being logged by airport staff, and be passed along to the demolition contractor.
- Engineering is underway on a new east-west corporate taxilane that will be constructed north of Txy H. The project will cost $11 million and will take two years to construct, and is expected to begin in late 2009. It will provide the airport with seven leasable corporate hangar sites, for hangars ranging in size form 120’ x 120’ to 150’ x 250’. The airport maintains a waiting list for aviation departments interested in relocating to Sugar Land.
- Also in the engineering phase is Standby Power Generators for airfield and terminal operations. The Sugar Land Regional Airport is the first non-commercial airport in Texas to be granted federal funding for this purpose. The importance of the airport was proven during the evacuation of Galveston and the greater Houston area in 2005 during Hurricane Rita.