Granbury Regional Airport

On the Wings of Change

Flying ahead with modern and first-class amenities

Although many regional airports have experienced their share of challenges as we firmly leave the pandemic woes behind us, one dynamic airport hub, Granbury Regional Airport is bucking this trend.

Significant changes are taking place, and passenger numbers are heading skyward for this gem of an airport, solidifying it as a prime destination to land. Granbury Regional Airport is fully focused on navigating a clearly defined growth path ahead, utilizing the local, state, and federal resources to get there. This dynamic regional aviation hub also continues to serve as the perfect gateway to a thriving and tourist-friendly economic region.

With a host of infrastructure projects on the horizon and a clear focus on expanding flight training, maintenance operations as well as workforce development, Granbury is setting its sights high and riding on the headwinds of change.

Taking off with great amenities

“We are a city-owned airport with a city-owned and operated FBO,” Cody J. Mathis, Director of Aviation for Granbury Regional Airport describes. “We offer friendly, personalized service.”

Boasting a 5200-foot runway that opened in 2022 that can now fully support corporate jet operations as well as a brand new and state-of-the-art 4000 square foot FBO terminal building that opened to the traveling public in July, Granbury Regional Airport is getting far more than just a facelift as it meets growth numbers. A complete transformation is a better description that makes Granbury Regional a hard act to follow.

Granbury Regional also provides a fuel farm set to double in fuel capacity shortly.

“We just obtained a 100 low lead truck to fuel piston aircraft remotely. We have two Jet A trucks next to the FBO and we are going to build a fuel truck depot that will house a brand new tug that will be capable of maneuvering jet aircraft,” Mathis adds.

These recent developments have been in the works for quite some time. As Mathis points out, the convergence of all the top-tier additions to the airport’s services as well as the increase in the airport’s overall capacity, is something to be very proud of.

“The expansion and development of this airport for so many years now has just been speculation and wishing and to the point where it has just been rumors,” he reflects. “So for me to now be able to come on board and quickly move forward and make these things happen, it’s been a game changer.”

“It is the most exciting time in this airport’s history. It is like the airport is being reborn,” he elaborates.

Taking off with the necessary experience

It is no wonder that Mathis is leading such bold developments for the airport that he runs. Possessing an impressive resume, Mathis has brought ample experience to the management table which has helped him spearhead these changes.

“I am a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives and I served as the superintendent of airport operations at Shreveport Regional Airport for a decade.”

“I spent some time at Dallas Executive Airport for about a year and a half and before this job, I was the Operations manager for Waco Regional Airport,” Mathis outlines.

This wealth of experience allowed Mathis to hit the ground running. He draws attention to another project that is top of mind to help facilitate the airport’s bright future.

“We presently have upwards of 75 hangars on the airfield. All of our Tee hangars have been full for years.”

“We have been fortunate enough to encounter some private developers who are actually in the middle of constructing 60 new Tee hangars and our waiting list happens to be about 60 people deep at the moment. So this is going to translate to satisfying everyone who has been on this waiting list just chomping at the bit to get into Granbury.”

Mathis notes that there are a significant number of people who have chosen to make Granbury their home who own airplanes, and up until now, have not had a place to house their airplanes.

“To be able to offer this many hangars is monumental for the local flying public. We finally have all these assets required to support a thriving operation and we will be able to foster that operation for its future growth,” he enthuses.

Commercial prospects taking off

With the increase in hangar space, the addition of the 4000 square foot FBO building, and fuel capacity expansion, Mathis’s thoughts have recently turned to the potential for commercial development on the airport grounds.

“All of our developable land which is directly tied to the taxiway is spoken for which is exciting,” Mathis states.

“We will still have some aeronautical use space available on the west side of the airfield that will be ideal for small manufacturing,” he details. “The master plan calls for an additional parallel taxiway. So if we can attract small manufacturing, we could justify the construction of that parallel taxiway and connect to those new facilities,” he continues.

Mathis further points out that other aviation businesses are based on the airport lands including a highly regarded flight training facility. “We have one of the top-rated flight schools in the country, according to AOPA, and they are doing very well at the moment. They are looking to expand their operation here at Granbury.”

“This has been their satellite operation with their primary school in Denton, Texas. They are looking into the possibility of basing more aircraft here and growing their operations along with the airport.” Mathis notes.

Granbury Aviation Services also leases land available on the airport grounds which provides those flying into the airport a full A&P shop that offers all facets of aircraft maintenance.

“We also have Avionics Technologies which is the premier avionics shop here at the airport,” he adds.

As for future business potential, Mathis highlights that one of the developers responsible for building the future hangars on the airfield also holds aspirations to build a jet maintenance facility at the airport.

Taking off as a tourist hub

Granbury Regional welcomes a host of general aviation passengers among whom many aim to take in some of the sights and tourist attractions the region offers. The airport plays a vital role, as the gateway to a recognized tourist destination.

“Granbury, Texas is considered the Celebration Capital of Texas,” Mathis states.

Close to every weekend throughout the year, Granbury hosts a festival, and the city is widely recognized as a four-season tourist destination.

“The city is built on Lake Granbury which features all sorts of water activities and we have a local tourism bureau called Visit Granbury with their website, VisitGranbury.com.”

The airport works closely with Visit Granbury on tourism promotion initiatives and supports the multitude of GA flights coming to experience the local area.

Taking off into a bright aviation future

Beyond a focus on tourism and supporting corporate and GA flights landing at the airport, Mathis points to some more projects on the horizon over the next year or so.

“One of our upcoming projects which is going to kick off here pretty soon, is the relocation of our AWOS weather station to the location of the new runway and new terminal building so that it provides more accurate weather data for our incoming flights.”

“We will be replacing it with a brand-new unit at that same time and also add a new rotating beacon to be located alongside that called a Wells Unit.”

The airport is also planning a taxiway rehabilitation project that will begin construction in March 2025 for taxiway way Echo, the airport’s oldest runway, which serves as a parallel taxiway to the Alpha taxiway.

Mathis also points to some further work on the new FBO building including the addition of some decorative wrought iron fencing that will double as new security fencing that will also include power gates with keypad access. The FBO building will be equipped with the latest generation of PTZ cameras available for a safety upgrade.

“My primary objective over the next little while is to continue to carry out the master plan to the full extent and to see all of these projects through.”

“These projects are the foundation of the growth of this airfield to its full potential, and this is my number one mission as Director of Aviation for Granbury Regional Airport,” he confidently concludes.

AT A GLANCE

Granbury Regional Airport

What: A GA and Corporate regional airport that is growing and working to meet passenger demand with top-tier projects planned

Where: Granbury, Texas

Website: https://www.granbury.org/29/City-Airport