Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport

Gearing up for Success

 

An airport that perfectly embodies a gateway to economic development

In a state that is bold, economically vibrant, and has a proud aviation history, one airport truly testifies to this optimism and prosperity. Located a short distance from the hustle and bustle of Houston lies a small but mighty aviation hub. Conroe-North Houston Regional is an airport that is flying high and owns its title as a gateway to the region that it proudly serves.

The airport which has served the community for decades and can handle an impressive array of general aviation traffic is not only firmly established, but continues to grow and prosper. With capital improvement projects on the go and those in the planning stage, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport looks forward to 2025.

 

Capacity to fly high

With civilian aviation roots dating back to 1945 and a history of 90 years when it represented a small airstrip during the Great Depression, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport has adapted over time and kept pace with its increasing general aviation traffic. Always one step ahead, the airport is keenly aware of its priorities and works tirelessly to accommodate the many flights landing and taking off. At the same time, it continuously meets the expectations of the flying public.

The airport, owned by Montgomery County, caters to more than 300 aircraft, has an enviable number of hangars, and is home to two very successful fixed base operators (FBOs). Boasting plenty of acreages for commercial and aviation-related businesses to prosper, the airport’s economic clout for the region remains paramount.

“Our airport operationally handles any GA aircraft in the market all the way down to the smallest GA single-engine airplane and up to the largest business jets in the fleet,” James M. Brown, Airport Director with Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, relays. “Our main runway can handle a 737 size aircraft and we have a 7501-foot runway with a category one ILS,” he continues.

“We went ahead many years ago and spent the money to have the [our main runway] extended. We saw the need for a general aviation business jet hub and extended our runway out to 7501 which has significantly enhanced our jet traffic immensely,” Brown relays.

When asked whether Brown has considered expanding the airport’s role to include commercial service he answers without hesitation.

“I don’t think any airport would turn away any growth opportunities, so yes we are looking at that [commercial service potential].”

“We have been approached by a few different aircraft operators that require the airport to be certified under Part 139 which is the airport certification process to allow commercial-sized aircraft and this is something that we are pursuing,” Brown states.

Brown outlines that the airport is actively pursuing obtaining its 139 certificate which could translate into the potential to accommodate commercial airline traffic and open the door to hosting charter companies as well as private companies that operate aircraft that fall under this category.

 

Economic Impact

In addition to the airport’s operating capabilities, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport provides a vital economic link to the region.

“Located in this area of Texas, there are lots of oil and gas companies and we see a lot of tech companies which are well-known in the public eye,” Brown outlines. “A couple of years ago we had Hewlett Packard relocate their headquarters from California to Houston. They moved their corporate flight department here at the airport.

“There are major companies in the tech world based in the region, as well as a lot of home builders and building supply companies and of course major retailers such as Walmart and they definitely use the airport.”

On the airport grounds, Brown speaks to the potential of an overall capacity to lease out to commercial, industrial, aviation-related, or retail operations.

“We have had a big explosive growth in the last 15 to 20 years on the west side of the airport and it is basically 100% built-out.’

“We are now working to open up about 70 acres of developable land and we are hoping to attract a mix of small and medium-sized general aviation, corporate, flight department, manufacturing, maintenance repair and overhaul, avionics, and any kind of support activities and commercial operators. We will be able to cater to all facets of the general aviation world or community,” Brown describes.

Training the Next Generation

Aware of the ongoing need for highly trained pilots and expertly trained ground maintenance and avionic professionals, Brown draws attention to the airport’s unique experimental aircraft (EA) program as well as the region’s role in aviation-related training through local colleges and training programs.

Brown points to the different flight training opportunities nearby including the American Flyers Flight Academy in Conroe and Lone Star College which boast a flight school with a full flight program.

“Lone Star College is our junior college and they have partnered with a flight school. There is now talk of establishing a maintenance program and although there are budgetary things and operation controls that go into that, I think it would be a good thing to add something like this to the airport,” Brown enthuses.

“We have done in the past a lot of outreach with the schools which we are still definitely interested in doing and we have a group out here that started a program through the Experimental Aircraft Association and they started a program with our local ISDS which is similar to a STEM program.”

“The students get to build an aircraft and then it gets to fly and this is huge. At the end of the year all the students sign the plane and they auction the plane off and sell it and the proceeds pay for the plane kit for the next year,” Brown explains.

A program such as this, Brown points out, goes a long way to peak the internet in younger kids to explore the aviation world which is needed right now with the ongoing workforce challenges facing the industry.

“You hear about pilot shortages however we would like to see more of the aviation mechanic side of this and this requires vocational training which is a big aspect,” Brown determines.

 

Upgrades Taking Off

Beyond the need to fill aviation positions, Brown speaks to vital airport upgrades that are landing general aviation traffic safely and efficiently at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport.

“We have a project right now that is underway that represents a maintenance project that involves remarking all of our runways. We have precision markings that show different touchdown points and the numbers of the heading of the runway and all of those are getting re-marked which we are looking at pretty soon in the next couple of months.”

“The first major capital improvement project is going to be designed as well, which will help to open up 70 acres. It is going to involve adding a parallel taxiway to gain direct access from that development area and it is going to realign some of the taxiways that had been added when the airport was built.”

“We have been looking at the layout and realigning some of the taxiways. It will help with safety and also capacity; being able to land an aircraft and get off the runway surface onto a taxiway to its parking destination as efficiently as possible.”

“The actual construction is to start soon after the completion of the engineering,” he adds.

Gateway to the Region

Although Montgomery owns Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport the resident FBOs, both privately owned, help to drive economic growth and efficiencies for the airport.

“They are both under long-term ground leases with us and they manage fuel sales and services and the like; every aspect of the airport that is service driven,” Brown details.

“We take care of all of the runways, taxiways, and the grass that is lawned and the pavement maintenance as well as fencing, roadways and our main goal here is to provide the safe, efficient infrastructure for those companies that may be coming in and to the flying community,” he adds.

As far as growth potential, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport is very well positioned, Brown acknowledges.

“Throughout many years and many decades, the county and the city and the surrounding cities and communities within our county have partnered together for the most part to foster that working relationship with us.”

“The city, specifically, has done a lot as far as economic development. They have an Economic Development Corporation, a 4b fund. That 4b fund has owned, sold, and leased tons of land to different corporations, manufacturing, shipping, and all kinds of companies, and it is the counterpart to the North Industrial Park we are lucky that the county and the city partners and built a major thoroughfare, arterial road that enters one of our main entrances to the airport right into that industrial park.”

“We are lucky to have that economic partnership,” he further states.

Brown notes that the partnership has also spawned the building of a Technology Park which is adjacent to the airport and this is a part of Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport’s entrance and is essentially economic development land for the City and the airport.

“They have recently secured their first major tenant, which is a company called VGX II and it is a vaccine manufacturing company.”

This symbiotic economic partnership has born economic opportunities and is set to draw in more commercial interest in the foreseeable future.

So what is the main focus for the next year or so?

“We are going to mainly focus on our 139 certification process and the two projects that we have going on, the remarking project and the designing and implementation of the taxiway realignments additions so that we get that hanger access up and going,” Brown concluded.

Flying into 2025, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport has the economic tailwinds to propel it into a high-flying few years ahead.

AT A GLANCE

Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport

What: A fast-growing general aviation hub with plans to look towards commercial service with certification upgrades and projects that enhance its visibility

Where: Conroe, Texas

Website: https://flycxo.com/