Originally published in 1996
Collin County’s only public airport now has a control tower. The City of McKinney purchased the control tower from the Federal Aviation Administration for about $75,000 and moved it from Alliance Airport to McKinney last year.
While FAA certified controllers are currently operating the tower on advisory status, by March 1, a dedicated air traffic control tower frequency for the Class D airspace will be established. The controllers will operate the tower from 7 a.m. To 7 p.m. daily.
In McKinney Municipal’s short 16-year history, the airport extended its original 4,000-foot runway to 5,200 feet in the 1980’s, then to 7,000 feet in 1993, when it also added an instrument landing system, and now it has a control tower.
“As the airport and McKinney area have grown, airport activity has increased”, said Ms. Patricia Doyle, the city’s airport manager and assistant city manager. “McKinney Municipal had an estimated 120,000to 130,000 takeoffs or landings last year. Almost 90,000 operations were recorded in 1989, the last time an official count was made”, she said.
McKinney Municipal, the closest airport to a half million people, will be the eighth in the Dallas area with flight-control operations. “One of our goals is to get corporate jets to this area, and a control tower is one of the things you need to have,” Ms. Doyle said.
“To lure corporate jets to the airport, the city also offers 10-year, 30 percent tax abatements on some planes based atthe airport and on construction of hangars for them”, said Mr. George Schuler, president of McKinney Exec Air, the airport’s operator. “A controlled field creates a situation of safety and efficiency. We’ve had several companies tell us, ‘Once you have a tower, we’ll come.'” he said.
“Planes in hangars at the airport are taxed, and a jet valued at $20 million can bring in about $250,000 in city, school and other taxes, while requiring no city services. The city also gets 6 cents for every gallon of fuel sold at the airport.” Schuler said.
“Looking ahead, the city’s airport board is updating the airport master plan, hoping to build a second runway parallel to the existing one. The city is considering development of 50 acres it owns near the airport. The next city fire station also may be built near the airport in a move to provide emergency services there”, Ms. Doyle said.
“The airport serves as a backup for Love Field and Addison airports, sometimes easing congestion at those facilities. More order and efficiency in the sky over McKinney can improve air traffic flow throughout the area”, said Ms. Doyle and Mr. Schuler