By Cheryl Williams
Austin, Texas
First they came by stagecoach, then by train and now by plane! Arlington has a long history of being ideally located to serve its community and surrounding area. During the westward expansion in the 1800’s, Arlington was the site of a trading post that became a regular stop for stagecoaches, mail, politicians and other travelers on their westward journey. The post was such a perfect location that when the Texas and Pacific Railway decided to build a rail through the area, they established a stop in Arlington (then called Johnson Station) to serve all the small settlements that were quickly developing in the region. So, it would seem that Robert Porter, airport manager at Arlington Municipal for 18 years, is right that, “It’s going to grow in spite of itself; no matter what kind of attitude that anybody has about this airport, because of our surface access and our air access.” The airport is right in the middle of the Metroplex. He continues, “If you are flying in, it is relatively easy because we are located beneath the 3,000 foot level of the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Class ‘B’ airspace.” And, it is conveniently located to both 1-20 and SH 360, so the location has helped them enormously.
Many people who fly into the airport are usually going to both Dallas and Fort Worth because the cities are so easily accessible by vehicle from there; and companies like Wal-Mart fly in and then drive all over both cities. Arlington also draws thousands of people to its family-oriented area attractions like Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor/Fun Sphere Water Park. Furthermore, it is the home of Major league Baseball’s Texas Rangers, the University of Texas at Arlington and the future home to the Dallas Cowboys’ football team in 2009.
Airport Development History
The airport was first established in 1962 with a 350-acre land swap deal. The federal government had a piece of property as surplus and the city also had a piece of property on hand, so they agreed to swap properties with a small amount of money being transferred. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then funded a 4,000-foot runway and the excavation for a parallel taxiway, which was paved a couple of years later. Then, in 1967, Bell Helicopter built a test pilot facility at the airport for their research and development department. Still, the airport in 1969 had a 4,000-foot runway, one 20,000 square foot private hangar, three T-hangars and a trailer for a terminal building. But, by 1973 two more T-hangars were added and in 1982 the city built the current terminal building. More private development was later added to the airport in the 1980’s.
In 1988, when Porter started working at Arlington Municipal, the city had already obtained a grant from the FAA to extend its runway; consequently, it was the first project that he managed there and was completed in 1990. Shortly after Porter arrived, he wrote the minimum standards guidelines for Arlington Municipal in anticipation of much needed private development. With someone at the airport actually working on economic development, by the early 1990’s the outcome was that a couple of major private developments occurred. Additionally, the city gave up fuel sales and being an FBO in order to entice more development. Moreover, by 2002 a 6,080-foot runway was completed.
The Airport
Arlington Municipal Airport is a full-service, general aviation reliever airport owned and operated by the City of Arlington; and it generates considerable revenue for the city. Porter said, “We currently offset 80 to 90 percent of our operations costs with direct revenues.” The minimal shortfall is funded by the city’s general fund. The airport is a safe, well-maintained, well-managed, busy airport with over 300 based aircraft, including 20 aviation-related commercial operators. Harrison Aviation is the only full-service, fixed base operator (FBO) at the airport. The city owns and manages 96 T-hangars, a 10,000-square foot maintenance hangar, 140 tiedown spaces, as well as an attractive but aging 7,000-square foot terminal building with administrative offices and a brand new air traffic control tower – certified operational on September 1, 2006.
There are five flight schools at Arlington Municipal, which was an overwhelming reason why they needed a control tower. Porter said, “Our mix is unbelievable. We’ve got DC-9s and 727s bringing in freight to the General Motors plant, and we’ve got five flight schools doing touch and go’s at the same time. Then, when you add all the itinerant aircraft in, the corporate jet activity and whatnot, it makes for a busy traffic pattern. You know, I’m looking backward at the last few years wondering how we survived without a tower. It is so nice now and it is such a relief to have controllers here to handle it all for us.”
Arlington Municipal participates in an FAA-contract tower program. The FAA is using Robinson Aviation, Inc. to staff this airport. The FAA pays for all the salaries and liability insurance, and the city pays for the management of the building and maintenance of the equipment and utilities.
Porter remarked, “The tower controllers came to me on October 1, [2006] and said the numbers for the very first month of operation were 10,033, and this is only from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. So, we will easily hit 130,000 to 140,000 operations annually! And you know it is going to pick up. I mean, we aren’t even on the charts yet that we have a tower, and we still have more development coming to the airport.”
Airport Quick Tour
This airport has it all! They provide 24-hour professional line service; Jet A and 100LL Avgas; flight instruction; charter aircraft; aircraft maintenance, storage, rentals, sales, parts; pilot supplies and services; transient tie-downs and hangars. They also have a computerized flight planning room, executive conference room, courtesy cars, major and minor repair facilities, and will even make hotel, limo and rental car reservations.
Porter mentioned that their FBO is looking to double its size and are considering whether to move south, which is where the city’s T-hangars are located or north. He explained, “If the FBO moves north, it will achieve a mutual goal: the city needs a new terminal building and the FBO wanls more land adjacent to their current lease site to expand their facilities.”
He continued, “We have had l 00 percent occupancy in all our hangars since the day I walked through this terminal door, as it was before me. This airport has always had a need for more hangar space.” He said they have a waiting list of about 175 names, and it is al least a three-year wait to get into a hangar!
Arlington Municipal has a self-service island for fueling. Porter said, “We want to be the corporate airport of choice, but we don’t want to forget those that brought us here.” So, the FBO and the city are providing the opportunity for cheaper gas. “We put in an EPA-approved wash rack a hundred years ago, before anybody thought of it and it has paid off tremendously. We actually provide the water for free to entice the tenants to wash their aircraft where there is proper drainage.”
According to Porter, Bell Helicopter “Xworx” test flight facility located at the airport conducts secretive research and development for military aircraft that they retrofit or manufacture. The test flying and engine testing for most of their new prototypes are also done here. In March 1989, the V-22 Tiltrotor flew its maiden flight and now Bell is testing their corporate version, the ‘609’ Tiltrotor here, also. Porter stressed, “What I like about it is that it gives Arlington Municipal a niche for Bell’s operations, so there’s no fear that they will pull this project (Xworx) out and combine it with their Amarillo plant – where they actually build them – because here is where they test fly them and are doing their specialty security work as well.
With all these helicopters around the airport, Porter commented, “I flew one once and I flew fixed-wing for a long lime. I’ve had the opportunity to fly a lot of airships because we get a lot of blimps here. It’s exciting because when they come in on occasion, there will be four or five seats available, if you want to take a ride. And if the crew finds out that you are a pilot, they sometimes invite you to come aboard and fly the airship. And, that’s a unique opportunity to get that kind of deal.”
Another draw that will increase operations at Arlington Municipal is the new Dallas Cowboy football stadium being built in Arlington and scheduled to open in 2009. Porter remarked, “On opening day of the Ranger’s baseball season we have had heavy iron stuck in every corner of this airport. There just wasn’t enough space for all the jets. In the future, whenever the Cowboys are at Arlington, we are going to see a lot of activity. Of course, if we were to get a chance to have a Super Bowl at the new stadium, it would be all over with! We would have to use every airport in this area to accommodate all the aircraft, similar to what they do for NASCAR weekend in Fort Worth.”
As if all this weren’t enough, according to Porter, they have some exciting opportunities with a new revenue source. Apparently, the airport property just happens to be sitting on the vein of natural gas that runs north and south of them. Natural gas drilling on the airport could provide them with the capital they need to make them completely seff-sufficient. He continues, “We are looking for ways lo sel this up for the future so we don’t use it all up in the beginning, since we know that natural gas doesn’t last forever. We want a situation that will make this last for a very, very long time. This way the airport won’t be a burden on the taxpayer and we will have a nice revenue stream coming in. But who would have ever thought? This is just so exciting to see what royalties we could end up with if this works out the way we think it will!”
Airport Manager
Robert Porter has a bachelor of science degree in aerospace technology and business management and is an accredited airport executive; as well as, a commercial/multi-engine rated pilot. He says, “I had three interests when I was growing up. One was flying, and one was being an attorney of all things, and the other was being an engineer. This airport manager job gives me the experience in these three different areas that I really enjoy.” Certainly, dealing and reviewing leases, working with engineers in airport construction projects and his love of aviation have realized his early career interests.
He credits his management success to the support and successful working relationship with city officials, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Aviation Division personnel and the FM Project Manager assigned within the region.
Future
Bob can’t stop smiling as he continues, “What we are seeing in the near future for Arlington Municipal is a wonderful thing.” They have two major private development proposals. One of them will be for 24 medium-sized jet aircraft and the other one is for two 25,000 square foot hangars with door openings that will fit the G-4 category aircraft. We are really excited about what is happening with the private development projects that are before the city council.”
With the completion of the control tower this year and the Instrument Landing System (ILS) that is coming in 2007, the airport is where they wanted it to be. Porter indicated, “We have achieved many of the goals in the mission we had set, which was to be the corporate airport of choice in the Metroplex. Now, we need to be sure that since we’ve got all the facilities and the infrastructure that we get the amenities and the private development that goes along with it. So, there’s some exciting times coming up. Fortunately, we have a new airport master plan in the works, which will help guide us with the future development at the airport.”
Wow! And, it all started with a little trading post that became a regular stop!
