• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • TTI Home
  • Aviation Research Home
  • Contact
Texas A&M Transportation Institute logo
Aviation Research
  • About
  • System Planning and Research
  • Aviation Education
  • Texas Aviation Conference
  • Publications
    • Wingtips
  • News

KTKI

Collin County Regional Airport Celebrates Grand Opening

December 5, 2012

Aerial photo of Collin County Regional Airport showing their new runway

An aerial shot of the recently completed 7,002-foot runway, the airport’s perimeter road and the relocated
Farm-to-Market road (FM) 546.

By Chris Sasser
Texas A&M Transportation Institute

The new runway at Collin County Regional Airport (KTKI) was christened in memorable fashion on July 26 as three corporate jets carrying area representatives were the first to take off from the 7,002-foot runway. The passengers were treated to a 15-minute ride around the county as part of the events commemorating the runway’s opening.

The $52 million runway replaces the airport’s original runway built in 1979 and is expected to be connected to all of the taxiways by November. It comes one year after the airport built a 78-foot control tower,  replacing its dated 33-foot tower. The runway is the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) largest aviation construction project ever and incorporated significant sub-projects such as the relocation of a Farm-to-Market road, stormwater management system that generated a letter of map revision with the Corps of Engineers, enhanced perimeter fencing and access control and monitoring, a new perimeter road and AOA safety enhancements.

“It’s all about thinking toward the future,” said Collin County Regional Airport Director Ken Wiegand. “Last year we opened our air traffic control tower, and this year we opened our new runway. Our future plans include expanding our terminal building. I’ve always believed if you make a facility better, you’re going to attract more business, and that is certainly the goal of our airport.”

That theme resonated throughout the morning’s proceedings, as local officials echoed Wiegand’s sentiments about the importance of the airport to the city of McKinney and the surrounding areas.

“When we first started meeting 10 years ago to plan the airport’s future, we made a conscious effort to bring this airport forward as a regional asset,” said McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller. “We felt that if we were going to reach out to our sister cities, the county and the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a place for corporate aviation, then we had to be a regional airport. We are going to continue to grow as a regional asset because of the investments we have made in this airport.”

Collin Country Regional Airport air traffic control tower

Area representatives gather on the tarmac at the Collin County Regional Airport to commemorate the opening of airport’s new runway.

The regional impact of the airport is evident in the economic numbers. For 2010, the airport generated $44,248,730 in economic activity, $17,709,560 in salary wages and benefits and 378 jobs. The airport also saw an increase in flights last year from 79,170 to 83,001. Among the airport’s corporate clients are Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard, Crossmark, Horizon, Independent Bank, Flamingo Air, Jack Henry, Target, Van Tyl, Cabela’s, Kroger, Walmart and a host of fractionals and charters.

The runway was built to commercial standards in anticipation of continued growth. Officials said the goal is to offer commercial passenger flights out of the regional airport within 10 years.

“Business aircraft make business executives more efficient. It’s as simple as that,” said Collin County Judge Keith Self. “And I think the companies that move to Collin County and this region are going to experience the convenience of coming to this airport, hangaring their aircraft, and being able to fly wherever they do business. Looking into the future, we are in the center of the growth pattern of the Metroplex, and I believe this airport will eventually offer passenger service.”

The project’s completion was celebrated with a dedication ceremony on November 9, 2012, from 11:30 to 1:30.

For more information about Collin County Regional Airport, visit its website at http://www.flytki.com/.

Facts and Figures — Construction of Runway 18/36 at KTKI

  • The runway is 7,002 x 150 feet with a 450,000-pound weight-bearing capacity.
  • KSA engineers have engineered, designed and inspected the project since day one.
  • TxDOT managed the construction of FM 546 to accommodate the runway and a future extension.
  • Aviation funds paid for 100 percent of the FM 546 relocation.
  • The project required the acquisition of approximately 164 acres.
  • Project crews moved 1,226,000 cubic yards of soil.
  • Project crews placed 52,614 tons of concrete covering approximately 30.5 acres.
  • Project crews laid 25 miles of electrical wire for 202 runway and taxiway lights, signs and the airport’s instrument landing system.
  • Stormwater management required 1.13 miles of drainage culverts and pipe as well as a 16-acre, 8-foot-deep central detention basin.
  • Craftsmen applied 7.1 acres of paint for runway and taxiway markings.
  • The project was $5 million under budget and was completed 30 days earlier than scheduled.
  • It took four prime contractors plus more than 20 first-tier sub-contractors and a host of secondary sub-contractors to complete the work.
  • The project is the single largest in TxDOT Aviation history.

Airport Statistics

  • FAA Identifier — TKI
  • Latitude/Longitude — 33-10-40.6000N/096-35-25.9000W
  • Elevation — 585 feet
  • Location — 32 miles north of Dallas, Texas

Filed Under: Wingtips Tagged With: Collin County Regional Airport, KTKI

  • The State of Texas
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • State Expenditure Database
  • Statewide Search
  • State Auditor’s Office Hotline
  • TAMUS Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Site Policies
  • Open Records Policy
  • Statutorily Required Reports
  • TTI Rules
  • Veterans
  • Equal Opportunity
  • COVID-19 Info
  • Jobs
Member of the Texas A&M University System

© 2023 Copyright Statement / Legal Notices and Policies

Comments, suggestions, or queries? Contact us!

Texas A&M Transportation Institute · 3135 TAMU · College Station, Texas 77843-3135

(979) 317-2000