Newsroom

Master plan update guides airport’s future for next 20 years

The ninth and final committee meeting for the update of the Hillsboro Airport Master Plan is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 in the Hillsboro City Hall Auditorium, 150 E. Main Street. Community comments are welcomed at 6:35 p.m.

The planning advisory committee will provide final comment to the Port of Portland and discuss next steps for the future of the airport and surrounding property and the on-going community engagement proposal. The full meeting agenda is available at www.portofportland.com.

The master plan update started in February 2017, and has explored the role of the airport, existing assets and facilities, the forecast and alternatives for future development, and options for ongoing public engagement on airport matters.

Community involvement was invited throughout the process through special workshops, open houses and online open houses. The committee represented diverse airport interests and explored economic development, sustainability and equity in the process. The focus on equity included diversity of committee members, partnership with community organizations, and multilingual and culturally specific outreach.

Hillsboro Airport is an integral part of the region’s transportation system, providing the highest standard of general aviation facilities to businesses and residents of Washington County and beyond. The airport is home to local corporate flight departments, aircraft charter services for business travel, air ambulance services, television news helicopters, flight schools, aircraft maintenance and repair operations, a corporate air shuttle service, and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection office for international flights. More than 25 businesses operate on-airport. In 2017, the airport supported more than 210,000 flights, making it the second busiest airport in the state.

Established in 1928, the airport was privately operated and later purchased by the
City of Hillsboro. The Port assumed operation of the airport in 1966. The airport has three runways, a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control tower and an instrument landing system.

The most recent economic impact study shows that the airport generated 1,472 jobs at the airport and in the community, $83.5 million in personal income, and $107.4 million in business revenue.

For more information about the master plan update, please contact Jayson Shanafelt at jayson.shanafelt@portofportland.com or 503.415.6853.