Category: Aurora Oregon Airport Control Tower

Aurora, Oregon State Airport Tower Update

On By Roy WidingIn 97002, Aurora Oregon, Aurora Oregon Airport, Aurora Oregon Airport Control Tower, Aurora Oregon Airport Tower, Aurora Oregon Business, Aurora Oregon News, Aurora State AirportLeave a comment

With completion scheduled for Spring, 2015, construction continues on the Aurora, Oregon State Airport control tower.

Aurora Oregon, Aurora Oregon State Airport, Aurora Oregon Airport Tower, Aurora Oregon State Airport Tower Construction, 97002
Construction Toward A Crowning Achievement Continues on the Aurora, Oregon Airport Tower

Airport safety supporters deem the upgrade vital, since the Aurora State Airport is considered the third busiest in Oregon.

The new Aurora control tower will provide air traffic controllers with greatly improved views of take offs, taxiing and landings. In addition to enhanced safety, the new control tower could provide a financial boost to greater Aurora, Oregon with what some suggest could pave the way for more economic growth.

Aurora Oregon, Aurora State Airport, Aurora Oregon State Airport, Aurora Oregon Airport Tower, 97002
Proposed Overhead Site Layout of Aurora State Airport Tower

The Aurora, Oregon State Airport control tower will be 70 feet high with a workspace of approximately 5,600 square feet.  Centrex Construction of Tigard is the general contractor.

Aurora, Oregon Airport Tower

On By Roy WidingIn Aurora Oregon, Aurora Oregon Airport, Aurora Oregon Airport Control Tower, Aurora Oregon Airport Tower, Aurora State AirportLeave a comment

Construction of Aurora State Airport’s air traffic control tower continues, as workers perform exterior work in beautiful weather.

Aurora Oregon
Workers Busy on Aurora State Airport’s Control Tower

Aurora has Oregon’s fourth busiest airport. Construction of the Aurora State Airport control tower is estimated at 3.3 million dollars, with completion expected around January, 2015.

Interesting History
The airport was built by the United States Army Air Forces in 1943 when it was known as the ‘Aurora Flight Strip.’ It was an outlying supporting airfield to Portland’s Army Air Base for military aircraft on training flights. The future Aurora Airport was then closed after World War II, and turned over for state government use by the War Assets Administration (WAA).

Tower Background
The new Aurora State Airport tower has been on and off the facility’s master plan since 1978. Given the airport’s mixed traffic use of corporate jets, air-ambulance, recreation flyers, plus fixed wing and helicopter training operations, combined with a no radar service below 2,500 feet, aviation professionals consider the new tower critical to air safety.

The Oregon Department of Aviation arranged funding for the tower with state lottery dollars, along with FAA and other state funds.