Commissioned as a military aviation training facility in 1917, Ellington Field (EFD) is blossoming into an economic gem for Houston. Today, EFD consists of three acting runways and provides 24-hour air traffic control services. It is also home to many tenants including the Texas Army National Guard, Delta Connection Academy and NASA, among others and the Houston Airport System is determined to add more. Ellington’s future is looking bright. To add to its development, a new taxilane has been approved, with construction beginning in October 2006. Taxilane K will be 50 feet wide and 1,790 feet long, big enough to impact the airport’s desirability for more general aviation tenants and aircraft owners.

© Houston Airport System Ellington Field will soon serve a host of other tenants besides its traditional ones.

This opens airfield access to a large amount of property previously unusable to aircraft operations. The taxilane is designed to handle Design Group II aircraft, which includes medium sized business jets.

Bevco Ameritex Airways will soon provide private charter flights and air charter services. They are looking forward to the airport’s growth and are happy to be part of the expansion. Bevco Ameritex, as well as other possible tenants, will build their facilities with access to Taxilane K.

Ellington’s first fixed base operator (FBO), Southwest Airport Services, serves existing hangars, has facilities for transient military and civilian aircraft, and a new executive terminal with three acres of ramp space. A new 35,000 square foot facility, which includes new hangar space, is under construction and should be completed by October 2006.

“Ellington’s role as a reliever airport for Hobby continues to grow. With the infrastructure improvements being made at Ellington by HAS and private tenants, the airport is increasingly viewed by corporate and private aircraft operators as a viable alternative both as a destination and base of operations,” said Bill King owner of Southwest Airport Services.

“During emergency management operations, especially in connection with hurricane evacuation, Ellington has also been more widely recognized in the last several years,” he added. 

In approximately two months, a brand new FBO promising excellent customer service will also be added to EFD. Rocket Man Aviation comes to Houston with its state of the art 17,500 square foot terminal and hangar. The company provides a complete range of services to business and general aviation customers.

Three new corporate based operators (CBO) are setting-up shop at Ellington Field. The CBOs differentiate themselves from FBOs by operating, storing and maintaining aircraft owned and flown by a singular corporate entity, they do not offer services to other aviators.

No one is more excited than Ellington Field Manager, Perry Miller.

“The pace of growth at Ellington Field is on the upswing and I believe we are headed in the right direction. One of our goals is to make the inaccessible airport property airfield-accessible, which will be a key factor with prospective developers” says Miller.

In 2005, EFD had 108,024 aircraft operations. With the expansion these numbers are expected to soar.

Ellington Field provides HAS with an airport to support military and government users as well as general aviation activities, such as flight schools, private flying and corporate travel.

Business opportunities at EFD are vast with approximately 700 acres available for development. A master plan has been developed to help guide the efforts toward increased activity at EFD.

Copyright © 2006 - Houston Airport System