Hillsboro Airport

History

Hillsboro airport goes back to 1928. Dr. Elmer H. Smith purchased 100 acre of land near the town to use as an airport, as he owned the first airplane in town. In the early 1930s, after Smith died, the city purchased the airport for $7,500 and received a federal grant to improve the facilities. They built two runways, one 3000 ft long and the other 2800 ft.

In July 1936, Richard Evelyn Byrd's "Stars And Stripes" Fairchild FC-2 aircraft used to explore the South Pole was displayed at the airport. With the outbreak of World War II in 1941, the city received federal money again, and the city approved local financing to improve the airport again, with the costs of the improvements totaling around $600,000.

During and after flooding along the Columbia River in 1948, the Hillsboro facility was used by some commercial operators due to the closure of then Portland-Columbia Airport (now Portland International), which lies along the river. The three commercial carriers at Hillsboro were Coastal Airways, Columbia Air Cargo, and General Air Cargo.

The field was also considered as a possible naval air station in 1946 and again in 1955, but was eventually rejected by the Navy. In early 1960 several companies were located at the airport, including Tektron Instruments and Georgia Pacific.

In 1964, the Hillsboro City Council made an official request to the Port of Portland to take over ownership of the airport. The facility had deteriorated due to inadequate funding, and the Port agreed to take over ownership after some legal wrangling in 1965.

On August 28, 1966, an air traffic control tower was opened after construction costs of $400,000 with staffing by the FAA. In April 1975 the current main terminal that includes offices and a restaurant opened, followed by the opening of the new 6300 ft runway on September 1, 1976.

The airport received scheduled regular airline service during the late 1970s, on Farwest Airlines to Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, as well as to Medford and North Bend/Coos Bay airports.

In 1989, customs call out service was added to allow international business flights at the airport after lobbying by Congressman Les AuCoin and business leaders. After advance notice, customs inspectors from Portland would be sent to the airport to process the passengers.

Hillsboro Airport is often mentioned as a reliever airport for Portland International Airport. In 1999, Portland City Council member Dan Saltzman suggested expanding the Hillsboro Airport to relieve pressure on the busy Portland International Airport. This was during a time when the Port of Portland was discussing building a new larger airport or possibly adding a third runway to PDX to handle growing demand for air travel and air cargo. Saltzman suggested shifting some commercial flights to Hillsboro, while shifting some cargo flights there had previously been discussed.{{cite journal |title = Quest for airport expansion alights in Hillsboro | journal = The Oregonian

As of 2006, the Port of Portland planned to spend $134 million through 2025 to improve the Hillsboro facility. Plans call for a third runway, increased hangar space, and additional automobile parking on-site, among other items. but legal challenges put the plan on hold. In 2007, a staffed customs office was added to the airport. Paid for by funds generated by a user-fee association, this allowed the airport to continue as a port of entry, and removed the need for a Customs officer to travel from Portland International Airport.

The airport handled 259,263 flights in 2008, surpassing Portland International in this category. In 2009, the airport received a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to expand taxiways as part of the airport's master plan. President Barack Obama landed at the airport in Marine One in February 2011 as part of a visit to nearby Intel. The Port spent $9 million to repave the 2/20 runway and combined two taxiways into a single one in 2013. Construction started on the third runway in June 2014. Nike founder Phil Knight built a personal hangar at the airport next to the Nike hangar in 2014, while Global Aviation added a new hangar that same year. The third runway was eventually built, opening in April 2015.

On July 3, 2017 a man climbed a perimeter fence near Hillsboro Aero Academy and attempted to steal a Robinson R22 helicopter. After a brief chase with police he was fatally shot.

As of July 2024, Intel Air Shuttle operates corporate flights to San Jose and Phoenix from Hillsboro Airport.

Operations

Located in Portland's western and Washington County suburbs, Hillsboro Airport is connected to the metropolitan area by TriMet buses and the MAX Blue and Red lines' Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds station. The transit station is located to the south of the airport, across the Westside Commons (formerly the Washington County Fairgrounds). The primary public access point, including to the terminal building, is from Cornell Road, on the south side of the airport.

Facilities include a 6600 ft runway (Rwy 13R/31L), a 3820 ft runway (rwy 2/20), a 3600 ft runway (rwy 13L/31R), and an FAA control tower. Runway 13R/31L is ILS- and PAPI-equipped. The air traffic control tower, a 48 ft standard Type O design (by I. M. Pei, pentagonal steel tower with pentagonal aluminum cab), is staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. The tower receives a radar feed from the Falls City ARSR to supplement radio communication and binoculars to locate aircraft in its airspace. The small main terminal includes two rental car companies, airport offices, and a waiting area for the passengers flying on the daily Intel charter flights. There is also a single-officer-staffed U.S. Customs and Border Protection office to process international flights. Previously, the building was the home of KUIK-AM radio station and a restaurant on the top floor.

The airport was originally Hillsboro's municipal airport, which the Port of Portland bought in 1966. It has been developed to support all forms of general aviation and is home to four fixed-base operator (FBOs). Many people, including celebrities, politicians and sports-stars choose to use Hillsboro for its ease and discreetness. The airport is also a hub for many major local corporations, including Nike, Teufel Nursery, and Intel.

Hillsboro Airport is also home to the Washington County Composite Squadron of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol.

As of July 2020, the airport handled over 253,000 takeoffs and landings. It is Oregon's second-busiest airport overall after Portland International, and is the largest general aviation airport in the state. The annual Oregon International Air Show takes place at Hillsboro Airport.

Training

• ATP Flight School
• Hillsboro Aero Academy

Incidents

• On May 2, 1986, Horizon Air Flight 2318, a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner with 15 passengers and crew was hijacked en route from Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport to Portland International Airport, with the pilot able to convince the hijacker to allow the plane to land at HIO where the hijacker was arrested. There were no injuries.
• A Hawker Hunter jet (N58MX) flown by pilot Robert "Bob" Guilford, crashed after takeoff while leaving the Oregon International Air Show on July 16, 2006. Four houses were damaged by fire and the pilot died on impact, but there were no casualties on the ground. The jet had been on static display at the show, and was not an aerial performer.
• On February 11, 2022, a Cessna 205 landed safely after suffering a complete engine failure during a flight from Seattle to Sacramento. The emergency descent and air traffic control exchanges were captured on the pilot's cockpit-mounted GoPro camera.
• On October 3, 2023, a Piper Seminole owned by Hillsboro Aero Academy crashed shortly after takeoff from Hillsboro Airport during a training flight. The crash occurred in the 1900 block of North Cedar Street in Newberg, Oregon, killing two of the three occupants.

References

References

1. (8 September 2022). "Facility Dashboard - HIO". adip.faa.gov.
2. {{FAA-airport
3. (October 19, 1976). "Transportation: Airplane arrives". Hillsboro Argus.
4. McKinney, Walter. "Port of Portland acquired municipal airport in 1965; Local airport serves aviation; Hillsboro boasts air history;" ''[[Hillsboro Argus]]'', October 19, 1976. p. 9.
5. Haulman, Daniel L.. (1998). "The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
6. "Far West Airlines December 3, 1979 Route Map".
7. Potter, Connie. (May 25, 1989). "West Zoner: Hillsboro Airport to get customs service operation". The Oregonian.
8. Bermudez, Esmeralda. Two growth patterns, one worry. ''[[The Oregonian]]'', July 19, 2006.
9. Parks, Casey. (October 20, 2009). "Third runway to be discussed at Hillsboro Airport open house". The Oregonian.
10. Eckert, Kurt. (August 30, 2011). "Judges decree to air agency: Rethink third runway impact". The Hillsboro Argus.
11. Christensen, Nick. (November 17, 2009). "Customs office at Hillsboro Airport keeps busy". The Hillsboro Argus.
12. "December, 2008: Calendar Year Report". Port of Portland.
13. (May 26, 2009). "Feds announce Hillsboro Airport taxiway grant". The Hillsboro Argus.
14. (February 18, 2011). "President Obama arrives at Intel in Hillsboro, tours plant". The Oregonian.
15. Theen, Andrew. (August 23, 2013). "Hillsboro Airport: $9.1 million runway construction project on schedule for completion this fall". The Oregonian.
16. (June 11, 2014). "Construction starts on Hillsboro Airport's third runway". Portland Business Journal.
17. (June 30, 2014). "Phil Knight gets a new hangar for his private jet". Portland Business Journal.
18. (August 28, 2014). "Hillsboro Airport gets a new, much bigger hangar". Portland Business Journal.
19. (April 28, 2015). "Hillsboro Airport's new runway is complete, will open this week, officials say". The Oregonian.
20. Oregonian/OregonLive, Everton Bailey Jr {{!}} The. (2017-07-03). "Police kill gunman who tried to hijack helicopter at Hillsboro Airport".
21. (2024-04-04). "'Intel Air' employee flight shuttle resumes regular operations to Oregon, other fab sites – Another sign that Intel is on the upswing?".
22. Culverwell, Wendy. (June 16, 2006). "Clearing the runways". Portland Business Journal.
23. (27 June 2023). "ATCT Draft PEA 26June2023 (for publication)". regulations.gov.
24. The predominant activity at the airport is flight training, accounting for more than half of the overall operations.{{Citation needed. (March 2008 It was formerly the base of operation for the Life Flight Network, the [[MEDEVAC). medical evacuation]] provider for the region. Operated by [[Oregon Health & Science University]], [[Legacy Health System]], and [[Providence Health System]], the non-profit service owns one helicopter and two fixed-wing aircraft.O'Neill, Patrick. Life Flight Network upgrades helicopter. ''[[The Oregonian]]'', June 6, 2007.
25. "Accident description for Horizon Air Flight 2318 at Aviation Safety Network".
26. link. (2007-09-29. [[National Transportation Safety Board]]. Retrieved on March 5, 2008.)
27. [http://www.aero-news.net/news/sport.cfm?ContentBlockID=de9afbf5-4b94-437d-91c0-42945238fc3c&Dynamic=1 Pilot Identified In Hillsboro Air Show Accident]. Aero-News Network. Retrieved on March 5, 2008.
28. Tareen, Sophia, Stuart Tomlinson, Noelle Crombie, Esmeralda Bermudez, Holly Danks and Michelle Roberts. Investigators hope to find why jet crashed into house. ''[[The Oregonian]]'', July 17, 2006.
29. "Video: "The Engine Just Popped"".
30. (27 October 2023). "Article: " NTSB releases preliminary report on Oct. 3 plane crash in Newberg"".