Humboldt Airport makes plan for long- term improvements

A pair of prop planes sit on the apron behind the Humboldt Municipal Airport terminal building. The facility offers both tie-down and hangar space for pilots to store their aircraft.

The Humboldt Municipal Airport is set to undergo a series of improvements as part of a long-term plan aimed at modernizing the facility and increasing its capabilities. Airport officials recently outlined their upcoming projects and future aspirations, emphasizing both short-term fixes and long-term infrastructure investments. Julie Crenshaw and Shane Lynch, members of the airport board, will be attending an upcoming state meeting to review and update the capital improvement plan. This annual process allows the airport to refine its five-year project list, ensuring that essential upgrades remain on track.

One of the immediate priorities is enhancing security with the installation of cameras. Recent vandalism of runway lights has forced the airport to issue warnings to inbound pilots until the lights can be repaired. Airport officials say that installing cameras would go a long way to preventing the sort of unauthorized entry that can allow vandalism. Improvements to the facility’s security measures are expected to be included in the state’s capital improvement plan.

Another major focus is an environmental assessment for tree trimming on surrounding properties. Several trees growing on lots in the path of takeoff and approach have grown high enough to become a concern for descending and ascending aircraft, requiring trimming and, in some cases, removal of trees. Before that can be done, however, the airport must complete a required environmental assessment.

The assessment, which can take approximately nine months to complete, involves surveying the areas where work will be done to ensure they are not home to any threatened or endangered wildlife, or that the ground below does not contain any historically significant burial grounds. Officials with the airport estimate that this process is about 50-percent complete.

Once finalized, officials will determine the extent of trimming needed, identify property ownership, and assess potential costs. The second phase of this project will involve negotiating with property owners and contracting the necessary work.

An overhead illustration shows Humboldt Municipal Airport’s sole runway (black) as well as its full parallel taxiway and apron (gray). The red section indicates the portion of the taxiway to be modified, removing direct access to the runway from the tarmac. This is in accordance with modern FFA guidelines.

Also at the forefront of the improvement plan are steps to redesign and repair the airport’s taxiway. A key requirement from the FAA involves removing the existing direct access taxiway, which is considered an unnecessary risk by the organization. This will be the main focus of the redesign, preventing planes from traveling straightonto the facility’s lone runway from the apron. Discussions are ongoing regarding the future of the full parallel taxiway as well, with some considering a reduction. However, concerns about maintaining safety have led officials to lean toward keeping the full parallel infrastructure intact.

“I would rather see infrastructure stay and not reduce the safety of the airport,” said Benson Hadley of Barge Design Solutions, an engineering firm assisting with the projects, “Taking part of it out means you have to get on the runway and then go back. Since you’ve already got the full parallel there, just keep it.”

Funding for the taxiway project stands at $171,500, with the city responsible for only $4,300—approximately 2.5-percent of the total cost. Officials are optimistic about continued state-level financial support, as budget constraints have eased compared to previous years.

Long-term plans include a repave of the runway itself, upgrades to the lighting systems, and the construction of additional hangars. Eventually, the airport board members hope that a runway extension may be feasible as well. These projects will be spaced out over the coming years to align with available funding and logistical feasibility.

“But before we can start trying to bring in the big guns, we’ve gotta get this place fixed,” said Crenshaw, “I have not been down that taxiway in an airplane, but I have been down it in a 4Runner, and it is rough as a cob. It’s in really bad shape. So we have to get the runway fixed. We’ve gotta get the lights. We’ve gotta get the security.”

The ultimate goal of these upgrades is to position Humboldt Municipal Airport as a viable destination for larger aircraft. During the temporary closure of Jackson Regional Airport for runway repairs, Humboldt saw an increase in overall traffic and an influx of larger planes. Officials hope to make the necessary improvements to attract similar traffic in the future, ensuring the airport remains competitive and well-equipped.

“It’s a slow process, but it didn’t get to this point overnight,” Hadley noted. “We’re working as fast as we can within the system to make these improvements happen.”