TME Owner Purchases Field Near Austin

Less than one year after opening a new general aviation airport west of Houston, TX, businessman Ron Henriksen has turned his eye northwards... to a small airfield near the capital city of Austin.

Henriksen recently acquired Bird's Nest Airport (6R4) -- located 12 miles northeast of downtown Austin, between the suburban communities of Pflugerville and Manor -- as part of a larger land purchase worth $2.1 million. The Houston Chronicle reports he plans to turn the airport into a full-service GA field.

"I am simply passionate about aviation and the positive impact airports have on the local community," Henriksen said. "As a pilot for over 20 years, I have seen airports close at an alarming rate," he said. "And when an airport closes, it negatively impacts not only pilots but the local community as well."

As ANN reported, Henriksen opened Houston Executive Airport (TME, shown above) in January, near the growing Houston suburb of Brookshire.

TME Director Andrew Perry says business has grown consistently at that facility; the airport, which sports a 5,050' x 100' runway, recently received approval from the FAA for an instrument approach... and new hangars are scheduled for completion in November.

"Corporate action has increased because of that," Perry said.

Bird's Nest now houses two runways -- one 2,700' turf-and-gravel strip, and a second 2,200' turf runway. Henriksen plans to expand the asphalt runway to 4,000 feet, and build a new entry road off recently-completed Highway 130. More T-hangars are also in the works, as is a fuel farm and new lighting.

When improvements are completed, Henriksen believes the Austin-area field will serve a vital role.

"Austin has lost two airports, resulting in a serious shortage of general aviation airports in Central Texas," he said. "I am really excited about breathing new life into Bird's Nest and seeing the Austin area benefit from it. I am building it myself to ensure its future."

"Ron has always eyed Austin since Robert Mueller (Municipal) and Austin Executive airports closed in 1999," Perry added. "This left small plane owners without a convenient base for their planes."

FMI: www.houstonexecutiveairport.com