Making an impact. It’s a phrase heard often but how often does one truly make a difference in a person’s life? Steward Bailey, the winner of the Aviation Educator of the Year truly embodies the spirit of this award. Bailey is a Career and Technical Education instructor at Elsik High School in Houston, TX. He’s…
The routine airport maintenance program, or RAMP, was established in 1996 as a grant program to support general maintenance and improvement projects in our airport system. RAMP is supported by all 25 TxDOT districts, and is available to nearly 300 airports statewide. RAMP Coordinators are TxDOT district-designated employees who work with the Aviation Division to…
Robert Vargas, the winner of this year’s airport professional of the year award has made quite an impact on Andrews County Airport and the community since becoming airport manager in 2010. For years, he served as the sole airport employee but now has a staff of two others to assist him in maintenance, operations, and…
At airports, safety is paramount. It’s a guiding principle on how projects are selected, designed, and built Huntsville Municipal Airport recently began a major project with the goal of improving safety while conforming to FAA standards. Huntsville Municipal Airport is a single runway “Business Corporate” general aviation airport located in central east Texas with over…
On time and under budget. Words that every airport manager wants to hear. Cleburne Regional Airport was behind the eight ball early on with their project due to the COVID shutdown and funding availability that necessitated an escalated timeline. But behind every successful project is a dedicated and motivated team, and this team worked hard…
Granbury Regional Airport, the most improved airport of the year, has been called the “Friendliest Little Airport in Texas.” But until November 2022, the number of guests to receive its hospitality was limited to those who could safely use a runway only thirty-six hundred feet long. Prior to November, the airport had the shortest runway…
For more than a half-century, Tradewind Airport has gone above and beyond to deliver unparalleled service in the sky and on the ground. Established in 1946 by Shelby Kritser, our airport has been a hub for general aviation in its community, located just three and a half miles from the central business district.Tradewind is one…
By Chris SasserTexas A&M Transportation Institute A near record crowd of 548 attendees were treated to a stellar lineup of speakers and sessions at the 41st Texas Aviation Conference at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. The event was hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Aviation Division, and participants included aviation professionals, exhibitors, and…
Elevating and Serving General Aviation Across the Lone Star State Texas is a powerhouse in aviation, home to nearly 300 airports and over 27,000 registered general aviation aircraft — more than almost any other state. With such a vast and vital network, a unified voice is essential to advocate for airport interests at the local,…
TxDOT Aviation Division’s Statewide Impact North Region: Wood County Airport Wood County Airport Collins Field recently completed a runway lengthening and widening project using a state rider, extending runway 18-36 from 4,000 feet by 60 feet to 5,001 feet by 75 feet. South Region: Pleasanton Municipal Airport Pleasanton Municipal Airport has had several major developments…
TxDOT’s Aviation Division is working with local airports across the state to replace outdated automated weather observing systems (AWOS). These systems provide real-time weather and runway information that pilots depend on during every stage of a flight. Airports interested in replacing or installing an AWOS begin the process by submitting a request to their TxDOT…
A Q&A with TxDOT’s Emerging Aviation Technology Section In spring 2025, TxDOT’s Aviation Division launched the Emerging Aviation Technology Section to lead the integration of emerging technologies into Texas’ aviation ecosystem. Now, nearly a year later, Director Sergio Roman and his team, William Graffis and Travis Baxter, share insights into the section’s growth, its ongoing…
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Aviation Division hosted its National Aviation Day celebration on Aug. 19, 2025, welcoming 150 attendees, including TxDOT employees and aviation business partners. The Aviation Division highlighted Texas’s aviation history and showcased the Adopt-an-Airport Program, which encourages participants to adopt and beautify an airport, elevate their public image, and boost…
by Dan Harmon, TxDOT Aviation Division Director I hope that everyone had a great fall. It’s been a busy season for the Aviation Division. As we entered the new fiscal year (FY), we were fortunate to receive historic levels of state and federal funding to improve airports across Texas. The legislature maintained the base funding…
Have a project, event or standout photo from your airport you’d like to share? Wingtips is now accepting submissions for upcoming issues? We’re looking for high-quality photos, project milestones, community events, or anything else that showcases the people and progress behind Texas aviation. Send submissions to [email protected] to be considered for publication. Thank you for…
A Texas fly-in was recently featured in AeroErmo, a Colombian aviation magazine with international readership. The article below, reprinted with permission, highlights the 19th 84R Annual Fly-In held at Smithville-Crawford Municipal Airport in Central Texas. The event has continued to grow in reach and reputation, drawing attention from both aviation enthusiasts and photographers across the…
