| From barbecue to football, residents in Texas like to say everything there is the "biggest and the bestest." Sugar Land Regional Airport near Houston, however, backs up the sentiment with stats and evidence.
Its $24.5 million general aviation complex spans 54 acres, with 99 T-hangars nested in six buildings. The hangar banks include an air-conditioned pilot lounge and restrooms; and hangar doors can be opened with standby generator power in an emergency.
The complex is one-of-a-kind, says Bijan Jamalabad, P.E., Aviation Division director of engineering at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Jamalabad managed construction of the project, which spanned from 2000 to 2009. TxDOT provided $17.08 million in grant funding; nearly $7.5 million came from airport revenues and bond sales.
In addition to serving active corporate and general aviation markets, Sugar Land Regional serves as a general reliever airport for the Houston Airport System. In March, its crews handled nearly 6,600 operations.
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