Hillsboro Airport

Hillsboro Airport is a public airport located in Washington County, Oregon, within the city of Hillsboro, Oregon. It is owned and operated by the Port of Portland (Oregon) and serves as a major general aviation reliever for Portland International Airport. The airport supports a wide range of activities including corporate, cargo, flight training, and recreational aviation.

History

The airport's origins trace back to 1928 when it was established as a small airfield. Significant development occurred during World War II when the United States Navy utilized the site for training, designating it as Naval Air Station Hillsboro. Following the war, control was transferred to the Port of Portland (Oregon) in 1951, which began modernizing the facility to support the growing Silicon Forest technology corridor. Key expansions included runway extensions and the construction of new hangars to accommodate increasing corporate traffic from companies like Intel and Tektronix. The airport has since evolved into one of the busiest general aviation airports in the Pacific Northwest.

Facilities

The airport covers 550 acres at an elevation of 204 feet above mean sea level and has three asphalt runways. The primary runway is equipped with an Instrument Landing System and is flanked by extensive ramp areas and multiple large hangar complexes. The main terminal building houses Hillsboro Aviation, a major fixed-base operator providing fuel, maintenance, and charter services. Other facilities include the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, which displays historic aircraft like the Hughes H-4 Hercules, and the adjacent Oregon International Airshow venue. The airport is also home to flight schools such as Hillsboro Aero Academy and ATP Flight School.

Operations

As a designated reliever airport for Portland International Airport, it handles a high volume of general aviation traffic, averaging over 230,000 aircraft movements annually. The Federal Aviation Administration staffs a control tower that operates continuously, managing a mix of flight training, corporate jet, and cargo operations. The airport is a critical hub for United Parcel Service and FedEx Express feeder flights within the region. It also supports United States Coast Guard aviation training, Life Flight Network medical transport, and agricultural application operations. Special events like the Oregon International Airshow and the Portland Rose Festival air demonstrations are regularly hosted here.

Airlines and destinations

The airport does not have scheduled commercial passenger service by major airlines but is a base for several air taxi and on-demand charter operators. JetSuiteX, operating as a public charter under Delaware North, previously offered scheduled flights to destinations like Hollywood Burbank Airport and McClellan-Palomar Airport. Current primary operators include Flexjet and NetJets, which provide fractional ownership and charter services to points across North America. Cargo carriers such as Ameriflight and Wiggins Airways operate scheduled feeder flights under contract for United Parcel Service and FedEx Express, connecting to hubs like Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and Oakland International Airport.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has been the site of several notable aviation accidents. In 1978, a Piper PA-31 Navajo crashed shortly after takeoff due to engine failure, resulting in fatalities. A 1994 incident involved a Cessna 150 that collided with terrain during a training flight in poor visibility. In 2008, a Beechcraft King Air operated by Columbia Helicopters experienced a landing gear malfunction, causing substantial damage but no serious injuries. The most recent significant event occurred in 2015 when a Robinson R44 helicopter made a hard landing during an instructional flight, leading to an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. These events have influenced local safety procedures and pilot training protocols in the region.

Category:Airports in Oregon Category:Port of Portland (Oregon) Category:Transportation in Washington County, Oregon Category:Airports established in 1928