(New Braunfels) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently designated New Braunfels Regional Airport (NBRA) located in Guadalupe County as a National Airport within the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
The designation places the local airport as one of only 11 such National Airports in Texas and one of 92 such airports in the United States.
Airport Director Dr. Robert Lee, AAE says “This National Airport designation by NPIAS reflects the increased growth and activity at the airport, which has seen a 24 percent increase in operations in recent years, along with significant increases in fuel consumption. Earning this designation puts NBRA into the mix of airports across the country that are eligible for additional federal discretionary funding under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) over the next five years.”
NBRA is already part of the FAA Contract Tower program, making it home to an FAA contract-operated air traffic control tower from 7a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the year. There are more than 150 aircraft based at NBRA ranging from small single-engine aircraft to large corporate jets.
Since 2014, six new corporate hangars have been constructed (with two more under development), as well as three new rows of t-hangars. NBRA is host to four aircraft repair shops, an avionics repair station, and two flight schools, as well as air charter, air ambulance, and corporate flight departments.
Over the last few years, NBRA also completed a terminal renovation project, a runway extension, a runway resurfacing project, a Master Plan Update, as well as significant upgrades to the NBRA fuel farm. Projects that are currently underway include a new drainage detention pond, upgrading and/or replacing obsolete air traffic voice control communications equipment, the rehabilitation of the North aircraft ramp, and expanding the size of the airport terminal parking lot.
Approximately 88 percent of airports included in the NPIAS are general aviation airports, including the New Braunfels Regional Airport.