The Ak-Chin Regional Airport, owned and operated Ak-Chin Indian Community, finished electrical upgrades to the facility, which include placing runway edge lights, utilizing the airport beacon and installing an automated weather observing system (AWOS).
The runway edge lights run the entire length of the 4750 foot runway allowing the airport to be open 24 hours a day.
The airport beacon, a tower mounted light that alternately blinks green and white, is now illuminated at night as a wayfinding aid for aircraft. The AWOS is a system of weather instruments that transmit the weather data to aircraft using an aircraft radio and can also be disseminated for remote access by the flying community and other weather data users such as the National Weather Service.
“These important upgrades came out of an airport master plan process that was recently completed and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration,” said Tim Costello, Ak-Chin Regional Airport manager. “We are pleased as these new additions will help us compete for aviation business and takes the airport to the next level in terms of offering what aircraft owners need and expect in a small airport.”
The Ak-Chin Regional Airport generates the majority of its traffic from aviation training and visiting aircraft. The airfield is home to 12 general aviation, fixed-wing aircraft made by U.S. manufacturers like Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney and others.
