An Airport Master Plan is a comprehensive study of an airport and typically describes the development plans over a 20-year planning horizon, required to meet current and future aviation demand. The development around an airport can have a significant impact on the safety of aircraft operations; therefore, it’s important to systematically update an airport master plan if a surge in development has or is anticipated to occur.
Henderson Executive Airport is owned by Clark County, Nevada and operated by the Department of Aviation as a part of the Clark County System of Airports. The System of Airports includes McCarran International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, North Las Vegas Airport, Jean Airport and Overton Airport. In 1996, the Clark County Department of Aviation purchased Sky Harbor Airport as a part of an ongoing effort to meet the future aviation needs of Southern Nevada, with a vision to transform the small airport into an executive reliever for McCarran International Airport. The facility’s name was changed to Henderson Executive Airport, and work began on the expansion plans. The original Master Plan for Henderson Executive Airport was adopted in April 1997, and in less than ten years, the Airport was transformed from the original single runway general aviation airport to the dual runway executive reliever it is today.
Over the past decade, the medium and large aircraft activity at Henderson Executive Airport has increased, while the small aircraft flight training has decreased. The shift in operational activity and the growth of the surrounding community will be a focus of the Airport Master Plan Update. Ultimately, the Airport Master Plan Update will provide guidelines for the airport’s overall development, maintenance, and operation in an environmentally and fiscally responsible manner while adhering to appropriate safety design standards.