May 22—Montgomery County commissioners have approved the $580,000 purchase of a fire truck to be stationed at the Conroe North Houston Airport.
The vehicle will replace the airport's current airplane response vehicle, which is 38 years old and no longer operational.
"The current truck is very tired," Montgomery County Assistant Fire Marshal Kevin Bates said of the vehicle they can no longer find parts for.
Airport Director James Brown, who was appointed in July 2017, said the truck is critical for the airport's safety.
"The last few months that we have been dealing with the down truck, we have had about 10 emergency calls," Brown said. "Thankfully, the city of Conroe does respond but the (Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Vehicle) be there before that aircraft even gets over our property fence."
Brown said the vehicle will also ensure compliance with several airport agreements with tenants.
"We offered this service to these clients to get their business," Brown said. "Large corporate and charter flights require an ARVF truck."
Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said Tuesday the county needed to move forward with the purchase.
"This is something we have been kicking down the road for a while now," Noack said. "I know we have talked about it several budgets in a row."
According to information from Conroe, the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport was built in 138 and has seen significant changes in its 83 years.
Montgomery County has operated the airport since 1972, following years of use by the Civil Aeronautics Agency, the United States Navy, and various fixed-base operators. Before 2015, the airport was known as Lone Star Executive Airport, but its name was changed to reflect its position as a regional general aviation airport.
The airport has 300 aircraft, 240 hangars, a control tower, two Fixed-Based Operator terminals, and a general aviation terminal building. Additionally, it features a full-service restaurant, a United States Army Reserve Aviation unit, and more than 20 businesses and government agencies.
The airport also has a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station, which allows international travel to and from Conroe. The $2.5 million, 3,330-square-foot facility opened in September 2016.
___
(c)2024 the Houston Chronicle
Visit the Houston Chronicle at www.chron.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
