Ron Henriksen Is a Man With a Passion ...

... investing his millions he made in the telecom business (which he set up in his free time as a corporate pilot in the ‘80s) into his professional love, aviation. He’s building his second executive airport, this time in Austin, TX … a city in need of a vibrant business/general aviation facility. It will open this spring. In April 2008, airport business magazine featured Henriksen as he was about to open Houston Executive Airport in Brookshire, some 30 miles west of downtown Houston. Subsequently, he purchased a tired Bird’s Nest Airport some ten miles northeast of downtown Austin, bought up some more acreage, and is now in the midst of recreating the Houston experience. He estimates his investment will total some $33 million … he calls these investments his “contribution” to the industry. Just over a decade ago the city opened Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, closing Mueller Airport at the same time another much smaller GA airport, the previous Austin Executive, was closed to accommodate Dell growth. The high cost and different orientation of the new AUS caused a dispersal of general aviation to facilities 20 miles away and beyond the city of Austin. In fact, Austin is one of the few major cities in the U.S. that doesn’t today have a significant reliever facility to complement the major airport. Comments Henriksen, “I think Austin will be more successful than Houston.” He points out that the Houston metro has some eight airports for GA to access; Austin will now have two. The new Executive Airport will feature a 6,025-foot concrete runway, a 27,500-square foot FBO terminal, and a 29,000-square foot corporate hangar. And several rows of T- and “shade” hangars. The runway is down; the facilities are going up. The 65-year old Henriksen says “this is the last airport I’m building.” But, he offers a caveat – “In my budget I probably have room for another airport.” Sitting across from him at a temporary office at Austin Executive, one has to admire that this is a man who makes things happen … particularly for an industry that’s in his blood. Thanks for reading. jfi (For more on Austin Executive and to monitor its construction, visit www.AustinExecutiveAirport.com, and look for our upcoming feature in the February issue of airport business.)