Set among the rich agricultural lands and rugged mountain vistas of Central Washington, Pangborn Memorial Airport connects the Wenatchee Valley to destinations beyond. When its only runway began showing distress, the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority faced an urgent challenge: rehabilitating the airport’s most critical infrastructure.
Funded by a $17 million FAA AIP grant, the Pangborn Memorial Airport Runway Rehabilitation project exemplified innovation, collaboration, and precision. The engineering team developed creative phasing and nightwork strategies to reconstruct nearly 7,000 feet of runway pavement, upgrade electrical systems, and improve drainage, all within just 32 days, while maintaining vital firefighting helicopter operations during an intense wildfire season.
Despite the compressed schedule, the project was delivered on time and under budget. The rehabilitated runway features a smoother surface, safer grading, upgraded navigational aids, improved drainage, and a pavement sensor system enhancing operational awareness. These upgrades extend the runway’s service life by over 20 years, reduce maintenance costs, and strengthen the airport’s role as a vital regional transportation link supporting economic development, tourism, and emergency response operations.
While installing a MALSR or pavement sensor system is not new, it is an innovative way for the Pangborn Memorial Airport to leverage existing technology to improve the passenger experience. By installing the MALSR with a previous project, the Pangborn Memorial Airport experienced dramatically lower canceled flights from weather, and combined with the Runway Rehabilitation project that installed a pavement sensor system, the airport can monitor pavement temperatures and be proactive about applying deicing fluid in the winter months, increasing the safety for their passengers and air service partners.
Through careful planning, innovative project management, and a shared commitment to excellence, the project team successfully delivered a full runway rehabilitation in just 32 days of airfield closure, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and coordination in the region.
Before the project, Pangborn Memorial Airport frequently experienced flight cancellations during the winter months due to snow and ice buildup on deteriorated pavement. The new runway surface integrates grooving and improved grading design, allowing for faster snow removal and better traction under freezing conditions.
The project’s success lies not only in its technical achievement but also in its community impact. Pangborn Memorial Airport serves as a critical transportation link for North Central Washington, supporting regional commerce, tourism, and emergency access. Completing the rehabilitation in just 32 days minimized disruptions to local businesses and residents while restoring a safer, more reliable airfield for decades to come.
