David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport
Encyclopedia
David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport is a public-use airport
located near the city of Tomball
in unincorporated Harris County
, Texas
. It is 23 miles (37 km) northwest of the central business district
of Houston. The airport is privately-owned by Jag Gill.
The airport is notable because it is one of only a few privately owned airports with a Federal Aviation Administration
control tower
; the airport is owned by Jag Gill and managed by Robert Schmidt.
On June 27, 2007, The Texas State Legislature approved Tomball's request to annex Hooks Airport even though the airport does not border the Tomball city limits. Since the airport is in the city of Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction
, the city of Tomball must get permission from Houston to annex the airport. As of summer of 2010, the annex still has not been finalized.
paved runway
s: 17R/35L measuring 7,009 x 100 ft (30.5 m). and 17L/35R measuring 3,987 x 35 ft (1,215 x 11 m). It also has a seaplane
landing area designated as runway 17W/35W which is 2,530 x 100 ft (771 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending August 5, 2002, the airport had 223,585 aircraft operations, an average of 612 per day: 98% general aviation
, 1% air taxi
and 1% military. There are 300 aircraft based at this airport: 83% single-engine, 10% multi-engine, 3% jet and 4% helicopter
.
Facilities include:
The airport also includes numerous flight schools, including Silver State Helicopters and American Flyers.
The airport is also a local favorite for its diverse mix of aircraft and openness. The main ramps and taxiways, while monitored by airport staff, lack the usual high, barbed-wire fences, and families and enthusiasts are able to relax by the lake and grassy areas just mere feet from where aircraft are parked and operating from. Visiting aircraft range from standard GA traffic to exotic military aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey and the F/A-18E Super Hornet that can turn a lazy day into a spontaneous gathering of like minded people within moments, and military pilots are often more than willing to give visitors up close and personal looks at their aircraft.
Shortly after its opening, Hooks' son, David, was killed in the crash of a small plane that he was piloting under the supervision of a flight instructor. All four people on the plane were killed. David was about 16 years old at the time of his death. The airport's name was changed from Houston Northwest Airport to David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport in his memory.
Until the 1980s, the airport was run and maintained by Hooks, and his wife Irma. Upon the death of Mrs. Hooks, her daughter stepped in and helped with its operation.
In 1989, Charles Hooks retired and sold the airport to the Gill Family.
In 2009 a fire occurred at the airport. A man was burned, and several aircraft were destroyed.
On June 26, 2010, another fire occurred at the airport, destroying another large hangar. One helicopter and several aircraft components were destroyed.
In early 2010, Hooks Airport received a notable resident when the B-17G Flying Fortress 'Texas Raiders' was permanently moved from William P. Hobby Airport to a spacious hangar in the Tomball Jet Center as a cost saving measure. 'Texas Raiders' will use Hooks Airport as her base of operations for the 2010 air show season and into the foreseeable future.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located near the city of Tomball
Tomball, Texas
Tomball is a city in Harris county in the U.S. state of Texas, a part of the Houston metropolitan area. The population was 9,089 at the 2000 census. In 1907, the community of Peck was renamed Tomball. The city are named for local congressman Thomas Henry Ball, who had a major role in the...
in unincorporated Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It is 23 miles (37 km) northwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Houston. The airport is privately-owned by Jag Gill.
The airport is notable because it is one of only a few privately owned airports with a Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
; the airport is owned by Jag Gill and managed by Robert Schmidt.
On June 27, 2007, The Texas State Legislature approved Tomball's request to annex Hooks Airport even though the airport does not border the Tomball city limits. Since the airport is in the city of Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction
Extraterritorial jurisdiction
Extraterritorial jurisdiction is the legal ability of a government to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries.Any authority can, of course, claim ETJ over any external territory they wish...
, the city of Tomball must get permission from Houston to annex the airport. As of summer of 2010, the annex still has not been finalized.
Facilities and aircraft
David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport covers an area of 480 acres (194.2 ha) which contains two asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s: 17R/35L measuring 7,009 x 100 ft (30.5 m). and 17L/35R measuring 3,987 x 35 ft (1,215 x 11 m). It also has a seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
landing area designated as runway 17W/35W which is 2,530 x 100 ft (771 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending August 5, 2002, the airport had 223,585 aircraft operations, an average of 612 per day: 98% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, 1% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
and 1% military. There are 300 aircraft based at this airport: 83% single-engine, 10% multi-engine, 3% jet and 4% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
.
Facilities include:
- The main Gill Aviation terminal
- The Aviator Grill, a locally owned and operated restaurant connected to the Gill Aviation terminal. The grill is a popular community restaurant, and provides a spectacular view of the main ramps and runway 17R.
- Tomball Jet Center
- Helicopter Services
- LifeFlight Alert center, with Memorial Herman Hosptial operated LifeFlight 4 on permanent standby.
The airport also includes numerous flight schools, including Silver State Helicopters and American Flyers.
The airport is also a local favorite for its diverse mix of aircraft and openness. The main ramps and taxiways, while monitored by airport staff, lack the usual high, barbed-wire fences, and families and enthusiasts are able to relax by the lake and grassy areas just mere feet from where aircraft are parked and operating from. Visiting aircraft range from standard GA traffic to exotic military aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey and the F/A-18E Super Hornet that can turn a lazy day into a spontaneous gathering of like minded people within moments, and military pilots are often more than willing to give visitors up close and personal looks at their aircraft.
History
The Airport started when Charles Hooks built a runway for his own personal use. His hobby eventually became a business, and he subsequently built a runway and a main terminal building. It was first opened for public use in the 1960s.Shortly after its opening, Hooks' son, David, was killed in the crash of a small plane that he was piloting under the supervision of a flight instructor. All four people on the plane were killed. David was about 16 years old at the time of his death. The airport's name was changed from Houston Northwest Airport to David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport in his memory.
Until the 1980s, the airport was run and maintained by Hooks, and his wife Irma. Upon the death of Mrs. Hooks, her daughter stepped in and helped with its operation.
In 1989, Charles Hooks retired and sold the airport to the Gill Family.
In 2009 a fire occurred at the airport. A man was burned, and several aircraft were destroyed.
On June 26, 2010, another fire occurred at the airport, destroying another large hangar. One helicopter and several aircraft components were destroyed.
In early 2010, Hooks Airport received a notable resident when the B-17G Flying Fortress 'Texas Raiders' was permanently moved from William P. Hobby Airport to a spacious hangar in the Tomball Jet Center as a cost saving measure. 'Texas Raiders' will use Hooks Airport as her base of operations for the 2010 air show season and into the foreseeable future.
External links
- David Wayne Hooks Airport, official web site