The Mid-Way Regional Airport on the Midlothian/Waxahachie border is owned, financed and managed by those two cities as equal partners. It was opened in 1992 after years of work by civic leaders. Industries and the Super Collider were expected to provide the bulk of usage. Since opening the airport and its services have expanded greatly.
The companies located at the airport are A-One Aircraft Paint providing paint, interior, maintenance and instruments work, Airborne Imaging doing airborne research and development, Arrae, Inc. which does aerial surveys, Big Q Aerial Advertising which does banner towing and aerial photography and Big Q Aviation Flight School which has pilot training at several levels, aerobatics and gliders. Also at the airport are Carol Walker who is a FAA designated pilot examiner, a Hertz local site, Midway Aircraft Maintenance, MotionAir Flight Training where you can get private, instrument, commercial and other flight training, Southern Star Aviation providing maintenance and refueling, Trojan Phlyers, Inc. which is an aerobatics demonstration team and Wheels-Up Aviation Services providing general maintenance and inspections. In addition the facility is available to the public and business for meetings, parties and various events. At this time eighty-five planes can be stored there and there is a waiting list of twenty more.
A staff of three runs the airport because many functions such as accounting and legal issues are delegated to the cities. Texas is a block grant state so the Federal Aeronautics Administration funding is passed through TxDOT Aviation which pays for ninety percent of construction costs and fifty percent of the maintenance at Mid-Way. Waxahachie and Midlothian each pay half of the other ten or fifty percent. In 1992 when it opened the airport cost $7 million.
In 2011 a project expanded the runway to 6,500 feet long and 100 feet wide. A runway of this size could handle a Boeing 737 in an emergency and can handle all types of business aircraft. In 2012 the terminal was doubled to 8,000 square feet and lighting was also replaced. The aircraft parking ramp was expanded by twenty thousand square yards in 2013 and this year seven acres of land have been purchased, visitor parking has been expanded and engineering work is completed for twelve T-hangars for aircraft storage.
Total cost of the airport and its improvement since 1992 would be about $25 million in today’s dollars. These dollars are an economic driver that returns about $10 million each year to the region. That means that Mid-Way is a strong contributor to the economic well-being for the region it serves.
For more information about Mid-Way Regional Airport regarding office space availability or land and business development opportunities and the services available there call Judy Demoney at 972- 923-0080 or visit their web page at www.mid-wayregional.com.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Waxahachie where we believe in Service Above Self and doing things as a club we cannot do alone, visit the club website at www.waxahachierotary.org. You can find American flag subscription forms there.