The Oregon Department of Aviation (ODAV) will begin a major runway rehabilitation project at Aurora State Airport (KUAO) on August 18, requiring multiple closures and suspending all airplane operations. The project will repave the airport’s sole 5,003-foot runway, which is approaching the end of its service life. According to ODAV and the FAA Safety Team, the work will also address surface delamination, extensive cracking, and non-standard grading of the crown.
To allow for paving, the initial runway closure will last approximately 30 days. After reopening for a 30-day curing period, a second seven-day closure will follow to complete grooving and final markings. The total number of closure days is expected to be 37 between August 18 and October 31, though all timelines remain weather-dependent.
No airplanes will be able to arrive or depart during the closures. However, rotorcraft operations may continue to and from open airport areas. Aurora’s air traffic control tower will remain in operation, with Class D airspace active.
Parallel Taxiway Alpha will remain open for authorized ground movements under ATC clearance. ODAV emphasized its commitment to safety and acknowledged the impact of the closure on users and surrounding communities.
The airport’s sole FBO provider, Atlantic Aviation, will be open regular hours (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) during the runway closure, a company spokeswoman told AIN. “Our team will be on site supporting helicopter operations and available for customer questions and support. An Atlantic Aviation facility at Portland International Airport is nearby and serves as an alternative airport during this closure,” she added.