Story ID: 
Improvements continue at alternate Austin Airport
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Pilots seeking an alternative to busy and expensive Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas might want to try Bird’s Nest Airport, 12 miles northea
Word Count: 164
Pilots seeking an alternative to busy and expensive Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas might want to try Bird’s Nest Airport, 12 miles northeast of downtown Austin, which was purchased last October by Ron Henriksen, owner of the privately developed Houston Executive Airport. Since buying Bird’s Nest, Henriksen has repaved the 2,750-foot runway and made other improvements. He plans to extend the runway, build a new entry road to State Highway 130, add a paved ramp with tie-downs, build new hangars, install airport lighting and build a fuel farm. “The Austin area is in dire need of a general aviation airport,” he said. “I am looking forward to making Bird’s Nest a destination for pilots in the Austin area who otherwise would have few options.” At Houston Executive Airport, Henriksen Jet Center’s new 26,000-sq-ft corporate hangar is open and accepting new tenants. The airport’s runway extension to 6,610 feet was scheduled to open last month, if weather conditions were favorable for laying asphalt.