Pangborn weighs safety upgrades, new aircraft types, and future fire-station siting

EAST WENATCHEE — Pangborn Memorial Airport is entering a period of unusually broad transition, with airport commissioners reviewing everything from firefighting systems and de-icing capacity to parking frustrations, hangar shortages, and long-term plans for a new fire station and helibase. The discussion unfolded during the Nov. 12 meeting of the Chelan–Douglas Regional Port Authority, which owns and operates the airport.

While some changes reflect routine modernization, others stem from new pressures in regional aviation, including the rise of electric aircraft, tighter federal requirements, and growing demand for hangar space.

PFAS removal and firefighting overhaul

One of the largest ongoing projects is the airport’s conversion away from PFAS-based firefighting foam, a nationwide mandate that has required airports to decommission legacy systems, involving what have been termed “forever chemicals” due to their environmental persistence, and install new no-foam configurations. The Port noted that Pangborn’s system has already been drained and that crews have removed PFAS residues from the aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) apparatus.

Although the FAA is expected to reimburse airports for PFAS transition costs, commissioners said the reimbursement timeline remains uncertain. The new dry-chemical system will require an updated training regimen for ARFF staff, who must maintain federal certification even as operational standards shift.

The airport is also reviewing airfield approaches and emergency-response access as part of a broader update of its safety plan, tying the work to discussions about where a future fire station and helibase should be located.

De-icing truck prepares Pangborn for winter operations

This season will be Pangborn’s first with its own dedicated de-icing truck, a used unit the Port purchased to improve winter reliability for both commercial and general aviation flights. Commissioners said the new truck will allow the airport to handle aircraft that previously diverted to larger airports during snow and ice events.

The service will carry a two-part fee: A setup charge and a per-minute application rate, in addition to staffing two airport employees during de-icing operations. The Port said the goal is to ensure cost recovery while offering a service Pangborn has lacked for years.

With more winter precipitation expected this season, the airport plans to publish de-icing guidance for pilots and coordinate schedules more tightly with commercial carriers.

Parking system continues to cause confusion

Airport parking — especially the division between long-term and short-term areas — continued to surface as a steady frustration for travelers. Pangborn’s current system categorizes parking based on where a vehicle is parked, not how long it stays, and commissioners acknowledged the setup still confuses many passengers.

The QR-code-based prepayment system has also led to inconsistent payment compliance. Some travelers skip the QR code entirely, while others park in long-term stalls expecting hourly billing. Commissioners discussed additional signage, clearer instructions, and potential refinements to the online interface.

The airport’s fixed-base operator (FBO) rents a limited number of vehicle stalls to pilots for $35 per month, a practice commissioners noted could complicate parking availability during peak travel periods. Staff will continue reviewing options to reduce friction for passengers without creating new conflicts with FBO operations.

Electric aircraft and new helicopter rate classes

As electric aircraft enter the market, Pangborn is adjusting its fee schedule to ensure the airport can recoup operational costs from planes that burn no fuel. Historically, airports relied heavily on fuel sales to cover maintenance, apron upkeep, and staff time. Electric aircraft would use airfield services without generating fuel revenue, prompting the Port to add new rate language that applies to aircraft “that do not fit into legacy operating categories.”

Similarly, commissioners approved a dedicated rate class for large helicopters occupying more than 1,500 square feet of apron space. These aircraft create different wear patterns and require different staging areas, and the new rates are meant to reflect those impacts more accurately.

Both updates, commissioners said, are part of future-proofing the airport for a more diverse mix of aircraft in the next decade.

Hangar shortages and shifting lease rates

Demand for hangar space continues to outpace availability. Several older leases at below-market rates are being phased upward as contracts renew, bringing them in line with current airport standards. The Port said the adjustment is necessary both for fairness and for funding ongoing airfield maintenance.

New T-hangars are planned, but contractors have faced scheduling delays. Weather concerns mean construction may push further into next year, extending uncertainty for pilots who have been waiting for additional space.

Commissioners also revisited Waterville hangar land leases, which historically carried extremely low rates. The Port is transitioning those to market-rate terms, with the understanding that the change will bring consistency across all airport-managed aviation properties.

Where to put the next fire station and helibase

One of the meeting’s longest discussions centered on siting a future fire station and helibase to serve both airport operations and regional emergency-response needs.

Several locations are under review:

• The Fibro property, which offers space but may pose challenges for airfield access.
  
  
• Port-owned land in Zone 2, closer to the runway environment and potentially better aligned with long-term airport planning.
  
  
• A possible Van Well site, though commissioners noted that the geometry of the nearby roundabout may complicate emergency-response routing.

Any final decision will need to maintain compliant clear zones, avoid approach-path conflicts, support rapid response times, and coordinate with future terminal and apron development. Commissioners did not set a timeline but said the question will stay on the front burner into 2026.

A regional airport in a period of change

From firefighting transitions and de-icing capacity to hangar demand and evolving aircraft technology, Pangborn Memorial Airport is juggling upgrades across nearly every part of its operation. Commissioners said the coming year will involve continued adjustments — some driven by federal requirements, others by the airport’s own growth needs.

For travelers, pilots, and neighboring jurisdictions, the changes point to a broader trend: Pangborn is shifting from a rural airfield into a more fully evolved regional airport, one preparing for the next generation of aircraft and the infrastructure that comes with them.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media