Maurice, Iowa — A relatively new northwest Iowa airport has received some regional accolades.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Central Region Airports Division has selected the Sioux County Regional Airport to receive an award for the development and success of the airport.
Rodney Joel, acting director of the FAA Central Region Airports Division says, “We know that the efforts put forth by the Airport Board and the local communities was a significant challenge and did not happen without the support of all involved. This has been a successful collaboration of municipal, state, county, and federal entities to construct this very successful facility.”
The award was presented this past week at the 4-States Airport Conference in Kansas City.
The Sioux County Regional Airport opened in 2018, a joint project of the City of Sioux Center, the City of Orange City, and Sioux County, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Iowa Department of Transportation, along with private fundraising.
Sioux Center City Manager Scott Wynja says, “We were honored and humbled to receive the recognition and award from the Federal Aviation Administration. This project and now expansion are a true testament of the collaboration [among] Sioux Center, Orange City, and Sioux County, as well as our partnerships and relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Iowa Department of Transportation Office of Aviation.”
The Sioux County Regional Airport features a 5,500-foot runway that can accommodate larger business jets, a parallel taxiway, a terminal, multiple hangars, fueling systems, safety approach lighting, a weather observation station, and additional airport features.
Joel says, “The airport was designed to replace smaller airports with a more capable regional facility. The Sioux County Regional Airport is thriving. All 35 of the initial hangar spaces filled immediately. The airport has since completed two apron and hangar additions and now houses up to 55 aircraft.”
The FAA’s Central Regional Airports Division oversees airport planning, environment, development, certification, and safety in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
