New Bypass-Taxiway Opens to Enhance Jetport Operations and Safety

SANFORD, N.C. — Raleigh Exec continued its ongoing expansion this summer by opening a new bypass-taxiway parallel to the runway — an essential addition designed to enhance safety, accommodate more activity at the jetport and allow aircraft to move more efficiently on the ground.

“This is a very important project that we’ve been working on for years,” said Carter Keller, chairman of the Sanford-Lee County Airport Authority that operates Raleigh Exec. “We’ve been expanding our entire facility for the last decade with a variety of projects. We’ve added more than 500 acres of land, built new hangars and improved our physical infrastructure. Then, back in May, we opened the state’s first electric aircraft charging station and have welcomed several new businesses, including ATP Flight School that is the first major tenant in our new terminal office suite.

“But this is one of our most essential projects, because it means more air traffic can fly safely in and out of Raleigh Exec — and that’s a key for the future.”

The jetport can now handle more air traffic because the new parallel bypass-taxiway gives pilots quicker and more efficient access to the runway for takeoffs and landings. Pilots already prepared to take off, for example, don’t need to wait in line while others work through their last-minute, preflight checklists.

“Time is money, especially for large-cabin aircraft that use more fuel,” said jetport director Bob Heuts. “Before, there were times when we might have had three or four aircraft in line waiting for the runway. That can happen when pilots in training are listening to their flight instructor or going through checklists. The bypass-taxiway minimizes waiting time, reduces congestion and basically makes all of our operations run smoother.”

Heuts said the $3.9 million project, funded by a grant from the North Carolina Division of Aviation, also enhances safety by creating more space for aircraft to maneuver around the runway and each other — significantly reducing the risk of collisions on the ground.

While the new bypass-taxiway completes construction around the runway, other projects continue elsewhere at the jetport — including 27 aircraft hangars and a 1,500 square-foot maintenance facility. And those are only projects scheduled to open over the next several months.

Earlier this year, Raleigh Exec was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to construct an air traffic control tower that will allow air traffic to be managed by trained air traffic controllers based on the jetport grounds. That is now being designed and will not be completed for about another three years.

“There’s a lot happening here, to be sure,” said Heuts. “But that’s because there’s a lot of interest in Raleigh Exec and it’s only growing. We’re looking forward to a bright future.” 

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About Raleigh Exec
Billed as a premier corporate gateway to the Research Triangle, Raleigh Exec Jetport is a general aviation airport serving corporate and recreational flights in a region of central North Carolina that includes Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Sanford, Pittsboro, Chatham Park and the Research Triangle Park. Raleigh Exec operates on 1,250 acres off of U.S. Highway 1, just 15 miles from the Raleigh Outer Beltline. It is home to corporate aircraft, the North Carolina Forest Service, many aviation-related businesses and one of the nation’s largest and most respected flying clubs. More information is available at raleighexec.com.

Construction of Raleigh Exec’s new bypass-taxiway unfolded in phases over many months, but the project opened this summer, further enhancing safety and operations at the regional jetport.