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News & Important Information |
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Oregon Department of Aviation Takes Action to Address Vehicle and Pedestrian Deviations at Aurora State Airport.
ODAV issued a press release regarding new safety measures and enforceable rules aimed at reducing vehicle and pedestrian deviations at Aurora State Airport.
Effective Feb. 5, 2026, ODAV adopted and amended Oregon Administrative Rules establishing enforceable standards and civil penalties for unauthorized entry into movement and safety areas. Together, the training and updated rules strengthen safety, clarify expectations, and reinforce accountability for everyone operating at Aurora State Airport.
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Aurora State Airport - User and Visitor Safety Training
ODAV has developed Safety Training to help users and visitors of the Aurora State Airport (UAO) understand the airport layout, identify hazards, and safely navigate the airfield environment.
The training highlights how to avoid entering the controlled Movement Area and Protected Area of the runway, helping prevent Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviations and Runway Incursions that can put people and aircraft at risk.
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New Airport Check-In Signs
We want to hear from you! During your next visit to a state airport, please keep an eye out for our new check-in signs. We have added the ability for pilots to “check-in” via text. Please tell us about your visit, share photos of your experience, let us know if there’s a condition or safety issue we need to be aware of, and help us understand how our state airports are being utilized. For some of our more remote airports with limited cell service, you can take a photo of the sign or write down the number and text us later!
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Winter Season
The Crescent Lake, McKenzie Bridge, Santiam Junction, and Toketee State Airports are closed seasonally from November 1st through May 1st. Other state airports may be closed temporarily via NOTAMs due to winter conditions. Because we do not report surface conditions at all 28 state airports, many state airports may remain open with unknown surface conditions or contaminants.
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At the February 5th State Aviation Board meeting, Alex Thomas, Planning, Policy & Programs Manager, and James Kirby of Century West Engineering presented a comprehensive update on Statewide Aviation Projects for 2025–2027. The presentation includes projects focused on enhancing safety, infrastructure, and economic development across the state’s airport system. Key efforts involve runway and taxiway rehabilitations, pavement maintenance programs, and modernization projects at airports such as Aurora, Mulino, and Siletz Bay.
Want to learn more?
You can view the full presentation and watch the meeting recording on the Oregon Department of Aviation’s website at www.oregon.gov/aviation under the State Aviation Board Meetings section.
Projects and Initiatives for 2026
We’re gearing up for several important aviation projects and initiatives throughout the year which includes:
- Rulemaking for violations and civil penalties for Vehicle / Pedestrian Deviations at the Aurora State Airport
- Rulemaking for Through-The-Fence at state airports
- Public involvement process for developing a state airport volunteer program
- Construction projects at several state owned airports
As we look ahead to next year, the ODAV is already hard at work preparing a full slate of construction and improvement projects across the state. Major efforts include the Oakridge Runway Reconstruction project, the Mulino waterline and hangar project, and surface seal projects at Joseph, Condon, Chiloquin, Lebanon, and Mulino. We’re also continuing our multi-year work on easement acquisition to support future obstruction removal projects at Aurora, Chiloquin, Joseph, and Mulino. These projects take years of planning and coordination before anything happens on the ground, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we keep things moving forward.
To receive the latest information, please sign up for airport specific outreach using the link below:
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Critical Oregon Airport Relief (COAR) Cycle 10 is Complete!
Oregon Department of Aviation is pleased to announce that on February 5 the State Aviation Board approved the 2026 COAR grant awards. Forty-five applications were approved for projects at thirty-one airports statewide. Total grant funding approved was $3.5M against total project costs of almost $97M. Projects include everything from pavement rehabilitation to AWOS and fuel system upgrades to hangar design and construction. The complete list of approved projects can be viewed HERE.
ODAV would like to extend a special thanks to the Aviation Review Committee and State Aviation Board members for all of their work to award the COAR grant funding to Oregon’s airports, and thank you to all who helped make this another successful grant cycle!
Information on the COAR program may be found on our website or by reaching out to COAR Program Coordinators at Grants@ODAV.oregon.gov.
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Maintenance
ODAV is raising the bar for airfield safety statewide. With new equipment purchased through SOAR funds, the Department can now tackle obstruction removal and airfield maintenance at a level that simply was not possible before.
For the first time, this work is being performed in-house, allowing for quicker response times, proactive hazard mitigation, and a stronger, more consistent level of service across all state-owned airports. The result is safer runways, safer approaches, and a safer operating environment for Oregon’s aviation community — all delivered in a highly cost-effective way.
At Oakridge State Airport (pictured above), ODAV staff recently completed a major obstruction removal effort that is already improving airfield safety. Prior to the work, the windsock was neither clearly visible to pilots nor able to properly catch the wind due to surrounding obstructions.
With those hazards now removed, the windsock is fully visible and functioning as intended — providing pilots with the reliable wind information they need for safe operations. This project is a clear example of how targeted, in-house efforts are making immediate, meaningful improvements across Oregon’s state airports.
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Next Board Meeting
The next State Aviation Board meeting will be taking place on Thursday, March 5th on TEAMS.
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(503)378-4880 
3040 25TH ST SE, Salem, OR 97302 
www.oregon.gov/aviation
