From Jesse Kurth, Tower Manager:

Runway incursions remain a serious concern nationally. One important component of our ongoing efforts to improve surface safety at San Marcos Airport involves conducting a Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT) meeting at least once each year. In conjunction with airport management, we will be conducting a local RSAT meeting on October 23, 2025. The meeting is scheduled at 0800, and will be held 4400 Airport Hwy 21 San Marcos, TX 78666.

The purpose of this RSAT meeting is to unite those individuals and organizations that are actively involved in air traffic operations and movement of aircraft, vehicles and equipment on the Airport Operations Area (AOA). We look for participation from all major airport interests including tenants, fixed base operators, airport operations and maintenance personnel. Participants are asked to help develop recommendations and solutions to enhance surface safety. Those recommendations serve as the foundation for a site-specific Runway Safety Action Plan. You are cordially invited to join us.

Your participation is important and your input is welcomed. Please RSVP to Jesse at HYI@rvainc.com. Include the name, organization, phone number and email address of those who will be attending.

If you have questions or need more information, please let me know. I can be reached via email.

As part of our ongoing improvements at San Marcos Regional Airport, we are implementing a new ramp parking policy. The map above shows the updated layout, including future taxilanes, designated transient parking, and commercial lease areas.

FAA Grant for New Taxilanes

The airport has received an FAA grant for the construction of seven dedicated taxilanes running perpendicular to Taxiways Alpha and Charlie. The project is currently under design, with construction anticipated to begin next year. In the meantime, we are beginning to utilize these corridors now, with all aircraft parking directed to the areas between them. This approach will help concentrate ramp repairs and taxiing activity in dedicated areas, improving safety and efficiency across the field. We will share more details and timelines as they become available.

Commercial Operator Leases

We have already executed parking agreements with most of our commercial operators, highlighted in red on the map. A few additional agreements are still in progress, but the majority of the ramp space has now been formally leased.

Next Steps for Individual Aircraft Owners

After all commercial parking spaces have been finalized, we will begin reaching out to individual aircraft owners. At that time, based aircraft tenants will have the opportunity to either update their existing reserved tie-down agreement or enter into a new one. Transient parking remains available at no cost in the area shown in green on the map.

These changes mark an important step in organizing ramp use, ensuring fairness across tenants, and supporting the airport’s continued growth.

The airport is entering a period of significant growth in flight training operations. Coast Flight is expanding its fleet and student load through its partnership with Texas State University, while US Aviation is preparing to launch a U.S. Air Force cadet training program. By the end of the year, we anticipate an additional 50+ training aircraft on the field as these programs ramp up.

Although the exact number of additional operations is not yet known, the increase will be substantial. We have been discussing this activity in both the Airport Safety Group and Airport Advisory Board meetings, and we’ve also held numerous meetings with local flight schools and Austin TRACON to prepare for the impact.

As part of this effort, the flight schools are developing new arrival and departure procedures as well as updated training area assignments. Once finalized, these will be shared with the airport community.

Safety remains our number one priority, and we are committed to ensuring that this growth is managed in a way that supports training while maintaining safe and efficient operations for all users.

A new wastewater line will soon be installed on airport property. While the project is being privately constructed, the line will be available to support future airport development.

Work is anticipated to begin the week of October 14th.

Construction crews and equipment will remain outside all Taxiway Object Free Areas and will not operate on paved surfaces. When work occurs within the Runway 13 Protection Zone, the tower will coordinate temporary daytime closures. Runway 13 will be reopened each evening. Crews will move quickly through this portion of the project to minimize impacts.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as this work is completed and will continue to prioritize keeping disruptions to a minimum.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent tenant airshow meeting. We had a productive discussion, and your feedback and questions are helping us prepare for a safe and successful event.

In the next couple of weeks, we will be sending out a special newsletter dedicated to outlining event procedures, access details, and operational impacts. Please keep an eye on your inbox for that update.

In the meantime, if you have specific questions, we encourage you to reach out directly to the airshow promoters. This is especially important if you are a commercial operator who anticipates maintaining normal operations during the event weekend.

We appreciate your continued partnership and look forward to keeping everyone informed as we move closer to the show.

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San Marcos' newest airshow is coming this November and tickets are on sale NOW!

The show, brought to you by Wings & Warriors, a 501(c)(3), will feature the USAF F-22 Raptor, US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, USAF C-17, and many others.

Visit www.texascapitalairshow.com for all the latest information and to purchase tickets!