News Articles on Hillsboro Airport Private Jet Hanger Development: Hillsboro NewsTimes and KATU2
"The median net worth of a full and fractional private jet owner is $190 million and
$140 million respectively. They represent 0.0008 percent of the global population. The jet-owning
oligarchy is overwhelmingly male, over the age of 50, and concentrated in the industries of banking,
finance, and real estate."
–Patriotic Millionaires and Institute for Policy
Studies, High Flyers,
May 2023 publication.
Hillsboro NewsTimes
An article by Nick LaMora, New Hillsboro Airport Private Jet Campus Propels Economic Hopes, Environmental Concerns, appeared in the 4/20/2025 edition of the Hillsboro NewsTimes.
Below are excerpts from the article:
Plans are moving forward for a $45 million, 13-acre business hangar campus at Hillsboro Airport – one of the largest proposed developments at the site in a decade and part of what the Port of Portland describes as a step toward making Hillsboro economically self-sustaining.
But while the Port touts the project as an economic win, environmental advocates argue it would do more harm than good – benefiting an affluent few at the expense of the community and the environment.
On Wednesday, April 9, the Port of Portland Commission approved a 35-year ground lease agreement, with an optional 10-year extension, with HIO Development LLC to transform vacant land at Hillsboro Airport into a private campus for corporate and general aviation jet travel.
The article included the following from testimony submitted by this writer in opposition to the action:
During public testimony, environmental advocate Miki Barnes, founder of Oregon Aviation Watch, urged commissioners to reject the lease, warning the project would fuel pollution and carbon emissions to serve a select few.
"This proposal will primarily serve the millionaire and billionaire class of high flyers whose lavish travel habits and lifestyles will further degrade the public health, environment and biological diversity in Washington County," Barnes said.
She argued the expansion would compound "noise, lead emissions and toxic pollution" already affecting neighborhoods near the airport due to flight schools, private aircraft and other general aviation traffic.
"At a crucial juncture in the history of this planet – when many Oregonians are making a concerted effort to reduce their carbon footprint by driving less, using public transit, bicycling, walking and supporting high-speed rail options – the Port of Portland, rather than advocating for a significant reduction in air traffic, is promoting aviation growth and expansion on behalf of a wealthy few," Barnes said.
KATU2 News
In addition, a 4/13/2025 story on this development by Victor Parks aired on KATU2 News, Major Expansion at Hillsboro Airport Draws Mixed Response.
Excerpts from the KATU report appear below:
The new hangars will be occupied by Sky Harbour, an aviation infrastructure development company.
According to its website, Sky Harbour is "building the first nationwide network of Home-Basing Solutions ('HBS') for business aircraft." The company "develops, leases and manages general aviation hangars across the United States, targeting airfields in the largest growth markets with significant aircraft populations and high hangar demand."
HIO is already home to hangars belonging to major companies like Nike and hosts the Hillsboro Aero Academy, one of the largest airplane and helicopter schools in the country.
Alaska Airlines also has an academy at the airport.
It is important to bear in mind that General Aviation (GA) airports in Oregon and across the country are chronically reliant on government hand-outs for capital improvements, runway maintenance, and routine operating costs. The Hillsboro Airport is dependent on federal, Port and state grants. What this means is that wealthy private jet owners, charter jet companies, flight schools, recreational and private pilots are heavily subsidized by U.S. residents who don't even use these facilities.
At a 10/9/2024 Port Commission meeting, Steve Nagy, Director of Airport Operations for the Port and member of the Oregon Department of Aviation board, provided an overview of the Hillsboro Airport during which he acknowledged that most GA airports in Oregon and across the country, operate in the red. "On average, the Port's GA airports roughly break even on operating revenue before depreciation...Port airports do not generate enough income to cover capital investments. Generally, capital investments are funded by a mix of FAA grants with matching Port funds from PDX activities."
As a result of annual revenue shortfalls, HIO often relies on funding from the Port Cost Center generated from PDX parking and rental car fees to cover expenses. Nagy estimated that over the past 25 years, the FAA and Port have invested around $180 million for infrastructure at HIO, "about $40 million of that has come just in the past 9 years." During his presentation, Nagy pointed out that there are currently 50 jets located at HIO.
A link to the 10/09/2024 Port Commission meeting is available here. Nagy's report starts at the 34 minute mark of the recording. His comments on HIO financing begin at the 49 minute mark. Additional discussion on HIO financing occurs during the Q&A session with the commissioners starting at around the 55 minute mark.
The following is an excerpt from an article on average residential lot sizes, How Many Homes Can Fit on an Acre of Land?
Lot size plays a major role in how many houses can be built on an acre of land. Here are some common scenarios:
- Suburban single-family homes: The average lot size in the U.S. is around 0.2 to 0.5 acres, meaning two to five homes could fit on an acre.
- Compact residential lots: In denser suburban developments, lots may be 0.1 acre or less, allowing six to ten homes per acre.
- Townhouses and multi-family units: Townhouses and duplexes can increase density, with 10–20 units per acre in some developments.
- Apartment buildings: In high-density urban areas, an acre of land could support multi-story apartment complexes with 50+ units, depending on building height restrictions.
This information indicates that if approved for residential development, the following could be built on 13 acres:
- 26 to 65 single family suburban homes
- 78 to 130 compact residential lots
- 130 to 260 townhouses or multi-family units
- 650 50-unit apartment buildings
Parks, schools, community gardens, bird sanctuaries and a host of other options could also be constructed on this acreage. But instead of repurposing this land to better serve the needs of the local community, the Port commissioners approved luxury hangars for wealthy private jet owners. Sadly, this decision is very much in keeping with the Port's unsavory history of degrading the livability, environment and quality of life of local residents while catering to out of state profiteers intent on promoting their interest over and above the greater good.
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