A 9,550 by 100 foot runway on about 170 acres sets the scale of the buildings that make sense at the Dona Ana County International Jetport. The county-owned field (KDNA) lies about 4 miles northwest of Santa Teresa at 4,113 feet elevation, and we build hangars, aprons, shops and small industrial buildings for the operators who use it. A long runway and open ground are the starting point for aviation work that does not fit at a smaller field.
A $9 million renovation of the Jetport was completed in 2020, and the airport lists 130 based aircraft in the 12 months ending April 8, 2023. Its tenants include a flight academy, an air museum, an experimental aircraft chapter and a skydiving operation, with a fixed-base operator serving visitors. That mix is mostly general aviation, with room for aerospace-related companies that want a quiet field close to the border corridor.
We build the physical side of that mix: pre-engineered steel hangars with large doors, concrete aprons and taxilane connections, shops for maintenance and modification work, and flex buildings next door. Our approach is to start with the aircraft and the activity inside, then fit the building and the site around them.
Hangar work depends on three things we do through trade partners: the slab, the steel and the door. A hangar slab carries aircraft weight and tug loads, and it needs a flat surface with proper drainage so that fluid spills run to a drain. Our concrete trade partners place it with the thickness and reinforcement the design calls for, and they cut joints on time so that cracks form where we intend.
Our steel trade partners erect the frame and frame the door opening, which is the most complex part of the building. A large hangar door carries high wind loads and needs a header and jambs that are stiff enough to keep it moving smoothly. We coordinate the door supplier early and verify the opening dimensions before the frame goes up. When the building is done, the structural steel erection trade partner can also set mezzanines or a shop crane if the operation needs them.
The Jetport sits near Santa Teresa, where the border corridor shapes the local economy. Companies that move freight, parts or people across the border sometimes want a field where they can base an aircraft, store a spare, or put a small shop. Owners in advanced manufacturing with cross-border plants also use general aviation for visits between sites.
Not every operator needs a large building. Individual owners often want a box hangar for one aircraft, and flight schools want a shop and storage. We build to that range and lay out the lot so that a second or third hangar can be added without moving utilities. Operators comparing fields can also look at the Las Cruces International Airport, and we price work at both.
A box hangar is a rectangular steel building with a single door, a concrete floor and electrical service. It is the simplest and most common building here. A larger hangar adds a clear-span frame, a heavier door, fire protection and offices. Our aircraft hangar construction covers each of these and prices them separately, so you can see what a larger door or a fire system adds.
Beside the hangars, operators sometimes want a flex building with a shop, storage and offices. These buildings can serve avionics, parts, sensors and small assembly work, and the same shell can be divided among tenants. We design them with a clear height and power that suit light manufacturing, and we locate them on the landside, away from the movement areas.
A rural airport has few services, so materials, crew and equipment come from a distance. We plan deliveries in bundles, stage materials at the site and order long-lead items early. Steel, doors and electrical gear have the longest lead times, and we place those orders as soon as the design is approved.
Weather also plays a part. Hot summers limit when we can place concrete and paving, and storms can interrupt earthwork. We schedule slab pours for the early morning and keep float in the grading schedule. When the tenant needs the hangar by a certain date, we tell them in preconstruction whether the date is realistic and what the options are.
The door is often the biggest single line. A bi-fold or hydraulic door can cost more than any other component, and a wider opening raises the cost of the frame. Fire suppression is the next item, and its requirement depends on the hangar size and use. Then come the slab, the electrical service and the apron.
Our site utilities package covers power, water and communications to the site, and it can be a large share of the budget at a rural field. We ask early whether the airport has capacity on the lot, how far the lines run and who pays for what. An honest number in preconstruction avoids a hard conversation later.
Even at a small airport, aircraft may land or taxi near the work area. We coordinate with the airport manager before mobilizing, agree on haul routes, mark restricted areas and keep construction equipment below height limits. Every worker is briefed, and a spotter watches for aircraft when we work near a movement area.
Security matters too. We register crews, control access to the lot and keep tools and materials secure. When the project ends, we remove temporary fencing and restore the area, and we walk the apron to remove debris that could harm an aircraft.
Send us the aircraft, the activity inside the building and the lot you have in mind. We will return a layout, a utility plan and a budget range.
Size depends on your aircraft, the lot and the airport's layout standards. The runway is 9,550 feet long, so the field can handle a wide range of aircraft, subject to the airport's own rules, and there is room for larger hangars. We work from your wingspan and tail height to set the door and clear height.
Often, depending on size, use and the code. The state's commercial building code governs it. We bring a fire protection designer into the project early and price the system as a separate item so you can see the cost.
Yes. A shop can be an attached bay, a second building or a mezzanine inside the hangar. We design it with the right power, ventilation and floor drains for your work.
The field is about 4 miles northwest of Santa Teresa, so it is close to the border logistics area. We can also compare it with sites closer to the line for operators whose business is cross-border.
We ask the airport and the serving utilities about capacity, distances and costs at the start. If lines must be extended, we include them in the budget and the schedule. Power is usually the long-lead item.