History
The Beginning
In the early 1950s, Dr. Donald "Doc" Hull, an oral surgeon, established a dental program for the Texas Department of Corrections, Southern Region. He spent countless hours commuting across southeast Texas to provide dental care at prison units. In the early years, he operated aircraft out of South Houston and Sam Houston Airports until the development of Houston forced their closure. He vowed to build an airport that would never close. In 1952, Doc landed his biplane in a cow pasture near Sugar Land. Later that year, he purchased the pasture with a loan from a friend. Doc borrowed an old motor grader to clear the land so that he could seed a grass strip.
To advertise the opening of "Hull Field," he offered a prize to the
first airplane to land. To further develop the airport, Doc founded Hull
Aviation, a fixed-based operation that provided fuel, a flight school,
aircraft maintenance and sales.
Early Development
The airport continued to develop. In 1963, Doc built a 3,200-foot asphalt runway. In 1976, a parallel asphalt taxiway was completed. Two years later, after a trade with the TDC, the runway was lengthened to 4,475 feet. In 1984, more land was acquired from the TDC, and a new terminal and hangar facilities were built, with $1.8 million invested in the improvements.
Tilton Aviation, later known as Sugar Land Jet Center, moved onto the
field in the late 1980s as a maintenance facility. In 1985, the 100-foot
wide runway was lengthened to the current 8,000 feet of reinforced
concrete, giving the airport the claim of the smoothest landing surface
in the region. The taxiway was built with the same specifications as the
runway, giving it the ability to be used by large aircraft. While this
construction was underway, pilots had to land on an adjacent 50-foot
wide taxiway.
That same year, an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and high-intensity lighting were installed.
That same year, an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and high-intensity lighting were installed.
City of Sugar Land
In 1988, the City of Sugar Land took over negotiations for the purchase of the airport from Fort Bend County. On December 18, 1990, the City purchased the airport as a self-sustaining enterprise. The airport name was changed to Sugar Land Municipal Airport. The revenue generated by the City's owned and operated FBO continues to promote the controlled development of the airport.
From summer 1993 to early 1995, a small commercial airline provided service to the residents of Sugar Land , but financial difficulty forced the closure of the airline.
The airport was named the Outstanding Airport of the Year in 1995 by the FAA Southwest Region. In December 1996, a Master Plan was completed establishing minimum standards. In 1998, SOLAPP Avionics moved from Sugar Land Jet Center to the west side of the airport, and a new flight school, Sugar Land Aviation, opened on the northeast side. Houston Aviation, a general aviation aircraft maintenance facility, relocated to Sugar Land after the closing of Andrau Airpark. The Airport 5-year business plan was completed in January 1999 and updated in September 2005. This plan, under the direction of Aviation Director Phillip Savko, set a new direction for Sugar Land Municipal Airport as a corporate aviation center.
In 2001, the City added an 85-foot Air Traffic Control Tower.
The air traffic control tower was dedicated in August 2015 to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, for his years of dedication, contribution, and support to the Sugar Land Regional Airport. The air traffic control tower is named the Tom DeLay Air Traffic Control Tower.
The airport was named the Outstanding Airport of the Year in 1995 by the FAA Southwest Region. In December 1996, a Master Plan was completed establishing minimum standards. In 1998, SOLAPP Avionics moved from Sugar Land Jet Center to the west side of the airport, and a new flight school, Sugar Land Aviation, opened on the northeast side. Houston Aviation, a general aviation aircraft maintenance facility, relocated to Sugar Land after the closing of Andrau Airpark. The Airport 5-year business plan was completed in January 1999 and updated in September 2005. This plan, under the direction of Aviation Director Phillip Savko, set a new direction for Sugar Land Municipal Airport as a corporate aviation center.
In 2001, the City added an 85-foot Air Traffic Control Tower.
The air traffic control tower was dedicated in August 2015 to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, for his years of dedication, contribution, and support to the Sugar Land Regional Airport. The air traffic control tower is named the Tom DeLay Air Traffic Control Tower.