CONROE, Texas — Chennault Airfield (25TX), which will be the new home of Chennault Aviation Academy, is hosting its grand opening Nov. 16, 2023. The public is invited to the event and to tour the airfield, which is nearly completed with phase one of its development.
Phase one includes the completion of a 3,100-foot by 70-foot lighted runway, basic airport infrastructure, and the flight school main hangar.
The land was previously a crop duster dirt airstrip in the 1970s, but has been abandoned for several decades, according to officials, who note this is the first airfield to open in Texas since 2008.
The name Chennault was chosen in tribute to Lieutenant General Claire Chennault, who was the World War II leader of the famed Flying Tigers in China.
“The owners of the Chennault Aviation Academy wanted to…create a place for Chinese and American pilots to thrive,” officials said, noting one of the academy owners is of Chinese descent.
For more information: CAAirfield.com
FAA is no longer supporting secondary runways at airports – nationwide. Cities & counties can’t afford to rebuild crosswind runways on their own without federal funding.
Hello! This is a PRIVATE airport owned by China. This will be a “washing machine” with user fees. To be safe, you should learn Chinese’s. The ones who think this airport will be a benefit to U.S. aviation you need a check ride!
FLY U.S.A.
Hi Robert, I’ve been to Chennault Aviation Academy several times and haven’t heard a kick of Chinese, but rather a bunch of smart local kids that are well on their way to leading in to the aviation industry as excellent and safe pilots! Lord knows if that washing machine was rolling, there wouldn’t have been this big construction phase to begin with, so let’s keep our racist comments to ourselves, shall we? Shame on you, not Texas.
Communist Chinese? Shame on Texas for allowing this. Taiwan would be a different story, they are welcome.
OOOPS
I meant Conroe!!!!! NOT Conroy !!!!!!
Ann Holtgren Pellegreno
Claire Chenault and the Flying Tigers are revered by many in China, especially
those Chinese that know the history of World War 2. This Chinese benefactor is clearly trying to promote American values. Sad that many Americans don’t know more about a time when China and the US were allies. The Chinese first lady was educated in America and highly regarded in this country. It should be noted that this airport is named after a truly great aviator.
Hooray for Texas, other states should learn from you. Here in Michigan, Detroit mayor wanted to shut down the Detroit City Airport but now has revised his plans to shut down the smaller (Xwind) runway and carve out approx. 80 acres from the airport property for industry, “to bring in jobs”. This is the only land parcel he could find in all of Detroit to bring in jobs ….
Congratulations 🎊
How Wonderful, Your Dedication To An Awesome Aviator, Just Happened To Be Female 🚺 Please Excuse The Punn!
I Want To Know, Will Chennault Field Airport , Offer Field Trips, For Example: My Grandson, Special Needs?? Whenever We Fly, To New Orleans, He Has The Window Seat And Record The Beautiful ⛅.
June M Coston
Hate to disappoint you, but Lieutenant General Claire Chennaul was a man.
My local airport brings Chinese students in to do training and you occasionally hear them struggling to understand ATC since they barely speak English. I would NEVER want to operate out of any airport, let alone a CTAF field, with more than an occasional non-English speaker in the pattern.
Are you assuming that is what’s happening here, without actually looking in to it for yourself?
Should be.named for less confusion Conroe airpark this would give Conroe the recognition it deserves .
Good point. If you Google Chennault Airport, all you find is Chennault International Airport (KCWF) – Lake Charles, La. Maybe call it “Conroe AVG Memorial Field”.
Conroe already has an airport (CXO).
Wouahou! Lucky you in the US. We here in Europe can only dream about such a magnificient project decicated to G.A. with plenty of hangars and free airspace. Enjoy!
thought that was down in flood plain
Why did you look for the Chinese, that alone would keep me away from your airport, the Chinese about a farmland and everything else, and now they cannot buy any more farmland, so why feed the monster, there will be no more comments from me
I am very suspicious of anything connected to China of their true intentions. Why here ? Why not there?
Agree!
If you are suspicious, how about you go see it for yourself.
Many Americans come from many different descendants, and your race bainting or fearmongering over an aviation academy that is bringing in local students to be well trained and safe pilots in to the aviation community should be the least of your concerns.
A new airport opening is great news! Who cares if there is already an airport with that name, that’s why you have an identifier. Ignore the negative Nelly’s of the world. Best wishes in your endeavor.
Every state should open at least ONE new airport a year! If you build it, they will come!
Why do you make it about race ? Why not just pilots who love flying ? It was nice until I read that.
Americans of Chinese disent or PRC / Communist Chinese ?
I do not care about race but I do care a lot about people whom are grateful for and care about our Country.
Jeff B
I agree with Jeff!! I live in Conroe and happy about the new airport until I read about “Chinese pilots”. Could these Chinese be the same that are buying up farmlands and US businesses, sending in sleeper cells? Please comment.
Chinese communists cannot be trusted.
Well said Jeff. Indeed why not pilots who love flying? With everything going in in this world….his qualifying statement was not necessary.
Right on
Totally agree. That info just raised my antennae! China doesn’t need any more ways to steal from us.
How could there be confusion with the identifier 25TX.
You might consider calling it Clair Field at Conroy, Texas
Would anyone connect it immediately with Chennault Field, of which there would be two in the USA if this field is also named Chennault Field.
Ann Holtgren Pellegreno
It would really be confusing if it were Conroy. Conroe is in Texas, north of Houston. Conroy is in Iowa.
Where is Conroy, Texas? Is it close to Conroe?
Remember 9-11, student pilot’s , foreign. Just saying.
The vast majority of terror attacks are domestic,
Just saying.
You can’t fly for an airline as a student pilot.
You must not be a pilot.
Therefore, your statement here isn’t only in poor taste, but in utter ignorance as well.
In regard to the “mom & pops airport”…so what? Reading the article, it’s a flight training operation. Real issue – only 5 nm from CXO – how will this impact CXO traffic, and vice versa. With all the airports under fire these days, starting up a new one is always a good reason to celebrate.
After being on several flights from Chennault, I can tell you the CFIs and pilots attentively steer clear of the class D airspace that surrounds KCXO.
All of the aircraft are equipped with Garmin 650s to keep alert for traffic, as well as common frequencies between Chennault and Conroe are monitored.
There are several small airports surrounding Conroe, this one isn’t any more of an issue than the others.
Please, take the time to go check it for yourself. They are a very welcoming crowd and take great pride in their love for aviation, like the rest of us.
There is already a Chennault Field in Lake Charles, LA.
Could get confusing.
Really are you a pilot? They are t that close again that’s why each has an identifier.
So basically it’s a mom and pops airport not an international airport
Uhhh, what’s your point?