Runway Safety Concerns Raised at Aurora State Airport

This document interprets key safety considerations for Aurora State Airport (UAO) based on chart information. It emphasizes the importance of runway incursion clearance and details communication frequencies, navigational facilities, and runway information. The aim is to provide clear operational guidance for pilots and related personnel to ensure flight safety. It highlights critical aspects for pilots operating at UAO, focusing on preventing runway incursions and ensuring adherence to established procedures. Understanding these details is crucial for safe and efficient flight operations at the airport.

Imagine a bustling airport where pilots prepare for takeoff while ground crews busily direct aircraft movement. Yet a single oversight or miscommunication could lead to a catastrophic runway incursion. At Aurora State Airport (UAO), aviation safety leaves no room for error. This article provides operational guidance based on published airport chart information.

Airport Overview & Geographical Data

Aurora State Airport (UAO), located in Aurora, Oregon, sits at an elevation of 200 feet. The magnetic variation is 14.7° East, decreasing westward at 0.1° annually (data current through January 2025). Runway 17-35 measures 5,003 feet long and 100 feet wide, with threshold elevations of 196 feet (Runway 17) and 200 feet (Runway 35). Geographic coordinates span N45°14.5'-45°15.0' and W122°46.0'-122°45.5'.

Critical Safety Notice: Runway Crossing Procedures

Airport charts prominently display the warning: "Caution: Exercise extreme vigilance regarding runway crossing clearances. Full readback of all hold short instructions is mandatory." This underscores that any runway crossing requires explicit authorization, with complete verbal confirmation by pilots or ground personnel to prevent hazardous misunderstandings—the airport's paramount safety requirement.

Communication Frequencies & Services

Tower (TWR): 118.525 MHz
Ground Control (GND CON): 120.35 MHz
Clearance Delivery (CLNC DEL): 119.15 MHz
ATIS: Refer to Chart NW-1 (valid December 25, 2025 - January 22, 2026)
Unicom: 119.95 MHz (when tower is closed)

Navigation Facilities

While the airport chart marks waypoints A1 through A5, it doesn't specify their types or frequencies. Pilots must consult current NOTAMs and aeronautical charts for updated navigation data before flight operations.

Runway Gradient Information

Runway 17-35's slope notation "S-30, D-45" indicates elevation changes—likely a 30-foot descent from the 17 to 35 end, with a 45-foot centerline differential. Pilots must account for these gradients during takeoffs and landings.

Operational Recommendations

Flight safety at Aurora State Airport fundamentally depends on strict adherence to runway crossing protocols. Precise communication, accurate instruction readbacks, and thorough familiarity with airport topography are essential. Pilots must meticulously review airport diagrams, obtain current NOTAMs, and follow all prescribed procedures.

Airport authorities should conduct regular safety training, enhance runway management protocols, and maintain up-to-date aeronautical publications to ensure operational accuracy.