About Denton Enterprise Airport

The Denton Enterprise Airport (DTO) is owned and operated by the City of Denton, Texas. DTO is considered a “National” airport according to the National Plan of Integrated Airports Systems (NPIAS), and as such, it serves a vital role in accommodating all forms of general aviation traffic including corporate aviation, flight training, emergency medical flight services, charter flights, and recreational flying, among many others. DTO is situated on over 928 acres of property located approximately three miles west from downtown Denton. In terms of economic impact, a study sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in 2018 found that the Denton Enterprise Airport supports 1,435 jobs, $45.8 million in annual payroll, and $156.3 million in total economic impact to the local economy. The Denton Enterprise Airport is a vital infrastructure component that supports economic development and quality of life for residents in and around the City of Denton.

About the Master Plan

An Airport Master Plan is a document that helps to guide the direction of public use airports, such as Denton Enterprise Airport, by looking at factors such as:

  • Current and potential future demand
  • Efficiency and safety of airport operations
  • Land use on and around the airport
  • Future growth and ways to generate revenue.

It is a proactive document that identifies and then plans for future facility needs to ensure that airport management can coordinate project approvals, design, financing, and construction to avoid experiencing detrimental effects due to inadequate facilities.

The ultimate goal of the study is to provide systematic guidelines for the airport’s overall maintenance, development, and operation, all while taking into consideration the community it serves.

  • A comprehensive, long-range study of the airport and all air and landside components that describes plans to meet FAA safety standards and future aviation demand.
  • Recommended by the FAA to be conducted every 7-10 years to ensure plans are up-to-date and reflect current conditions and FAA regulations. The last Master Plan for DTO was completed in 2015.
  • Funded by the FAA through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides 90% of the total project costs. The remaining 10% is funded by the City of Denton.
  • A City of Denton document that will ultimately be presented for approval to the City Council. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the FAA approve only the Airport Layout Plan (ALP drawing set).
  • An opportunity for airport stakeholders and the general public to engage with airport staff on issues related to the airport and its current and future operations, and environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Up to four (4) public information workshops will be conducted throughout the Master Plan process to facilitate this public outreach effort.
  • A guarantee that the airport will proceed with any planned projects. Master Plans are guides that help airport staff plan for future airport development; however, the need/demand for certain projects might never materialize.
  • A guarantee that the City of Denton, TxDOT, or the AIP will fund any planned projects. Project funding is considered on a project-by-project basis and requires appropriate need and demand. Certain projects may require the completion of a benefit-cost analysis.
  • Environmental clearance for specific projects. The Master Plan includes an environmental overview that identifies potential environmental sensitivities per the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) guidelines. Most planned projects will require a separate NEPA study (environmental impact statement/environmental assessment/categorical exclusion) prior to construction.
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Schedule

Master Plan Documents

Draft chapters will be posted as the study progresses. Files will be in PDF format and available for download and print.

Documents Available for Download

Download Draft PDF
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Public Involvement

The approach to involve the community is multi-faceted. The Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group of airport stakeholders who have been asked to volunteer their time to aid in the development of the Master Plan. The PAC will be convened for four (4) meetings to review draft chapters as developed by the consultant team. The same draft chapters made available to the PAC will be posted to this project website.

There will also be four (4) public information workshops during the study process. The workshops will be conducted in an open-house format where the public can visit with the project team and ask any questions they may have related to the project. The workshops are typically scheduled in the early evening to allow those heading home from work to stop by or to allow others to come after the dinner hour. The date and time of the workshops will be advertised locally and posted on this project website.

Draft chapters of the master plan report will be posted to this dedicated project website so that anyone can learn about the study process and review and comment on the draft material during the study. All community members are encouraged to engage in the process and provide comments to the project team. Interested parties can also utilize the ‘Comment’ feature on this project website. Direct communication with the project managers via phone or email is also acceptable, and their contact information is listed in the ‘Contact Us’ section at the bottom of this website.

View Past Meetings
Denton Control tower and plane at dusk with blue strip
Planes in sky leaving smoke trails

Frequently Asked Questions

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