Chehalis–Centralia Airport

The area was first served by an airport during the early 1900s on the Borst family homestead located near the Skookumchuck River and present-day Fort Borst Park in Centralia.[3]

Chehalis–Centralia Airport began in 1927, when the Donahoe family sold Lewis County part of their 600 acres (240 ha) farm. Later that year, the plot was split, and dedicated 44 acres (18 ha) as an airstrip, and the rest to a golf course. In 1928, the county purchased an additional 50 acres (20 ha) to expand the airfield. By World War II, the airport covered 295 acres (119 ha), and became known as a city-county airport. During WWII, the federal government seized the airport, using it as a training facility for new pilots and a practice strip for Boeing bombers,[4] and also developed two 5,000 feet (1,500 m) runways. By 1960, the airport was given to its current owner, the city of Chehalis.[5]

In 2020, the airport was granted a loan through the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), with an estimated completion cost of $1.48 million, to construct two 12,000 gallon above-ground fuel storage tanks, with additional requirements towards environmental hazard mitigation, emergency preparedness, contamination control, and "cultural resource monitoring".[6][7]

The Aviation Division of WSDOT chose Chehalis–Centralia Airport in 2021 as one of six beta-test sites in Washington state to be used as an airfield for electric aircraft.[8] The same year, the airport was awarded $59,000 through the Airport Rescue Grant via the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic economic hardships.[9]

Chehalis–Centralia Airport covers 438 acres (177 ha), which contains one asphalt runway: 16/34 measuring 5,000 by 140 feet (1,524 m × 43 m).[12] Surrounded by a levee built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the airport also contains a endorheic lake, aptly named Airport Lake, at the northeast portion of the field.[10]

For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2011, the airport had 47,710 total operations, an average of 131 per day: 90% general aviation, 9% air taxi, and <1% military. There are 105 aircraft based at this airport: 81% single-engine, 5% multi-engine, 3% jet, 8% helicopter, 2% ultralight, and 2% glider. A master plan update in 2023 reported an annual operations total of approximately 50,000 flights and the airport was a base for 56 aircraft; over half the flight operations were listed as belonging to small business jets.[12]

As of 2022, the Chehalis–Centralia Airport is not served by a commercial airline, however, West Coast Airlines previously operated scheduled flights to Chehalis. Flights began after World War II and ceased by 1958.

The Lewis County Civil Air Patrol is stationed at the airport. Providing limited free instruction to people as young as 12 years old, the program offers a flight academy with a possibility to earn a pilot's license.[13] The airport also hosts a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Flying Start Program, a guidance course meant for adults over the age of 18. The half-day class provides free mentorship, a first flight, and instructions on how to continue flight training in the future.[14]

An annual event that coincides with the city's ChehalisFest celebration, the airport hosts free flights for children and teenagers. Referred to as "Young Eagle Flights", a chapter of the EAA, young flyers may even briefly handle the controls of the aircraft.[15]

The airport has been host as a layover stop for the Goodyear Blimp during trips along the West Coast. The blimp, visiting every few years, provides free tour flights while stationed at the field.[16]

Several businesses operate on airport land which is part of Chehalis' Twin City Town Center district. Economic reports from 2021[10] and 2022[11] specify that over 1100 jobs are supported by the airport and the shopping district, with over 500 additional positions of employment that are connected due to the existence of the airfield. The airport receives no annual tax stipend from the state, and is considered "financially self-sustaining", generating $1.2 million in tax revenue to Chehalis and Lewis County and an additional $7.8 million for Washington state.[4]

As of 2023, the 2018 levee pump build was estimated to have a return on investment of $39 for every $1 in construction cost, protecting approximately $45 million in property.[4]