Overview & Role
Aurora State Airport (KUAO) is the busiest general aviation airport in Oregon and a key reliever for the Portland metro area, sitting about one mile northwest of Aurora and roughly 20 miles south of downtown Portland in the Willamette Valley. Owned and operated by the Oregon Department of Aviation, the field is home to major aviation employers including Van's Aircraft and Columbia Helicopters, alongside heavy flight-training, corporate, and business-jet activity.
Runway Capability
A single asphalt runway, 17/35, provides 5,004 feet by 100 feet. That length supports turboprops and the light-jet fleet — Phenom 300, Citation CJ-series, Citation XLS — with confidence, and many midsize jets under favorable conditions. Operators of super-midsize and heavy jets should calculate balanced field length carefully, as 5,004 feet limits full-payload operations for the largest cabin classes.
Tower & Airspace
Unlike many GA relievers, Aurora is a towered field. The control tower (and CTAF) operates on 120.35 daily from 0700 to 2000 local; outside those hours the airport reverts to non-towered procedures. RNAV (GPS) approaches serve both runway ends. The combination of tower control and heavy mixed traffic — training aircraft, helicopters, turboprops, and jets — makes vigilance and standard pattern discipline important.
FBOs & Ground Services
Three FBOs operate at Aurora: Aurora Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, and Willamette Aviation. Jet-A and 100LL are available on field, and Atlantic in particular caters to corporate and private jet traffic with hangars and an executive lounge. Customs and Border Protection services are not available at Aurora; international itineraries must clear at a designated port of entry such as Portland International (PDX).
Charter Considerations
Aurora is an efficient private-aviation gateway to the south Portland metro, Wilsonville, Salem, and the northern Willamette Valley wine region, avoiding airline terminal congestion at PDX. Ground transfer to downtown Portland runs roughly 30–40 minutes depending on I-5 traffic. The Jet Finder sources FAA Part 135 aircraft matched to the 5,004-foot runway and coordinates ramp-side ground transportation.
Safety & Planning
Plan around tower hours when scheduling early-morning or late-evening departures, and brief the published noise abatement flight tracks, which are voluntary but actively encouraged given the noise-sensitive residential communities surrounding the field. Willamette Valley weather brings frequent low ceilings, fog, and rain from October through May, so IFR capability and current approach minimums should be confirmed before each operation.
Regional Context
Aurora anchors a cluster of Willamette Valley fields. Portland International (PDX) is the nearest air-carrier and customs airport, while Hillsboro (HIO) and Portland-Troutdale serve as additional metro relievers. For trips weighted toward Salem and the state capital, McNary Field (SLE) is a nearby alternative. Aurora's central valley location and full FBO services make it the preferred private-jet entry point for the corridor between Portland and Salem.