Airport Overview
Hillsboro Airport (KHIO) is one of three airports owned and operated by the Port of Portland and ranks as the second-busiest airport in Oregon behind Portland International. Located in the Silicon Forest tech corridor roughly 13 miles west of downtown Portland and just a few miles from downtown Hillsboro, it functions as the primary general-aviation reliever for the metro area and a major corporate and flight-training hub.
Runway Capability
The field's defining asset is its 6,600-foot primary runway (13R/31L) with ILS and PAPI. This length supports the full range of light, midsize, and super-midsize business jets, and the airport sees regular turbine and jet traffic alongside heavy piston and training volume. Heavy jets are possible but performance-limited; operators of ultra-long-range aircraft should run takeoff and landing numbers before committing.
FBOs & Ground Services
Three full-service FBOs compete here: Aero Air (24/7 staffing, the only round-the-clock FBO in the Portland metro), Global Aviation, and Hillsboro Aviation. All offer Jet-A, heated hangar space, and crew amenities. With three operators on the field, transient jet crews have genuine choice on fuel pricing, hangar availability, and handling.
Charter Considerations
Hillsboro is the practical westside choice for charter travelers headed to Beaverton, Hillsboro's tech campuses, or wine country, avoiding the congestion of PDX. The Jet Finder sources Part 135 aircraft positioned near KHIO and, for one-way trips, looks for jets repositioning through the Portland area to reduce empty-leg costs.
Customs & International Arrivals
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is available at HIO by prior arrangement only — there are no standing staffed hours, so international arrivals must call ahead (503-693-1069 or 503-326-3230) to schedule clearance. The Jet Finder coordinates eAPIS filing and CBP timing for international itineraries through KHIO.
Safety & Planning
The tower is staffed 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local; operations outside those hours are uncontrolled (CTAF). Because HIO carries heavy flight-training traffic in the pattern, jet crews should expect a busy environment and brief carefully. Noise-abatement procedures favor Runway 31L for departures, discourage use of the short 2/20 runway, and discourage nighttime training between 2200 and 0600.
Regional Context
Sitting in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Hillsboro enjoys generally manageable terrain and density altitude, but Pacific Northwest weather brings frequent low ceilings, marine-influenced fog, and steady rain from October through May — making the ILS on 13R/31L valuable. For aircraft or missions that exceed HIO's runway, Portland International (PDX) about 13 miles east handles every category of business jet with full-time customs.