New plans for North Las Vegas Airport aim to change runways after deadly 2022 crash

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - A major overhaul of the North Las Vegas Airport is about to get underway. This comes after a deadly midair crash between two planes in 2022 and the demand for more aviation options in Southern Nevada with major events like the Superbowl and F1.

On July 17, 2022, two single-engine aircraft collided over the airport. Two people were on board each aircraft, all four died.

Then, in November 2022, a single-engine Cessna struck a hovering helicopter after landing.

The FAA sent pilots who use the airport a letter and held a meeting expressing safety concerns especially with the runways.

In May of 2023, the North Las Vegas Airport began strategizing changes and modernization. That Master Plan now in the final stages of approval. Currently, the airfield is laid out with two parallel runways and a cross runway. In the future, a longer and wider primary runway could replace the current one with more separation between runways.

“I have taught hundreds of people to fly and North Las Vegas is by far the most dangerous airport I’ve ever operated out of,” Will Bradley, an active flight instructor and a retired Army Reserve Colonel and Safety Specialist who flies in and out of North Las Vegas told FOX5. Bradley says changes can’t come soon enough.

“As instructor, my time is divided between teaching the student, giving them good quality instruction, and looking out for these other hazards. So, I’ve moved my students down to Henderson Airport, which I think is a lot safer environment,” Bradley contended.

The NTSB just released their final report earlier this month for that deadly crash back in summer 2022. The report says pilot error, (one aircraft lining up for landing the wrong runway), controller mistakes, and controller staffing shortages were contributing factors of the accident.

FOX5 reached out to the airport Monday afternoon to find out when is the Master Plan. Here is what the airport shared with us:

Q1. When is the final Master Plan expected to be released?

A1. The Airport Layout Plan (ALP) and the Master Plan Report drafts are being finalized and will be sent to the FAA for review. The ALP is the only document that is required to be approved by the FAA; the Master Plan Report is submitted to supplement the information in the ALP. Once the ALP is reviewed and approved by the FAA then the final version of the Master Plan Report will be published to the public. There is currently a draft version of the Master Plan Report on the North Las Vegas Airport Website here: https://vgt.airportstudy.net/.

Q2. Can the public still weigh in?

A2. There are no additional public comment periods scheduled for the Master Plan Report. We held public comment workshops on June 28, 2023, September 13, 2023, March 28, 2024, and December 12, 2024.

After approval of the ALP, an Environmental Study will have to be completed; a public comment period will be required for the Environmental Study.

Q3. What is the timeline for construction to begin/ be completed?

A3. The project is currently in the planning phase, and several key steps must be completed before construction can begin. These include obtaining further approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP), finalizing and adopting the Master Plan Report, and completing an environmental study. The timeline for these steps will vary, as both the FAA approval process and the environmental study can vary.

Q4. What else should the public know?

A4. Aviation forecasts are predicting continued growth for the Clark County Department of Aviation (CCDOA). As Clark County continues to welcome an increased number of visitors into Harry Reid International Airport, there has also been increased demand in the general aviation community with regard to private hangar development and operator services. As a result, a needs assessment of existing and future general aviation services was appropriate.

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