Landing Rights Airport in Weslaco

Weslaco, TX -   On December 1, 2009 the groundbreaking for the facility construction of the US Department of Homeland Security - Custom and Border Protection (CBP) Federal Inspection Service (FIS) general aviation processing facility at Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport took place.  This has come to fruition through the perseverance of the Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco over the past two years.

            With the estimated opening of the FIS facility in mid-2010, the airport will be designated by CBP as an “on-call” landing rights airport for the clearing of general aviation passenger aircraft that arrive from a foreign country.  Custom inspectors from Progreso International Bridge Port of Entry will provide the inspection service support to the airport’s new FIS.

            For the past two years the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Weslaco has been the driving force to secure foreign custom clearance for general aviation aircraft at Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport.   Ricardo Quintanilla, Chairman of a the EDC board states, “Having Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport designated as an “on-call” landing rights airport will attract additional general aviation activity from the Mexico interior, which will result in significant economic benefits to the region.”  The EDC is funding the design, construction and the equipment requirement for the FIS.

Congressman Hinojosa stated in a 2008 support letter to CBP, “For my many years in business I am well aware of how important good transportation and the ease of clearing customs from Mexico to Texas are to our local economic growth.  An efficient clearing system is essential at area airports.”     Other officials that wrote letters of support were Governor Rick Perry, US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Hidalgo Country Judge J.D. Salinas.