A Brief Look At Pangborn Memorial Airport
Pangborn Memorial Airport, located in Douglas County just east of East Wenatchee, has been in operations since 1941. The airport is named for area resident and pilot Clyde Pangborn who, along with his navigator Hugh Herndon, completed the first transatlantic flight in history. This historic flight began in Misawa, Japan and ended after 41 hours in the air in the Fancher Heights area above East Wenatchee.
Though located in another county and nearer to East Wenatchee, the airport was originally under the ownership of the City of Wenatchee. The first regular commercial service was provided by Northwest Airlines in 1945; currently Horizon Air services Pangborn Memorial Airport. In 1965, the City of Wenatchee transferred ownership of the airport to the Port of Chelan County. It wasn’t until 1974 that Douglas County was given 50% ownership in the airport that resides within its boundaries. Through its joint ownership agreement, Chelan County is responsible for all aviation services and Douglas County is responsible for management of the business park and all other non-aviation related facilities.
More items of note regarding Pangborn Memorial Airport:
• Flight service is available to Seattle’s SeaTac Airport, but no service is currently available to Spokane, Pasco or Portland.
• The current terminal building was completed in 1992.
• An instrument landing system was implemented and became operational in 2006.
• A recent Washington State Department of Transportation claims Pangborn Memorial Airport has 632 employees and contributes $47 million dollars to the local economy.
