FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg; Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa; and Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen. The three South Texas leaders on Monday, January 26, 2026, pose in front of a N824TX Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 31,000-square foot DPS Aircraft Operations Center at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg. The facility is that law enforcement agency’s largest DPS hangar in the state.
Photograph By JACQUELINE GUERRA
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Rep. Terry Canales, Sen. Juan Hinojosa, and Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa hail new $10.9 million DPS Hangar 5 as “a fortress of readiness that will house the guardians of our skies”
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
A new $10.9 million Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDOT) aircraft hangar – known as DPS Hangar 5 at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg – and is designed to improve border security, emergency response, and Texas aviation operations, is that law enforcement agency’s largest in the state, say Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa.
The City of Edinburg contributed more than $1 million to the project, Ochoa reported.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains a robust aviation division known as the Aircraft Operations Division (AOD). It is one of the largest airborne law enforcement units in the country, utilizing more than 25 aircraft – including helicopters and planes – for statewide air patrol, criminal surveillance and rescue operations.
Both state lawmakers and the mayor – along with Texas Transportation Commissioner Alejandro “Alex” G. Meade, III, Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra, and Precinct 4 Hidalgo County Commissioner Ellie Torres – were among the group of state, county and local leaders present on Monday, January 26, 2026 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 31,500-square-foot facility.
An aircraft hangar is a large building or structure, essentially a “garage for airplanes,” used to store, protect, maintain, repair, and assemble aircraft, shielding them from weather, sun, and theft, and providing space for necessary servicing.
“It really is an amazing feeling to see what we – the state legislative delegation, city, Texas Department of Transportation and community – have worked so hard to materialize into an actual metal and concrete structure, and to see the difference this is going to make for the people who are actually on the front lines,” Canales added. “It is the honor of my life to serve South Texas, but it is also an honor and a privilege to see what you can do when your community, your city and your senator (Hinojosa) are behind you.”
DPS Hangar 5 will house two helicopters and an airplane, and more than a dozen DPS employees will work there.
DPS Hangar 5 includes office space for pilots and staff, gear rooms, dining areas, and conference rooms, allowing crews to coordinate missions and response to emergencies without leaving the site. It is also the only DPS aviation facility to have full-time mechanics stationed on-site, significantly reducing aircraft maintenance delays.
“If you are serious about securing the border, you need to give our fighting men and women the right resources and right tools,” said Canales, who along with Hinojosa, helped secure the state funding for the state-owned DPS Hangar 5. “This new facility significantly enhances DPS aviation operations, strengthens border security efforts, and improves rapid response capabilities across South Texas and throughout the state.”
The Edinburg mayor called the facility “a fortress of readiness that will house the guardians of our skies.
“As we look here and admire DPS Hangar 5, let’s remember this is only one piece of a much larger puzzle, as this facility is a cornerstone of the South Texas International Airport at Edinburg’s comprehensive master plan – a bold strategy that envisions this airport not just as a transit point, but as a premier aviation hub for this region,” Ochoa said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is the state’s primary law enforcement and public safety agency, handling everything from highway patrol and major crime investigations (like terrorism, gangs and sex trafficking) to managing driver’s licenses, ID cards, and licenses to carry handguns, plus providing crucial forensic lab services and intelligence gathering for the entire state. Essentially, they protect Texans by enforcing laws, maintaining order and providing essential licensing services, working with local agencies to secure the state.
Ochoa expressed his appreciation for the successful efforts by Hinojosa and Canales on this major state resource.
“Special thanks to Sen. Hinojosa and Rep. Canales, and TxDOT Commissioner Alex Meade for their leadership and support in helping make this important project possible,” the mayor said. “This facility more than doubles DPS aviation capacity in the Valley, strengthening mission readiness, aircraft operations, and on-site maintenance for years to come.”
The construction of DPS Hangar 5 required teamwork and dedication, Hinojosa noted.
“With the support of Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), Chairs of the Senate Finance Committee, (House Transportation Committee) Chairman Terry Canales and I successfully secured more than $33 million in state funding for infrastructure investments at the South Texas International Airport during the past 10 years,” said Hinojosa. “Of this funding, $10.9 million has been allocated for the construction of this hangar.”
“If you look at the growth here in the Valley, it’s going through Edinburg,” Hinojosa emphasized. “It’s important that we invest in our infrastructure.
“I appreciate the hard work of TxDOT in designing and constructing this facility, as well as DPS for recognizing the importance of staging airplanes and helicopters in South Texas,” Hinojosa added. “Local support and collaboration are key. I am grateful for the leadership of the City of Edinburg, from former Mayor Ramiro Garza and the city council to the current mayor, Omar Ochoa, who understand the need for adequate space at the airport for these important assets.”
Meade, of Mission, who is Executive Vice President of Texas Regional Bank, was reappointed by Abbott on March 25, 2025 to the Texas Transportation Commission. He is one of five individuals who govern the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), setting policies for the planning, construction, and maintenance of the state’s massive highway system. They serve staggered six-year terms, select major projects for the 10-year Unified Transportation Program, approve contracts, and oversee aviation, rail, and public transportation, aiming to improve safety and mobility.
Previously, he served as the city manager for the City of Pharr, the CEO of the Mission Economic Development Corporation and on the Board of Regents for Texas Technical College System.
“The leadership in this room and before to focus on transportation and focus on aviation and on this FBO (Fixed Based Operator) is second-to-none,” Meade said. “In fact, I can tell you that 20 years I did economic development, Edinburg was always supporting and pushing to improve this airport, and that hasn’t changed.”
A Fixed Base Operator is a commercial business granted the right by an airport authority to operate on-site and provide essential services to general aviation, private jets, and corporate aircraft. Essentially acting as a private terminal, FBOs offer services like refueling, parking, hangar space, maintenance, and passenger lounges, serving as the main infrastructure for non-commercial aviation.
“Mayor, one of the things I’ve learned is aviation FBOs transportation is economic development. In fact, TxDOT is in the economic development business,” Meade explained. “We are not in the transportation business that many people think that we are.”
Other key leaders in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony included:
• DPS Regional Commander Art De La Garza;
• Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem David Salazar;
• Edinburg City Councilmember Daniel “Dan” Díaz;
• Edinburg City Councilmember Jason De León;
• Edinburg City Councilmember Gerardo “Gerry” Lozano;
• Edinburg City Manager Myra Ayala;
• Mercedes Mayor Óscar Montoya;
• Karina López, Assistant Executive Director, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation;
• Ronnie Larralde, Executive Director, Edinburg Chamber of Commerce; and
• Roxanne Lerma, Director of Communications and Media, City of Edinburg.
According to DPS leaders, DPS Hangar 5, in addition to border security, will also play a role in disaster response during severe weather events and provide aerial support during smuggling operations and high-speed pursuits. DPS Hangar 5 allows for more aircraft, more missions, more personnel in the Rio Grande Valley, including support for Operation Lone Star.
Operation Lone Star is a multi-billion dollar, joint mission launched by Gov. Greg Abbott in March 2021 to increase border security along the Texas-Mexico border. Utilizing Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety troopers, it aims to deter, arrest, and prevent illegal crossings, smuggling, and drug trafficking.
The South Texas International Airport (EBG) in Edinburg is undergoing a major master plan expansion to transform from a general aviation fuel stop into a premier cargo, corporate, and law enforcement hub.
In addition to DPS Hanger 5, other key initiatives include extending the runway to 7,600 feet, building a new terminal, and developing 550+ acres of land to support increased traffic and operations.
Other key components of the Master Plan (2025-2027) are:
• Runway Expansion and Infrastructure: Plans include extending the runway to 7,600 feet, along with drainage improvements and lighting upgrades.
• Safety & Security Upgrades: The plan for the new 31,500-square-foot hangar also includes improved fencing and access control.
• Terminal Modernization: A new terminal building is in the planning phase to handle increased capacity.
• Development Area: The Master Plan focuses on developing 300 to 600 acres on the south side of the runway for business and cargo-commercial use.
• Operational Growth: The South Texas International Airport at Edinburg is experiencing a 15 percent increase in operations, with based aircraft expected to rise to 40.
• The city has received more than $20 million in state grants (88th and 89th Legislature) for improvements, supported by local matching funds.
• The airport is positioned to become a key alternative to land-locked regional airports, with future plans potentially including a connection to the Donna Bridge for improved connectivity.
The city’s Department of Aviation operates and maintains South Texas International Airport in Edinburg, situated on 1,080 acres along I-69/US 281 at the north end of the city limits.
Throughout its 80-year history, Edinburg’s airport (its identifiers are EBG and KEBG) serves general aviation customers including law enforcement, military, medevac, flight instruction, international arrivals and departures, emergency responders, and commercial charter flights.
Aircraft that use South Texas International Airport at Edinburg range from single-engine trainers and commuters, to medium-lift helicopters, to large business jets such as the Gulfstream IV.
During 2026, runway 14-32 will be lengthened from 5,000 feet to 6,000 feet, ready to handle even larger aircraft already associated with Edinburg commerce, but meanwhile have had to use neighboring airports.
South Texas International Airport at Edinburg has aviation fuels 100LL and Jet-A+, serving international customers who can be cleared for entry by a U.S. Customs officers on site, as a swerve to such users
The video of the ribbon-cutting ceremony is available online at:
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