David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH)
David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport is a medium sized, primarily GA airport near the city of Tomball in unincorporated Harris County, Texas. It is located about 23 miles northwest of Houston's central business district and about 10 miles northwest of George Bush International Airport in Houston. The airport has two parallel hard surface runways and a complex system of taxiways. View a printable Pilot Handbook of the DWH information found on this Web page.
Know Before You Go
- Airport configuration consists of parallel and staggered RWYS 17R/35L AND 17L/35R.
- In addition to these two hard-surfaced RWYs, there is a seaplane landing area labeled 17W/35W.
- A complex TWY system connects all parts of the airport.
- Adding to this complexity are the shared-use TWYs that accommodate both vehicular traffic as well as aircraft.
- Numerous flight schools are based at the airport.
- Several ramp parking areas, rows of aircraft hangars, business hangars and hangar-homes line the east side of the airport.
- With parallel and staggered RWYS, landing on the wrong RWY is an issue.
- RWY 17L/35R is less than half the size of RWY 17R/35L, making pilots fixate on the first RWY that becomes visible.
- Hot Spot 1 concerns aircraft taxiing from any of the ramp areas to RWY 17R via TWY C. Aircraft have taxied across the RWY 17R/35L Hold Short Line on TWY C without clearance. The short distance between ramps A and B and RWY 17R/35L may be a factor.
- Hot Spot 2, locally known as the “Triangle”, is known to cause confusion due to the complexity of the pavement found at this location.
- Hot Spot 3 – is located at the intersection of RWY 15R/35L and TWY E. Wrong direction intersection takeoffs have occurred here.
- Hot Spots 4 and 5 – The dimensions of TWY F and RWY 17L/35R are similar and the distance between TWY F and both hard surface RWYs is minimal. Aircraft rolling out on RWY 17R and instructed to turn left at either TWY G or TWY H then left turn on TWY F have missed the turn onto TWY F and rolled onto RWY 17L/35R.
- Hot Spot 6 highlights the potential for pilots, taxiing south bound on TWY K, to miss the RWY Hold Short markings for RWY 17L, causing a runway incursion.
- Approach Hold markings for the seaplane landing area on TWY J and N are in a non-movement area but still needs to be adhered to when restricted by Ground Control.
Below find various DWH-specific information and things to be aware of, as well as general information to inform your preflight planning. This will be reviewed quarterly and updated as needed. This information is to supplement the From the Flight Deck Videos that are produced by the FAA Runway Safety Group. Here you will also find information provided by the local air traffic controllers at the airport where you intend to fly. The information is subject to change. Not for navigation or legal* pre-flight action. Always refer to official pre-flight materials such as, but not limited to, NOTAMs, airport diagrams, VFR charts and airport construction notices for the latest airport-specific details.
DWH Tower Administrative Office
Business Phone 281-376-9721
Business Hours: Open 0600 to 1600 – Monday through Friday
Tower Operational Hours: Open 0700 to 2200 daily
The airspace at DWH is Class D with a ceiling up to but not including 2,000’ MSL. It underlies IAH Class B airspace. (Refer to Sectional Chart)
Class D Airspace Requirements (CFR §91.129 and AIM 3-1-4; 3-2-5)
| Visibility | 3 statute miles |
| Distance from Clouds | 500 feet below | 1,000 ft above | 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Communications | Establish communications (controller response) |
| Pilot | No special certification required |
| Equipment | Two-way radio |
Class B Airspace Requirements (CFR §91.131 and AIM 3-1-4; 3-2-3)
| Visibility | 3 statute miles |
| Distance from Clouds | Clear of clouds |
| Communications | Must obtain ATC clearance prior to entering/departing |
| Pilot | Private Pilot Certificate (see AIM for alt requirements) |
| Equipment | Two-way radio, operable transponder with automatic altitude reporting and ADS-B Out |
Hot Spots
- HS 1 RWY Incursion Risk– Ramp accessible to inadequately trained drivers; Inadequate signage leaving ramp.
- HS 2 RWY Incursion Risk– Complex TWY Intersection near RWY 17L.
- HS 3 RWY Incursion Risk– Previous Incursions occurring TWY E at RWY 17R–35L.
- HS 4 RWY Incursion Risk – Intersection of TWY G and RWY 17L–35R. Aircraft exiting RWY 17R–35L at TWY G sometimes fail to turn onto TWY F and enter RWY 17L–35R without a clearance.
- HS 5 RWY Incursion Risk – Intersection of TWY H and RWY 17L–35R. Aircraft exiting RWY 17R–35L at TWY H sometimes fail to turn onto TWY F and enter RWY 17L–35R without a clearance.
- HS 6 RWY Incursion Risk – Incursions occurring on TWY K at RWY 17L.
Departure
- Verify proper heading prior to starting takeoff roll on all intersection departures.
Landing
- Wrong Surface Landing risk exists due to closely spaced parallel RWYs and staggered thresholds. Verify that you are landing on your “cleared” RWY.
- RWY 17R/35L is larger and is noticeably visible prior to RWY 17L/35R.
- TWY F can be mistaken for RWY 17L/35R – check your airfield diagram.
Surface Risk – Movement Area
- Seaplane Landing Area has Approach Hold Markings on TXYS J and N. These are in a non-movement area and must be observed when restricted by Ground Control.
- Vehicles are allowed to use taxiways in the movement area.
- Two Approach Hold Markings are also located in the non-movement area on Taxiways E and J.
- RWY Hold Short Line is located at an unusual angle and distance from RWY 17L on TWY K.
- TWYs A and B are closed indefinitely east of RWY 17R.
Additional Cautions
- Underlies IAH Class B Airspace
- Several flight schools on the airport
DWH Tower (TWR) operates from 0700-2200 local time daily.
When TWR is closed:
- The airspace becomes class G.
- Use CTAF 118.4.
- Clearance delivery (119.45) is remoted to Houston Approach Control.
- If unable on 119.45, contact Houston Approach at 281-443-5844.
- To Cancel IFR, contact Houston Approach at 281-443-5888.
- For traffic advisories contact Houston Approach on 119.7 (North of DWH) or 123.8 (South of DWH) after departure and remain clear of the Houston Class B airspace.
- Use CTAF to control Runway lighting when Tower (TWR) is closed.
Special RWYs
- Right Patterns on RWYs 35R and 35W
- There is a seaplane landing area labeled 17W-35W
Patterns
- Remember, there are no standard patterns at controlled airports when TWR is in operation.
- When TWR is closed conduct Right Patterns on RWYs 35R and 35W
Ground
- All runways have run-up areas. The appropriate one will be determined by which RWY you are assigned.
- Run-ups may be conducted in other areas with prior approval from Ground Control.
- Request clearance into Class “B” airspace or VFR Flight Following on initial call-up to Ground.
Takeoff/Departure
- Normally, there is only one tower frequency (118.4) in operation but with increased traffic or for training purposes TWR will open a second frequency (127.4)
- Remain below IAH Class B airspace until receiving ATC clearance.
- Do not leave TWR frequency prior to departing DWH airspace unless approved by TWR.
Arrival/Landing
- TWR will usually keep touch-and -go traffic on the east side of the airport.
- Most arrivals, departures, and transitioning aircraft will remain on the west side.
Special Traffic (Military / Commercial / Helicopter, etc.)
- There is a practice area for helicopter training on the west side of the airport at or below 600' AGL.
- Four helicopter parking spots are located east of TWY K.
- The helicopter practice area is an enclosure roughly bounded by TWY Echo to the south, Boudreaux Road to the northwest, and the DWH TWR to the east.
- Helicopters are instructed to conform their traffic flow to the fixed wing traffic flow and are restricted to an altitude no higher than 800 feet AGL (952 feet MSL).
- Fixed-wing pilots entering the pattern on the west side of the airport should ensure proper pattern altitude to maintain separation from helicopters in the practice area.
- Displaced thresholds on RWYs 17R and 35R
- Birds and deer on and in vicinity of airport.
- Noise sensitive area SW of airport.
- Intersection where TWYs P, E, J and K meet is referred to as the "triangle."