Helena Regional Airport

09/14/2026

🚨 PLANNED EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISE – SEPTEMBER 18 🚨

On Friday, September 18 at approximately 3:00 p.m., Helena Regional Airport will conduct a full-scale Airport Emergency Response Exercise in coordination with our local mutual aid and emergency response partners.

This FAA-required triennial exercise is an important part of maintaining compliance with FAA Part 139 requirements and, more importantly, provides an opportunity to stress-test the Airport’s Emergency Plan and ensure that all participating agencies are prepared to respond effectively to an aviation emergency.

As part of the exercise, the community may see a heightened level of emergency response activity in and around the Helena Regional Airport, including emergency vehicles and personnel responding to the simulated incident. There is no actual emergency or threat to the Airport or the public. This activity is part of a carefully planned training exercise.

These exercises bring together the Airport and our mutual aid partners to practice coordination, communication, response procedures, and resource management in a realistic environment.

While we hope we never have to put these skills to use during a real emergency, being prepared is essential. Training together today helps ensure our community is ready when it matters most.

Thank you to all of our emergency response partners for their continued dedication to the safety of our Airport and our community. 🚒✈️

Helena Montana Police Department
Lewis and Clark County / City of Helena 911 Center
Helena Fire Department
St. Peter's Health
Transportation Security Administration - TSA
United
West Valley Fire Rescue
SkyWest Airlines
Montana National Guard
American Red Cross
Sky Service
Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training Center

08/19/2026

☀️ Harnessing the Montana Sun at Helena Regional Airport! 🌱✈️

We're excited to share a recent sustainability project at Helena Regional Airport that is already making an impact!

Working in partnership with Solar Montana and NorthWestern Energy with assistance through NorthWestern Energy's E+ Renewables Grant Program, we've installed a 50 kW solar array on the roof of our Airport Station 1 Maintenance Building.

Since going online on June 24, the system has already produced approximately:

☀️ 14.3 MWh of electricity
🌎 6.3 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided

That's real energy being generated right here on our Airport campus — helping reduce both our environmental footprint and the Airport's energy costs.

Projects like this demonstrate that sustainability and responsible stewardship can go hand-in-hand with good airport operations. We're proud to be reducing our environmental and financial impact, one project at a time.

A big thank you to Solar MT and NorthWestern Energy for helping make this project possible!

07/31/2026

🌎✈️ Global Entry Enrollment is Back in Helena! ✈️🌎

Great news for international travelers! U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has resumed Global Entry enrollment interviews in Helena.

🗓 Enrollment Hours:
Tuesdays & Thursdays
🕛 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

If you're looking to expedite your return to the United States after international travel, Global Entry provides faster customs processing and includes TSA PreCheck® eligibility for qualifying members.

Getting started is easy:
✅ Apply online through the official CBP Global Entry program:
CBP Global Entry Application at the link below:

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

📅 Appointments are encouraged and will receive priority, but walk-ins are welcome as availability allows.

📍 Important Location Information:
CBP's Global Entry Enrollment Center is NOT located inside the Helena Regional Airport Terminal.

You'll find the office at:
2540 Airport Road
Helena, MT

Whether you're a frequent international traveler or planning your next trip abroad, now is a great time to enroll and enjoy a smoother travel experience.

Safe travels! 🌍🛫

U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides information on border security, trade, travel, customs regulations, trusted traveler programs and enforcement news to the public.

07/30/2026

✈️ You're Invited to Airport Campus Aviation Day! 🚁🇺🇸

Mark your calendars and join us for a day of aviation, community, and family fun at Airport Campus Aviation Day!

📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 3330 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT

Hosted by The Boeing Company, the Montana National Guard, and the Helena Regional Airport Authority, this free community event offers a unique opportunity to explore one of Helena's most dynamic campuses, gain awareness on jobs and professions available at the Airport and experience aviation up close.

🚁 Event Highlights Include:
✈️ Guided tours of the Boeing and Montana Army National Guard aviation facilities
🛩️ Static aircraft displays featuring a variety of civilian and military aircraft
🎯 Games and activities for all ages
🌮 Food truck vendors serving delicious local favorites
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly fun throughout the day
…and much more!

Whether you're an aviation enthusiast, looking for a fun family outing, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes at the airport, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Admission is FREE, and all are welcome!

We look forward to seeing you on September 12 for a memorable day celebrating aviation and the organizations that help keep Montana connected.

06/02/2026

The Helena Regional Airport Authority has a used Kohler 53kw natural gas-powered backup electricity generator for sale to the highest bidder. The generator is powered by a Vortec Chevy 305 (5.0 Liter). The entire unit was new in 2012 and was only ran monthly for exercise and used during rare power outages. NOTE: The coil/winding has failed so the generator is not able to produce electricity as designed. The engine itself runs.

Bidding opens on Tuesday June 2nd, 2026 and will close on Tuesday June 16th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Any bids must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on June 16th, 2026 to be considered. Bids should be returned or mailed to the Helena Regional Airport Administration Office at 2850 Mercer Lp. Helena, MT 59602.

Bid Reserve: $500. The highest bid received at or above this reserve will be awarded the sale. Local pickup, no delivery.

05/04/2026

TSA PreCheck® Enrollment Event at HLN Helena Regional Airport – Helena, MT – 6/9-6/12!

HLN and IDEMIA are hosting a TSA PreCheck enrollment event, ready to make your U.S. travel easier. If you're not already part of the TSA PreCheck program, you can now pre-enroll and schedule your in-person appointment at Helena Regional Airport - 2850 Mercer Loop, Helena, MT 59602.

Appointments are available on a first come first served basis, so we recommend applying as soon as possible.

3 Easy Steps to TSA PreCheck

1. Apply online: Submit an online application and schedule an appointment at Helena, MT - Pop-Up: HLN, 6/9-6/12

2. Enroll in person: Come to the Helena Regional Airport to complete the less than 10-minute enrollment which includes capturing your fingerprints and photo for the TSA background check. Be sure to bring documentation proving your identity and citizenship status.
3. Get your Known Traveler Number (KTN): Most travelers get their KTN in three to five days.

What is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck was created to provide low-risk travelers with a smoother experience at the airport security passenger checkpoint. The program is open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

The TSA PreCheck program is a great option for frequent travelers looking to save time during the airport security process. There is a $76.75 enrollment application fee, which covers five years of participation, if approved.

Why Should I Enroll?
• VIP experience: Exclusive access to dedicated screening lanes at 200+ U.S. airports.
• Pack just once: No need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets.
• Families welcome: Kids 17 and under tag along with enrolled parents/guardians for free.
• Your time is valuable: Most TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than five minutes in line.
We hope you take advantage of this great service and look forward to seeing you soon!

04/29/2026

The drag races are back for 2026! People keep asking us if anyone is planning drag races this year and the answer is yes! The Montana Motorsports Association has taken over holding the 1/8 mile drag races at the airport owned track. For information or questions please contact them directly at [email protected] or scan the QR code.

Folks often ask why the airport has a track, where did it come from, who runs the events, how do you rent it, etc….The Driving Track located at the Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Fire Training Center is a unique piece of infrastructure owned by the Airport Authority. It is not part of the airfield itself but it outside the fence as part of the fire training center complex (which is also very unique). The track was completed in 2002 to provide a safe location for a wide range of training, motorsports, and other uses. The idea of having a track in Helena started in the 1990’s and several steps along the way led to its existence. When the Montana National Guard’s new aviation facility was constructed next to the fire training center, the track site provided fill dirt to bring the Guard facility apron up to meet the airfield. That in essence got the track’s base site work done at no cost. In 2000 when the airport’s primary 9,000 X150 runway was completely rebuilt, all of the milled asphalt was used as a low-cost base material for the track. In 2002 the track’s pavement was laid at a cost of $450,000 (today’s cost to pave the track is over $1.5 Million!). In 2022 part of the straightaway was re-paved at a cost of $218,000. Plans to continue replacing pavement over the coming years are in the works.

The Airport rents the track to various entities who themselves manage their respective events on the track. The biggest hurdle to renting the track is getting insurance. Each user must obtain liability insurance from an outside vendor in order to rent the track. The rental fees help the airport maintain the track. Like many tracks, it is challenging to make enough money to cover expenses. The airport itself also has a huge cost to insure the track on top of maintaining the pavements. The track is a self-funded operation, and while it is located on the airport campus, it is not eligible for any federal or state funds and has to be operated like a standalone business. So many tracks of various types are struggling nationwide and closing down, but we are doing everything possible to ensure the track in Helena remains viable and financially sustainable. Here are some examples of activities using the track each year:

Montana Law Enforcement Academy
Jr. Police Academy
Montana Highway Patrol
Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety (Helena College)
Montana Department of Transportation Highway Surface Testing Equipment Calibration
1/8 Mile Drag Racing
Big Sky Drag Week Stop
Sport Car Club of America – multiple clubs
Kart Racing
Drifting
Corvette Club auto crossing
Exotic Sports Car Rally Stop
VIP protection driver training
Police, Sheriff, and Fire department driver training
Snowplow and large dump truck driver training

04/21/2026

✈️ Skip the lines and travel with ease!

We’re excited to share that IDEMIA will be at the Helena Regional Airport from June 9th– June 12th, 2026 hosting a Transportation Security Administration - TSA PreCheck® enrollment event right here in our community.

TSA PreCheck allows eligible travelers to enjoy a smoother security screening experience—no need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, or light jackets at participating airports.

📍 Enrollment will take place at the Helena Regional Airport terminal
📅 June 6th–12th, 2026
🕒 Appointments are recommended and can be scheduled online at https://tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov/locator?serviceCode=11115V&programs=precheck

Whether you're a frequent flyer or planning your next getaway, this is a great opportunity to enroll locally without the need to travel out of town.

Interested in the TSA PreCheck® program? Apply now and check out the nearest enrollment center in your area.