Houston Executive Airport is growing again, this time adding an air traffic control tower to meet the needs of an expanded clientele and more advanced aircraft.

"The Houston Executive Airport has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years, located in one of the fastest growing areas in the United States," Executive Director Andrew Perry said. "As our larger, high-speed jet aircraft operations continue to increase, the control tower will enhance the level of service and safety."

The control tower will go online Oct. 1, making Houston Executive Airport, at 1900 Cardiff Road in Brookshire, the only air traffic-controlled airport in West Houston along the I-10 corridor, Perry said.

Last year, Houston Executive Airport opened the Henriksen Jet Center, a 22,500-square-foot terminal building named after the airport's founder, Ron Henriksen. That expansion resulted in an increase of jet traffic.

"There are a lot of corporations and private businessmen who own planes who use the airport," Perry said. "A lot of our clients operate out of the Energy Corridor in oil and gas."

There are guidelines for pilots taking off and landing at airports without a tower. However, with a wide-ranging variety of smaller, slower planes and faster jets using the same facilities, safety in the air and on the ground is an issue, Perry said.

"What the tower means for the airport is that we'll be able to handle more of a mix of airplanes," Perry said. "There's been an increase of a lot of high-speed turbine jets over the last year, and taking off going 150 knots instead of doing 80 knots is a big difference. What the tower does is allow us for the next segment of growth with an increase of jet airplanes."

Perry said the airport was able to acquire a World War II-era tower from another facility that was using it as an observation deck. In about a span of five months, airport staff was able to revamp and upgrade the tower's equipment.

"After the significant growth experienced over the last two years, I have decided to take the next step and add an air traffic control tower for our customers," Henriksen said. "I knew that this airport was desperately needed on the west side of Houston, and this new control tower will increase safety for our customers."

The airport has contracted with an air traffic-control company to staff the new tower, which will result in five new employees at the facility.

The tower will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the year.