A new observation area will open at the Boca Raton Airport in November

BOCA RATON — Ever wondered what a plane looks like as it’s about to take off?

Come fall, you can visit the Boca Raton Airport to find out. A new shaded observation area will offer viewers the chance to watch planes up close as they depart from and arrive to the airport.

A groundbreaking ceremony on July 9 marked the start of construction on the project by Florida-based architect Recreational Design & Construction Inc. It’s expected to take three to four months to complete.

“Seeing planes take off at a close, safe distance is an awe-striking experience that I’m looking forward tosharing with the community,” Boca Raton Airport Authority Executive Director Clara Bennett said. “I feel theobservation area will be a great opportunity for the community to learn a bit more about aviation and whatmakes the airport special.”

What will the Boca Raton Airport observation area look like?

The observation area will feature a fenced-in modern, circular design with shaded seating for the public. The circular viewing space will be on a 4-foot-tall platform, so guests can have an unobstructed view of the aircraft. It’ll also feature ADA-accessible concrete ramps and aluminum handrails.

As for parking, eight bicycle spots and five spots for motor vehicles will be available. One of the five motor vehicle spots will be an accessible parking space.

Educational features at the Boca Raton Airport observation area

Signs in the observation deck will display background information on several aircraft housed at the Boca Raton Airport, so visitors can learn about the planes they’re coming to watch. An anemometer, which measures wind speed and pressure, will allow guests to observe conditions at the airport. And a compass will explain different departure paths.

Guests will also have a chance to listen in on radio transmissions pilots are having with the air control tower. Once open, the observation deck will be accessible from sunrise to sunset.

From a grass strip to an international airport

The Boca Raton Airport started off as a grass strip along what is now the west side of Florida Atlantic University’s campus. In December, it turned 75 years old.

In 1942, as the United States entered World War II, the airport was transformed into the Boca Raton Army Airfield. After the war, its ownership was…