Mesa’s Falcon Field airport climbed eight spots to become
the nation’s fourth-busiest general aviation airport in
2007, authorities said.
The airport registered 314,129 takeoffs and landings last
year, up by more than 65,000 since 2006, according to
Federal Aviation Administration numbers.
Airport director Corinne Nystrom attributed the jump to the
economic vibrancy and activity taking place at Falcon Field
and throughout the city. Several flight schools, including
Sabena Airline Training Center, Premier Helicopters and
Regional Airline Academy, recently began operations at the
airport, contributing to the rise in use.
“Business is definitely going up,” Nystrom said.
Projected revenue for fiscal year 2007-08, excluding federal
and state grants, is $3.5 million. Projections for the
upcoming fiscal year are estimated at $3.8 million, not
including grants, authorities said. Nystrom added that the
ranking would help draw more companies to the airport.
Falcon Field still has about 30 acres out of 600 acres
vacant. There are about 95 businesses on the airport, half
of which are aviation-related.
The higher ranking makes the airport more competitive for
getting federal grants as well, Nystrom said.
General aviation airports provide services for air charters,
flight schools and privately owned aircraft.
More than 1.4 million square feet of land and more than
53,000 square feet of existing hangar space have been leased
to fill demand at the former military airport bounded by
McDowell, Higley, McKellips and Greenfield roads.
Exec Jet Holdings LLC is the latest airport entrant. The
company is leasing 4.66 acres for hangar development.
The growth brings with it related issues, including
complaints of noise from surrounding neighborhoods.
Last year, the airport received 68 noise complaints, up from
22 in 2006. As of Feb. 25, the airport had received seven
complaints this year.
But airport projects supervisor Jeff Tripp said Falcon
Field, built in 1941, is not alone in facing such issues and
pointed out that other similar airports in the Valley
received more complaints.
“Once upon a time we were out in the desert, and now with
population growth, it’s a pain,” Tripp said. “We try to be a
good neighbor.”
The airport follows a set of voluntary noise abatement
policies that are not to supersede safety guidelines, Tripp
said.
One representative of a local group promoting economic
development in the Falcon Field area said the ranking is a
great way to put Mesa on the map.
“This may get people to look at Falcon Field and bring it on
their radar screens,” said Lois Yates, executive director of
the Falcon Field Area Alliance.
Deborah Kelly-Richardon, national director of pilot
mentoring at Premier Helicopters, said that the company
moved from Scottsdale Airpark to Falcon Field because it
needed room to expand.
“This place was just a great fit,” Kelly-Richardson said.
Phoenix’s Deer Valley airport and Southern California’s Van
Nuys and Long Beach airports round out the top three
rankings.
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Premier Helicopters dropped 25,000 eggs over 2,000
people at Element Church in Wyoming for their Easter Egg
Event. Check out the video below!
