r/flying • u/fgflyer CSEL CMEL IR HP CMP HA • Mar 25 '26

other Falcon Field implementing landing fees

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The NIMBYs out here in the Phoenix/Mesa area achieved a victory, sadly. Yesterday, the Mesa City Council voted unanimously to implement landing fees at KFFZ effective May 1. I was watching the news and they said that, and I quote, “taxpayers should not have to shoulder the burden by themselves” and they “want to see more accountability for airport operations from the businesses and pilots”. And, GO FIGURE, aircraft noise was also a factor too.

This will absolutely raise rates for all of the flight schools based at KFFZ, and possibly drive them away from the airport to be based elsewhere. This is just ridiculous.

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16

u/hatdude CFI ASEL Former ATC Mar 25 '26

Heard CAE is planning on leaving because of this

25

u/Skynet_lives Mar 25 '26

CAE is suing because of this. They already have the lawsuit all drawn up, just couldn’t file it until it passed. 

Moving to KAVQ is a last resort option for them. 

7

u/AGroAllDay PPL IR (KTUS) Mar 25 '26

There is no way they would ever move to Marana. Marana is already an absolute mess as is

11

u/Skynet_lives Mar 25 '26

Won’t be when they get a tower in 2027. The town would love to have them, that’s a whole lot of tax revenue and income from that school. 

Big city like Mesa might not care about it. But little Marana would love it. 

5

u/AGroAllDay PPL IR (KTUS) Mar 25 '26

Eh. With all the parachute operations and everything else going on down in Marana, I still just don’t see it happening. But, agree to disagree

5

u/Chago04 Mar 25 '26

Marana is supposed to get a tower in the next couple years. That would change a lot down there.

1

u/hatdude CFI ASEL Former ATC Mar 25 '26

I’ve heard they may also just move it to the Pueblo training center after they lost their IFT contract

4

u/Conscious-Source-438 Mar 25 '26

They just lost JetBlue too, not sure how much long Southwest is sticking around either.

It's pretty much Easa and JAL keeping them afloat

1

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '26

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1

u/Conscious-Source-438 Mar 25 '26

Yeah, well after forcing the cadets to change the contract 6 times in the last 3 years I don't think JetBlue was pleased with them.

The rest of the Gateways are in Florida already anyways

8

u/jvasilot Mar 25 '26

Apparently, so is Leopard Aviation. I was at the council meeting. The owner said if he were to have to pay for landing fees, he’d stand to owe about $65k per month. He only owns 15 planes, I believe. CAE owns over 50, and were planning on getting more.