"Help is on the way..."

"FAA Moves to Protect Aircraft Owners’ Private Information"

(a) Public availability.—Prior to imposing a landing or takeoff fee on general aviation aircraft, the owner or operator of a public-use airport (as defined in section 47102) shall make available to the public—

(1) all efforts such owner or operator has undertaken to reduce non-airside related expenses;

(2) all efforts such owner or operator has undertaken to obtain revenues from sources other than general aviation aircraft;

(3) the total cost estimate of the airside safety projects that such owner or operator plans to undertake, the amount or percentage of the fees imposed on general aviation aircraft that will be used to pay for such projects, and an estimated timeline to collect such amount; and

(4) an assessment of the impact of any fees on the health and vitality of general aviation and on the pilots, students, nonprofit organizations and businesses that support or rely on general aviation in the area of the airport

(a) may only be used for airside safety projects

(b) Use of fees.—Any revenues derived from fees imposed on general aviation aircraft described in subsection

(c) Regulations.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may promulgate such regulations or impose such reporting requirements as may be necessary to implement this section.

(d) General aviation aircraft defined.—In this section, the term ‘general aviation aircraft’ means an aircraft that is being used for personal, recreational, flight training, or for purposes other than scheduled airline operations or military flights.

Learn How Congressional & State Leaders Are Advancing Oversight That Delivers

H.R.4146 - PAPA Act of 2025

S.2175 Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act

Find Out More

A Long History of Community Voices Seeking Solutions

And We Still Need More—Add Your Voice from Anywhere

Help Fix FFZ

Grant Assurance Basics

Learning from differing perspectives to strengthen our approach

Aviation Community Petition

Noise Complaint Petition

All Is Not What It Seemed

Dec 2025 Press Kit

According to the City of Mesa, an unexpected budget shortfall has appeared at one of its most successful airports—an operation that fuels over $800M in annual economic impact, generates more than $4M in yearly revenue, and has secured over $20M in FAA grants for master planning, improvements, and maintenance. How does an airport that strong suddenly come up short?

Explore the details

Still Unclear on How It Happened & Noise Complaints to FAA

Municipal Numbers

"Business Objective, a goal or target that aligns with one or more Strategic Initiatives and defines where the City allocates its resources."

Public Information

Airport Business

"Aggressive investment in infrastructure improvements is transforming historic Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, Arizona to a modern, state-of-the-art aviation gem."

Doing Business at FFZ

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG)

"These funds can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport transit connections, and roadway projects. Amount Available $219,298."

Explore the details

Aviation Noise Complaint and Inquiry Response Portal | Index and Additional Information

"FSDO Responses – A count of the complaints determined after review to be a safety issue rather than noise."

Airport Noise Compatibility Planning Information

"The Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176) required FAA to 'make noise exposure and land use information from noise exposure maps [prepared under 14 CFR part 150] available to the public via the Internet on its website in an appropriate format.' "

From the Airport Administration & City of Mesa Officials

May 18, 2009

"A member of the newly created Falcon Field Ad Hoc Task Force, created by Mayor Scott Smith to look into ways to assuage the rising noise and safety concerns of the airport's neighbors, Wayne also recently created a Web site to garner support for changes at the airport. Wayne pointed to the Web site, www.keepfalconfieldsafe.com, as an avenue for neighbors of the airport to visit to learn about and share their noise and safety concerns. Mesa spokesman Steve Wright said the city created the committee, among other initiatives on Falcon Field, to help bridge a widening, and deepening rift between the airport and many of its neighbors. 'That involves making sure we are balancing the needs of the city, the community and the airport,' Wright said."

July 8, 2009

"What’s at the root of noise complaints at historic Falcon Field in Mesa, Ariz.? Business owners and pilots want to know, so are pushing for a study, the latest twist in an intense noise debate in that city."

November 19, 2009

"When the Sabena Airline Training Center moved to Falcon Field in Mesa, Ariz., the airport went from the twelfth busiest general aviation airport in the nation to the fourth. The airport’s success, however, has caused strife with some of its neighbors."

July 3, 2019

"...10-year capital improvement plan is $27.3 million and that 90% of it is eligible for grants from the FAA and ADOT. If those grants eventually are secured, Mesa’s share would be $1.6 million, according to the master plan."

December 17, 2024

' “This new infrastructure will support the airport’s growth as a key asset to Mesa’s economy. We are committed to ensuring Falcon Field remains a premier aviation hub," said Mesa District 5 City Councilmember Alicia Goforth.'

July 8, 2025

The budget for complete reconstruction is $577,760, and will likely be paid for entirely with state funds (vs. the usual 90% state funding with 10% local match). In this case, the city was only responsible for a contingency of $20,000. Although the project is not fully closed out, Gibbs expects it to finish under budget with $519,132 being spent as of mid-June. Unused contingency funds will be returned to the city’s Airport Enterprise Fund.

August 8, 2025

' “These developments mark a significant advancement in the services offered at the Airport, and they contribute to the ongoing economic strength of both the airport and the surrounding community,” said Nystrom.'

September 26, 2025

' “These grants demonstrate the FAA and ADOT’s recognition of Falcon Field’s importance as a leading general aviation airport,” said Corinne Nystrom, A.A.E., Airport Director.'

December 05, 2025

"Airport Director Corinne Nystrom told representatives from the Arizona Pilots Association (APA) during a Nov. 10 meeting that while the airport is currently self-sustaining, future projections show a budget deficit tied to maintenance obligations that are not eligible for FAA grant funding."

March 09, 2026

“The sole objective of proposed landing fees is to cover the projected $2.6 million in annual airfield cost center expenses,” said John Zielonka, Mesa City Council public information officer. “For several years, Falcon Field Airport has been able to have a balanced budget due to a one-time sale in 2006 of airport-owned land and by significantly deferring maintenance and capital improvements. The one-time funds generated from the land sale will be exhausted within the next one to two years, and projects cannot be deferred any longer, meaning additional revenue must be generated to keep the airport financially self-sustaining.”