Falcon Field Growing with Vast Development
AZ – Falcon Field Airport is experiencing immense development. Falcon Field Airport (FFZ) is a general aviation reliever airport owned and operated by the City of Mesa. Falcon Field, the 2nd busiest general aviation airport in the U.S., hosts over 330,000 annual aircraft operations. In addition, developers are well into a $150 million, 750,000-square-foot expansion at Falcon Field in Northeast Mesa, further filling the open space dedicated to general aviation. Mesa Hangars LLC Manager Randy Hansen, who has lived in northeast Mesa for 35 years, is the primary investor in the development. The Mesa Hangars development has attracted various companies, such as a start-up rocket venture that is building components for a rocket company in Tucson, Arizona.
Other clients include Banner Health, which will house and service its fleet of emergency medical helicopters; WWII fighter plane enthusiasts and Gulf Stream 550s; a few P-51 Mustangs; CAU, a California-based flight school; a charter flight company and a host of private corporate jet owners.
The expansion will help shorten the waiting list for higher-end hangars that range in size from 3,400-15,000 square feet. When this project is finished, Falcon will have an additional 50 technologically advanced, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient hangars ready for high-dollar clients. It will also house related businesses to service the aircraft as the airport positions itself for future growth and the associated commerce.
The hangars and connected offices are equipped with high-end finishes, conference spaces, and meeting rooms with huge video screens. In addition, there are well-appointed sleeping quarters for pilots, which include bathrooms replete with showers and warm water bidets and workspaces with sweeping views of the airfield through large, curved glass windows.
Ondre Seltzer, Economic Development Manager of Falcon Field Airport, mentioned, “Falcon Field Airport continues to be a location where aviation meets innovation. With over $150M invested in Mesa Hangar, we continue to see additional investments across the Airport supporting future growth opportunities for aeronautical businesses.” Additionally, $16.9 million of federal and state grant funds have been awarded to Falcon Field since 2013 to help with the development of the airport.
Additionally, Falcon Field recently unveiled a brand-new aircraft viewing area. Just a few feet from the storied Commemorative Air Force Museum and in the shadow of the air traffic control tower, the viewing area is futuristic but with a nod to the airport’s rich military history.
Falcon Field will also be looking to lease the final location for large-scale development on airport property, Higley East Development. They will be looking to lease this land in 2023/2024, pending a new taxi lane.
Falcon Field Airport is home to over 125 businesses sustaining over 1200 jobs. Some of the major companies that are based at the airport are listed below:
- Boeing
- MD Helicopters
- AvFlight (FBO)
- Van Horn Aviation
- Banner Air
- California Aeronautical University
- Paradise Jets
- Aviation One
- Rosotics Corporation
- CAE (Flight training center)
- Cunningham Aviation (Future FBO)
- Heliponents (FBO)
- Precision Heli-Support
- Rotak Helicopters
- Civil Air Patrol
- ATP Flight School
- Leopard Aviation
The annual economic benefit of Falcon Field Airport and all the businesses at the airport amount to an annual economic benefit of $6.8 billion. The future looks very bright for Falcon Field Airport as they continue to gain interest from companies pursuing relocation to the airport and are willing to invest and develop. To find out more about current real estate availabilities at Falcon Field Airport, check out their listing on APN https://apn.aero/airport/640 .