Deer Valley Airport in Arizona is a Unique Airfield with an Interesting History
There Are Six Airports in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, With Deer Valley Airport Perhaps Being the Most Noteworthy
Valley of the Sun
The Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area, also frequently called the Valley of the Sun, is home to an interesting mix of various sizes and usages of airports serving a multitude of aviation-related purposes. If you are an aircraft owner or pilot or simply love aviation and are considering moving to the energetic state of Arizona, this listing of all the airports in the greater Phoenix area below may offer some guidance. In addition, we deep dive into the unique facility called Deer Valley Airport.
PHX
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): As the largest and busiest airport in the valley, Sky Harbor is a major interchange for both domestic and long-haul international commercial flights. It serves as a major hub for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Sky Harbor sees more than 46 million passengers annually, making available departures and connections to over 100 domestic and 24 global destinations. It’s a large-scale airport that handles a substantial volume of passengers, cargo, and connecting flights.
AZA
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA): Situated to the Southeast in Mesa, this airport serves as a very capable secondary commercial airport for the greater Phoenix community. It specializes in low-cost carrier services, with Allegiant Air being the biggest player in this regard. The airport serves as a reliever for the far busier Sky Harbor, providing passenger flights to a host of destinations across the United States. The airport has also recently experienced a surge in air cargo operations and general aviation takeoffs and landings.
SDL
Scottsdale Airport (SDL): Nestled in luxury-minded Scottsdale, this airport is one of the most active single-runway configured airports in the entire nation. It primarily caters to general aviation, including corporate jet services, recreational, and charter flights. The airport is a critical hub for luxury private jets and business aircraft, offering typical airport services such as aircraft hangar space, maintenance and repair services, and exclusive executive lounges.
CHD
Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD): This well-designed regional airport, located in Chandler, serves an array of general aviation-related needs. It is a popular facility for many kinds of recreational flying, flight training centers, and business aviation. The airport boasts two runways and provides services such as aircraft maintenance, fueling, and hangar rental.
GEU
Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU): Situated centrally within Glendale, this airport provides a range of general aviation-type services, including those associated with private and recreational flying. It supports basic and advanced pilot training, aircraft repair and maintenance, and various other aviation services.
GYR
Goodyear Airport (GYR): Located in the community of Goodyear, this airport serves largely as a base for general aviation aircraft and pilot training. It also provides facilities for aircraft maintenance, storage, and industrial aviation activities. Goodyear is sometimes referred to as one of the nation’s aircraft boneyards, where many outdated or not-in-use aircraft are parked and stored for the long or short term. The dry, arid desert climate is ideal for this purpose.
FFZ
Falcon Field Airport (FFZ): Located in Mesa, Falcon Field is a general aviation airport that supports flight training, private flying, and aviation-related services and businesses. It has a diverse history, having been a training base for young pilots during World War II and continuing to offer a variety of essential aviation services.
DVT
Finally, there is Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT): Located in North Central Phoenix, Deer Valley is indeed one of the busiest and most active general aviation airports in the country. It provides everything from flight training to private flying, as well as business aviation services. The airport is a base for several comprehensive flight schools and offers facilities for aircraft maintenance and hangar storage.
A Very Basic Takeoff and Landing Facility
Deer Valley Municipal Airport was first planned and constructed in 1960. The original intent was for the airfield to remain as a private airport, boasting just a single paved runway. The original plan called for a very basic takeoff and landing facility, void of any air traffic control tower, and few, if any, services or amenities. However, in the early 1970s, the City of Phoenix decided to acquire the airport and change its course. They installed a temporary air traffic control (ATC) tower, resting on nothing more than a large mound of compacted desert dirt.
Fully Functional State-Of-The-Art Control Tower
Then, in the mid-70s, a new permanent passenger terminal was built. It was during this time that the airport began accepting air traffic on a more routine basis. This, accompanied by an upgraded and fully functional state-of-the-art control tower and a team of FAA air traffic controllers, signaled that the airport had finally come of age. Around this time, the airport also became a base for the Phoenix Police Department. The police department was thrilled to make the facility home to their citywide helicopter operations, occupying a massive 12,000-square-foot hangar facility.
Broader Range of Aircraft
Fast-forward to the mid-1980s, when the Phoenix City Council established a Master Plan for the airport and its proposed usage. The plan included improvements that allowed Deer Valley to accommodate a broader range of aircraft in terms of size and performance. The first step was to lengthen the runway. This costly pavement extension made it possible to accommodate nearly 90 percent of most existing general aviation-sized aircraft throughout the country. In addition, many less obvious improvements were made to the airfield.
Renovations and Upgrades
For example, extensions to parking aprons, upgraded utilities, added taxiways, new airplane hangars, and covered aircraft parking and tie-downs. While it cost the city just under 20 million dollars for the renovations and upgrades, it transformed the airport into a more modern, full-use facility. Since that time, the airport has only continued to expand, with hundreds of new T-hangars and further runway upgrades. The most recent upgrading that occurred as recently as 2007 includes the addition of an advanced, even more modern air traffic control tower.
Strategic Planning
As this unique airport moves forward into the future, there is the potential for the development of corporate hangars through the utilization of vacant land situated on the southeast side of the airport. Strategic planning and an innovative, contemporary design have earned Phoenix Deer Valley Airport recognition as one of the country’s most impressive general aviation airports. If you have an aircraft hangar for sale that you would like to list or lease or require a hangar for your corporate aircraft, Aviation Property Network can help, call APN today!