From private pilots refueling their aircraft to business travelers stopping at nearby restaurants, the economic impact of Deer Valley Airport is well over the $100 million mark each year.

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s most recent study shows that Deer Valley had economic impact in 2002 alone of more than $124 million here and throughout the state. This impact comes from a variety of aviation‑related activities–charter flight schools, general aviation, and travel and tourism. In addition, non‑aviation businesses benefit because of their close proximity to the airport.

The department’s next economic impact study of the airport will be based on 2006 data, said ADOT administrator Michael Klein.  Although Klein wouldn’t speculate about the airport’s

financial growth during the past four years, he did say that when the report is released next year, it should show substantial gains.

Not bad for a facility that began in 1960 with a single runway and a former tomato hothouse as its control tower. Deer Valley this year will host about 380,000 takeoffs and landings, said airport manager Gary Mascaro.

What do the airport’s neighbors think about all that traffic?

Mascaro said he receives noise complaints, but not as many as people might think. In fact, Klein pointed out that property owners– especially those outside the noise zone–actually benefit from having the airport nearby.

 “National trend studies show that property values in communities near airports actually increase, especially for commercial parcels,” he said. “In addition, a lot of recreational fliers decide to purchase homes near the airport because they don’t want to drive across town. They’d rather spend their time in the air.”

And the skies promise to be even friendlier in coming years as the airport’s new 20‑year master plan is implemented.

Phoenix purchased the airport in 1971. To meet future aviation needs, the city began considering updates to the facility’s master plan in the summer of 2004. Those ideas and suggestions

will be shared with the public sometime this year at a workshop, Mascaro said. One significant potential change being discussed is the addition of a third runway, he added.

The plan then goes for approval by the city council and then for a final stamp of approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. Airport projects will be built according to forecasts contained in the plan which are based on aviation activity.

Phoenix also owns Goodyear Airport. Both Deer Valley and Goodyear provide general aviation relief to Sky Harbor International Airport. General aviation includes all flying except for military and regularly scheduled commercial airlines.

Two large flight schools account for about 60 percent of the traffic at Deer Valley, said Mascaro. “Arizona is a great place to learn to fly because of the weather, clear and simple,” he explained.

The airport is home to 1,200 aircraft, the majority of which are owned by recreational fliers, or “hobbyists,” as Mascaro calls them. The eclectic mix of planes at the facility includes war birds such as Russian MiGs and Chinese Nanchangs and a host of experimental planes, many of which are home built.

Other aircraft on site range from basic $15,000 Cessna single‑engine planes to $45 million Gulfstream jets owned by large corporations.

The popularity of the airport is reflected in the length of the waiting list to rent one of its 700 hangars: six years. Acquiring a simple outside aircraft tie‑down takes only about a month. 

Mascaro said the new master plan will probably call for increased hangar space. Separately, the airport is already developing 40 acres for hangars devoted to corporate aircraft.

Both Deer Valley and Goodyear airports are operated as part of an enterprise fund, meaning that capital and operating budgets are entirely user funded through land and hangar leases and fuel sales, according to a brochure published by the city. No general fund or local taxpayer monies are involved in the support of the airports.

Through 2003, the federal government has given the facility more than $27 million. Between 1997 and 2006, the state transportation department has contributed about $12 million into the airport, with another $1.5 million slated for 2007.

Reach the reporter at barry@thedesertadvocate.com