FAA Intervenes in Rising Dispute Over Falcon Field Landing Fees
The escalating dispute over pilot landing fees at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) in Mesa, Arizona, has now drawn the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has urged the city of Mesa to postpone the implementation of its contentious new landing fee program. The agency warns that the plan may breach the city’s federal grant assurance obligations and could adversely affect aeronautical activities at the airport.
On March 23, the Mesa City Council approved the fee structure. The structure imposes a fee of $20.35 per landing on fixed-wing aircraft under 6,000 lbs after 10 free monthly landings. Itinerant aircraft in the same category will be charged $24.35 per landing. The city intends to launch its fee collection system on July 30 and start billing on August 1, 2026.
Two prominent flight schools, CAE Aviation Academy and Thrust Flight Properties, have lodged a joint FAA Part 13 complaint and a separate federal lawsuit. They argue that the fees could cost their students nearly $4 million per year and jeopardize the aviation training pipeline. Thrust Flight estimates that the fees alone could cost its operation more than $500,000 in the first year. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has fully backed the schools, cautioning that the FAA’s decision will establish a precedent for federally funded airports throughout the United States. Mesa, however, contends that the lawsuit is legally baseless and plans to proceed.
Source: AOPA – FAA Asks Arizona City to Delay Falcon Field Fees | GlobalAir.com