FAA Questions Landing Fees at Mesa Falcon Field | Aviation International News

Regulations and Government

FAA Questions Landing Fees at Mesa Falcon Field

Fee imposition may affect the airport’s improvement grants

Arizona's Falcon Field Airport — The FAA is investigating the City of Mesa, Arizona’s plan to impose landing fees on light aircraft based on the field. © Falcon Field

By Curt Epstein • Business Aviation Services Editor

June 12, 2026

The FAA has expressed “significant concerns” about the Mesa, Arizona city council’s decision to impose landing fees at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ). In a letter to Mesa mayor Mark Freeman, city manager Scott Butler, and airport director Corinne Nystrom dated April 13, but only recently obtained by AOPA, the agency noted that the plan “may be inconsistent with the city’s federal obligations, both grant assurances and Surplus Property Act conveyance obligations.”

Approved by the city in March, the measure would charge more than $20 per landing for all airplanes weighing less than 6,000 pounds based at the airport, with 10 free landings a month. Some have described this as a tax on flight training activities for the several flight schools that call KFFZ home. Transient aircraft under that weight limit would be charged $24.35 per landing.

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