Mesa City Council will consider new fees and higher charges March 23 for Falcon Field Airport in an effort to keep the general aviation facility self-sustaining. If approved they become effective May 1.
A bone of contention with most pilots, however, is the proposal to implement for the first time landing fees, ranging from $12.60 and up, depending on the aircraft type. A petition circulating on change.org protesting that fee has over 4,000 signatures.
“We should make sure that the fees that the users are paying are covering those costs,” said Councilwoman Alicia Goforth, whose northeast district includes Falcon Field.
Speaking. at the March 12 study session, she said, “We’ve been asked, ‘Well, we already pay rent, we already pay a lease. That should be enough. We shouldn’t also have to pay a landing fee.’
“But it’s just like anything else. If you rent your home, you rent your apartment, you also pay a fee to drive on the roads. The users of the airport pay for the maintenance of the airport and it doesn’t come from those that don’t step foot (on it)…