Falcon Field Airport introduces landing fees, flight schools sue city

Two flight schools are suing the city of Mesa, Arizona, over the planned landing fee program at the Falcon Field Airport (FFZ). Mesa's city council approved a landing fee program on March 23. Fixed-wing aircraft based at the airport with a maximum landing weight (MLO) less than 6,000 lbs. will be charged $3.40 per 1,000 lbs. Based fixed-wing aircraft with an MLO equal or above 6,000 lbs. will be charged $20.35 per landing and based helicopters, drones and eVTOL aircraft will be charged $12.60 per landing. Aircraft not based at FFZ will be charged $4.10 per 1,000 lbs. if its MLO is less than 6,000 lbs. and $24.35 per landing if its MLO is equal or over to 6,000 lbs. Helicopters, drones and eVTOL aircraft not based at FFZ will be charged $17.60 per landing. Any based aircraft will have ten free landings per month. The new fees could raise more than $2.5 million per year, according to Arizona's Family, and would be used to operate and maintain the airport. CAE Aviation Academy and Thrust Flight Properties claim that the program violated several laws, including the city code and the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. Thrust Flight estimates the fees will cost it more than $500,000 in Year 1.The school claims the landing fees are targeting flight schools to reduce traffic and noise at the airport, according to KJZZ Phoenix. The suit states the added costs will limit students' landings during training and lead to fewer graduates. They filed a joint Part 13 complaint requesting that the FAA review the fee structure to see if it complies with federal airport obligations, grant assurances and safety requirements. According to court documents, the schools are asking the court to prevent the enforcement of the fees. "We filed the FAA Part 13 complaint because this issue goes way beyond one airport or one fee," said Thrust Flight CEO Patrick Arnzen. "Increased costs could eventually fall on the students and that matters. But an equal and potentially even bigger concern is what happens to training quality and long-term safety when airports start discouraging the repetition pilots need to become truly proficient." RELATED STORIES: Senate Aviation Subcommittee holds hearing on using ADS-B data to charge fees Two U.S. airports to introduce landing fees for general aviation aircraft Florida lawmakers supports removal of ADS-B billing The city claims the lawsuit lacks legal merit and does not justify delaying the landing fee program. It currently plans to activate the fee collection system on July 30 and begin collection of landing data for billing purposes on Aug. 1. Falcon Field is another test on if cities can use landing fees at federally-funded GA airports as a revenue or noise management tool. If the FAA and the courts approve of the fees, other GA airports can be expected to implement similar programs. These costs will affect owners and operators at GA airports and will need to factor landing fees into their operating cost models.