Current Airport of the Year

Current Airport of the Year

Cottonwood Airport is Arizona's Airport of the Year for 2022

Did you hear the news? ADOT has named the Cottonwood Municipal Airport as the 2022 Arizona Airport of the Year!ADOT's Matthew Munden on left and Cottonwood Airport's Jeffrey Tripp on right

Cottonwood achieved several accomplishments but none surpassed their noise abatement program, according to Airport Manager Jeffrey Tripp.

The noise action program reduced noise complaints from the public and increased public support for the airport. Airport staff developed and implemented a noise abatement program to include:

  • Updating and modifying the airport’s request noise abatement practices.
  • Creating a FAQ section for the noise abatement webpage.
  • Developing a monthly Airport Operations Noise Abatement report for the Airport commission, City Manager, City Council, and the public.

Matthew Munden, ADOT’s Aeronautics Group Manager, said Cottonwood Airport’s community outreach, implementation of action items from its 2018 noise action plan and support for a local youth program helped the airport stand out.

The Young Eagles youth program helps youth and their parents become more aware of the airport and its value to the community, according to Munden.

At the airport, the agency worked with the City of Cottonwood Public Works Department to complete crack sealing of the runway and ramp, along with other projects.

The award recognizes an airport for its dedication to community collaboration, reputable management, and providing a safe and secure aviation facility. This is the first time the Cottonwood Airport has won the Arizona Airport of the Year award.

In 1974, the Aeronautics Department and Arizona Highway Department merged, creating the Arizona Department of Transportation. Since then, ADOT’s role in aeronautics and aviation has changed. Today, the Aeronautics Group is dedicated to dispersing grant funding to eligible capital improvement projects at qualifying airports.

Cottonwood Airport is one of 67 airports that are publicly-owned and publicly-operated in Arizona and provides emergency medical and fire response from the state.

The three most recent Arizona Airport of the Year recipients are: Yuma International Airport (2021), Prescott Regional Airport (2020), and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (2019).