PHOENIX – Community engagement and facility upgrades helped make Colorado City Municipal Airport the state’s Airport of the Year for 2023. The airport is owned and operated by the Town of Colorado City. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Group cited the northern Arizona airport’s community outreach, including an expanded Fly-in and Airshow attended by 1,400 people, Facebook and Instagram promotion of events, a new logo submitted by a member of the public and school tours attended by more than 300 area students. 

In addition, the airport spruced up its grounds, added environmentally friendly landscaping around the terminal, installed new perimeter fencing, developed plans for 13 new hangars and upgraded vending machines in its terminal to accept credit cards and Apple Pay. Many of the airport’s upgrades were volunteer efforts. 

This is the second time Colorado City Municipal Airport has been named the state’s Airport of the Year. The first was in 1992. It is one of 67 airports across Arizona that are publicly owned and publicly operated.

ADOT’s Aeronautics Group works to disperse grant funding to eligible capital improvement projects at state airports.

PHOENIX – Proactive programs related to noise and other projects, including runway improvements, helped lift Cottonwood Airport to an award as the state’s Airport of the Year for 2022.

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Group cited the Cottonwood Airport’s community efforts as a key reason for the honor.

Cottonwood Airport Manager Jeff Tripp said recent accomplishments included the airport’s noise abatement program. The program has reduced noise complaints from the public and increased public support for the facility, according to Tripp. He added that Cottonwood Airport staff developed and implemented a noise abatement program to update and modify practices to help mitigate aircraft noise to the greatest extent.

The airport also developed a monthly airport operations noise abatement report for the public, the city’s airport commission, the city manager’s office as well as the Cottonwood city council.

Cottonwood Airport’s community outreach, implementation of action items in its noise mitigation plan and support for a local youth program were key reasons Cottonwood earned the Airport of the Year award, according to Matthew Munden, ADOT’s aeronautics group manager.

The Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles youth program has allowed young people and their parents to become more aware of the Cottonwood Airport and the benefits it provides to the community, according to Munden.

The airport and Cottonwood’s Public Works Department collaborated to complete crack sealing of the taxiway and work on other facilities. 

This is the first time Cottonwood Airport has been named the state’s Airport of the Year. It is one of 67 airports across Arizona that are publicly owned and publicly operated. ADOT’s Aeronautics Group works to disperse grant funding to eligible capital improvement projects at state airports.