aeronautics department

Show Low Regional Airport honored as 2024 Airport of the Year

Show Low Regional Airport honored as 2024 Airport of the Year

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Show Low Regional Airport honored as 2024 Airport of the Year

Show Low Regional Airport honored as 2024 Airport of the Year

May 16, 2024

ADOT award cites planning for new runway, facility updates

PHOENIX – Planning for a new runway and making facility updates helped make Show Low Regional Airport the state’s Airport of the Year for 2024.

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Group cited the northeastern Arizona airport’s work on a Focused Planning Study, scheduled for completion this year, to evaluate the viability of a new runway to better align with prevailing winds. This will serve as a road map for an Environmental Assessment that will follow. 

In addition, the airport upgraded to LED lighting on its primary runway, replaced directional runway signage, acquired a striping machine to maintain airport markings, began using a new software to better track operational data, and is engaged in designing projects to build 10 additional aircraft hangars and add two large helicopter pads that will enhance regional firefighting capabilities. 

ADOT’s Aeronautics Group also cited the airport’s community engagement, which includes Airport Manager Jacob Allen serving as Executive Director of the Arizona Airports Association and airport staff inviting several schools to have field trips to the airport. The airport supports the Experimental Aircraft Association White Mountain Chapter 586, which has multiple monthly events to stimulate interest in aviation, including Young Eagles flights for ages 8-17.

This is the second time Show Low Regional Airport has been named the state’s Airport of the Year. The first was in 2007. 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.

A list of previous airports of the year is available here.

Colorado City's airport honored as 2023 Airport of the Year

Colorado City's airport honored as 2023 Airport of the Year

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Colorado City's airport honored as 2023 Airport of the Year

Colorado City's airport honored as 2023 Airport of the Year

September 22, 2023

ADOT award acknowledges community engagement, facility upgrades

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.

ADOT: Cottonwood Airport is state’s Airport of the Year

ADOT: Cottonwood Airport is state’s Airport of the Year

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT: Cottonwood Airport is state’s Airport of the Year

ADOT: Cottonwood Airport is state’s Airport of the Year

January 20, 2023

Winner has been busy on improvement projects

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.

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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.

Prescott Regional Airport is ADOT’s 2020 Airport of the Year

Prescott Regional Airport is ADOT’s 2020 Airport of the Year

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Prescott Regional Airport is ADOT’s 2020 Airport of the Year

Prescott Regional Airport is ADOT’s 2020 Airport of the Year

November 16, 2020

PHOENIX – Economic impact and advocacy for airport funding are among the reasons Prescott Regional Airport’s Ernest A. Love Field is the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Airport of the Year for 2020.

The airport has won the title before in 2014.

Don Kriz, ADOT Aeronautics Group manager, said Prescott Regional Airport’s accomplishments included securing an extra $10 million in development funding and completing an economic impact study showing the airport’s generation of $160.3 million in economic impact. Prescott Regional Airport also achieved the status of fastest growing commercial service airport in Arizona last year with an increase in passenger enplanements of 174 percent.

“The staff at Prescott Regional Airport has done outstanding work to improve their airport and contribute to the aviation community in Arizona,” said Kriz.

The airport’s other highlights include conducting an innovative on-site Federal Aviation Administration Annual Live Burn training activity and receiving federal and state support for construction of a new $15 million passenger terminal.

“It is truly an honor for the city to receive this recognition from ADOT Aeronautics for the hard work and accomplishments our team at Prescott Regional Airport has accomplished the past year,” said city of Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli.

ADOT’s Aeronautics Group, part of the agency’s Multimodal Planning Division, decides winners based on accomplishments in aviation advocacy and community relations, airport management, special events and recognition, as well as innovative activities and programs.

The Aeronautics Group works with dozens of airports across Arizona to administer federal and state grants through its Airport Development Program.

Airports bring in approximately $38.5 billion per year to Arizona’s economy, according to state research.

For more information about airports, ADOT’s Aeronautics Group and the Airport Development Program, please visit azdot.gov/Airports.

Serving roads and skies since 1927

Serving roads and skies since 1927

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Serving roads and skies since 1927

Serving roads and skies since 1927

By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications
December 2, 2019

When it comes to air tourism and travel, Arizona has been on the cutting edge of history.ADOT's Aeronautics Group has been serving airports since 1963

On this day in 1927, Arizona became the first state in the nation to regulate and control commercial transportation of passengers and fuel, according to The Associated Press. That’s also the year that ADOT, then known as the Arizona State Highway Department, got its start.

Today, ADOT manages several functions associated with aviation:

  • In 1963, the state Aeronautics Department was formed to handle the business end of airport development in Arizona. It merged with Arizona Highway Department in 1974 to create the Arizona Department of Transportation. You can read more about this chapter in this blog and learn more about ADOT's airport development role here.
  • Since 1965, the state has owned and operated Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, which is the fourth-busiest in the state in terms of passengers served. Read more in this blog.
  • In the early 2000s, aeronautics functions were reorganized within ADOT. The aircraft registration unit was sent to the Motor Vehicle Division, the airport development group went to the Multimodal Planning Division and Grand Canyon National Park Airport was organized under the Administrative Services Division.

You may be surprised by how much ADOT handles in terms of transportation in every corner of the state. Aviation is one facet of that.