Lake Havasu City has long been recognized as one of Arizona’s premier spots for travel and tourism. The city’s airport is essential to the flourishing tourism industry, and is now being recognized for its superior service and accomplishments over the past year...

ADOT has named the Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport as the 2013 Airport of the Year. The award was presented to the airport manager and staff earlier this month at the Arizona Airports Association Spring Conference in Page at the Lake Powell Resort and Marina.

“We are thrilled to receive this award from ADOT and to be recognized for our efforts as we serve our customers and our community,” said Steve Johnston, supervisor and manager of the Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport. “We are considered a gateway to the region for businesses, tourists and events, and we embrace our role as ambassadors to our visitors. As an airport, our goal is to enhance visitors’ positive memories of Lake Havasu and hopefully attract them to return for future visits.”

About the airport

Each year, the Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport logs approximately 50,000 takeoffs and landings. It houses 142 aircraft on its 646-acre facility. There are only four full-time staff members who keep the airport running smoothly every day. Many flight-training students from around the world routinely use the airport, and the facility also attracts corporate aircraft flying into and out of Southern California.

Some of the airport’s major successes and accomplishments over the past year include:

Plane parking lot

• In July 2012, the airport partnered with the Rio-Colorado chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. International Organization of Women Pilots to host the national Air Race Classic and serve as a starting point for this historic race. This event dates back to 1929.
• Partnered with a fixed-base operator at the airport in July 2012 to host an international helicopter manufacturing company for certification testing of rotorcraft.
• Hosted an Army search and rescue Blackhawk exercise in July 2012.
• Partnered with the Air Force Academy to host the Collegian Flight Training Competition in March 2012.
• Hosted Luke Air Force Base for an F-16 emergency landing repair and mechanics security effort in September 2012.

The estimated direct local economic impact to the community due to these activities is approximately $194,000.

“We are very pleased to recognize Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport for their exceptional service and commitment to Arizona’s system of airports,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Tourism is the backbone of the Lake Havasu City economy and the airport plays a vital role in ensuring that everyday operations provide services that meet customers’ needs. It’s proof that a medium-size airport with a small staff can do great things to attract visitors, businesses, the military and special events.”

Aeronautics and airport development at ADOT

While there are 114 airports across Arizona, 83 airports — including 11 privately owned airfields and 14 Native American-owned airports — are identified in ADOT’s system of airports. These 83 airports vary in size and serve different functions in meeting Arizona’s aviation and economic needs. Arizona’s total economic impact from this system of airports is $58 billion annually, according to ADOT research. ADOT works with 65 of the 83 airports throughout the federal and state grant process as part of the Airport Development Program.

ADOT’s Aeronautics Group within the Multimodal Planning Division accepts applications and nominations for Airport of the Year. The Aeronautics Group looks at accomplishments in the areas of community relations, airport management, airport maintenance activities, and innovative activities and programs implemented at airports.

Visit ADOT’s Aeronautics Group Web page for more information.

This is a blog post about the 2012 award for Airport of the Year – an honor presented annually to an airport that accomplishes much in the areas of community relations, airport management, maintenance activities and innovative programs.

But, before we get too far along, you might want to re-read this blog post that outlines ADOT’s role in aeronautics and airport development around the state. (People sometimes forget ADOT does more than build and maintain freeways!)

OK, now that you’ve got that background information, on to the award.

And, the winner is…

ADOT has named Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport the 2012 Airport of the Year. The award was presented to airport managers and staff last month at the Arizona Airports Association Conference in Tucson.

"Our thanks go to ADOT for this high honor,” said Lynn Kusy, executive director of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. “Much attention has been given to the rapid growth of passenger service at Gateway over the past five years. But what makes this award so special is that the criteria are not focused on passenger service, but on community engagement, innovative programs and excellence in airport management. Gateway Airport staff is led by a set of values that includes innovation and pride in all that we do, and this award is a validation of those efforts.”

ADOT and airports

While there are 114 airports across Arizona, 83 airports—including 11 privately owned airfields and 14 Native American owned airports—are identified in ADOT’s system of airports.

These 83 airports vary in size and serve different functions in meeting Arizona’s aviation and economic needs. This system of airports brings in approximately $38.5 billion per year to the state’s economy, according to state research. ADOT works with 65 of the 83 airports throughout the federal and state grant process as part of the Airport Development Program.

ADOT’s Aeronautics Group within the Multimodal Planning Division accepts applications and nominations for Airport of the Year. An internal committee reviews the applications and material submitted before making a selection.

"We believe (presenting the award) is a great way to recognize the public airport’s role in the communities in which they exist and function,” said Aeronautics Group Manager Michael Klein.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is considered one of the fastest growing hub airports in the United States and has earned a reputation for being a convenient alternative to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Last year, the airport served nearly one million total passengers, with more than 171,200 takeoffs and landings, making it the 65th busiest airport in the United States, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

For more on Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and why it was chosen for this year’s award, visit ADOT’s airport development Web page.

Airports may not be the first thing most people think of when it comes to ADOT … but the Arizona Department of Transportation actually plays an important role in aeronautics and the development of airports across the state.

Just like automobiles, all aircraft based in Arizona must be registered with MVD. Those registration fees, along with flight property, aircraft dealer licensing and aviation fuel taxes – paid by pilots and aircraft owners – go toward the state aviation fund.

Each year that fund is used to assist eligible airports in the state’s system.

One of the main ways ADOT’s Aeronautics Group does this is by awarding grants to airports for projects identified in the Airport Capital Improvement Plan.

This five-year plan is created in conjunction with airports and the Federal Aviation Administration. It is annually reviewed and approved by the State Transportation Board.

Airports can receive state-funded grants that require a small percentage of matching funds, or, they can receive grants from the FAA.

Those federal funds require the airport to come up with matching funds, too. However, some projects are eligible for some assistance with those matching funds – the state’s aviation fund will kick in half of the airport’s required match – making big projects relatively affordable for some of our state's smaller airports. 

The Airport Loan Program is pretty much what it sounds like ... a program that awards loans to airports.

But, these loans go toward projects that don’t typically qualify for grants ... the projects are ones that can make money for an airport.

“But they’re important,” says ADOT’s Aeronautics Manager Michael Klein.

He says the loans can be used for things like hangars, restaurants, parking, airport fuel stations and land acquisitions. The Aeronautics Group has approved roughly 18 loans over the past 10 years, Klein says.

The Airport Pavement Management System is another way money from the state aviation fund comes back to the airports.

State Airport Engineer Holly Hawkins explains that ADOT’s Aeronautics Group does regular studies on pavement conditions at the 53 participating airports in the state.

“We study all of them and update every three years,” she said.

The study identifies all the cracks and bumps in airport runways and then breaks down projects by priority.

Hawkins said the ADOT Aeronautics Group covers the design and construction of a handful of pavement preservation projects each year to the tune of $3-4 million. The airport or municipality pays back just 10 percent of project costs.

This program, which started in 2000, helps smaller airports that might not have the budgets to complete these projects on their own comply with FAA requirements.

Besides the funding programs above, the Aeronautics Group has other ways in which it supports aviation in Arizona .

Several statewide studies are completed on a regular basis by ADOT's aeronautics group, including land-use studies and an economic study that looks at how airports are an economic engine for the communities in which they’re located.

ADOT’s Aeronautics Group also publishes convenient maps for pilots and awards its “Airport of the Year” recognition annually.

Klein says all the work performed by the Aeronautics Group not only answers what is outlined by state statute, but helps provide public support and funding opportunities to airports.

“Airports typically are very expensive infrastructure and they’re predominately used by the public … it takes a lot of public investment (to keep them operating),” he said.