As our petition grows, many of you have noticed the same predictable pushback from a small but vocal group. Comments like “The airport was here first,” “Just move,” or “You live near an airport, what did you expect?” tend to show up every time residents ask for reasonable limits on repetitive flight training activity.

It’s important to understand why these reactions happen, and how to answer them in a calm, factual way.

Why Some People React This Way

1. They think any change threatens aviation. Many pilots or aviation enthusiasts see any request for balance as an attack on general aviation. They often don’t understand that our goal isn’t to shut down the airport, it’s to manage excessive, unnecessary training patterns that never existed at this scale before. 
2. They don’t live under the impacted areas. It’s easy to dismiss residents’ concerns when you’re not the one hearing repetitive circuits all day. Some opponents simply have no frame of reference for what this volume actually feels like. 
3. They rely on slogans instead of facts. Phrases like “The airport was here first” or “Move if you don’t like it” are quick, emotional reactions that avoid engaging with the real issue: the massive increase in repetitive touch-and-go traffic from outside operators.
4. They’re trying to shut down the conversation. Telling someone to “move” is not an argument,  it’s a way to avoid addressing the core problem.

How Supporters Can Respond

Here are simple, effective replies that shut down the myths while staying calm and fact-based:

1. “The airport was here first.”

Response:

Yes — and the airport has operated peacefully for decades. What’s new is the extreme volume of repetitive training from outside flight schools that has dramatically changed the character of the pattern. Asking for balanced operations is not the same as opposing the airport.

2. “Why don’t you just move?”

Response:

Residents shouldn’t have to uproot their lives because of excessive training flights that never existed at this level until recently. We’re asking for reasonable limits, not the closure of the airport.

3. “It’s an airport — noise is normal.”

Response:

Correct — normal operations are expected. But what we are experiencing is not normal. It’s disproportionate volume, often from schools who don’t contribute to our community, tax base, or noise footprint responsibly.

4. “If you restrict training, you’ll hurt aviation.”

Response:

Balanced operations support aviation by keeping the airport safe, sustainable, and usable for all types of traffic — not just flight-training loops. Even many pilots agree that the pattern is oversaturated.

Our Message Remains the Same

We support Falcon Field. We support general aviation.

What we don’t support is:

Unlimited repetitive touch-and-gos

Out-of-area flight schools treating Mesa neighborhoods as their training ground

The pattern ballooning into residential areas
A quality-of-life impact that was never part of living here

Your voices matter. Keep sharing the petition, keep speaking respectfully, and keep correcting misinformation when you see it. The facts — and the community — are on our side.