Mr. Arnzen,

We have seen your recent public comments regarding landing fees at Falcon Field, and we believe it’s important to offer perspective from the community that lives here in Mesa, many of whom have been directly impacted by the rapid increase in high-volume flight training activity over the past year.

First, it’s important to clarify something fundamental: Falcon Field is not structured like a general tax-funded service such as police, fire, or parks. It operates as an enterprise airport, meaning it is expected to be financially self-sustaining. That is not a new concept, nor is it unique to Mesa, it is how public-use airports across the country are designed to function. When there is a funding gap, it must be addressed either by users of the system or by taxpayers. The recent unanimous policy decision simply aligns costs with usage.

Framing this as a “dangerous precedent” overlooks that reality. What is actually happening is that a long-standing financial imbalance is being corrected in a way that reflects how enterprise systems are intended to operate.

It’s also important to recognize that your company, Thrust Flight, is not a long-standing Mesa-based operation. You have expanded into this community from your headquarters in Texas, and while growth and expansion are part of doing business, so is understanding the community you are entering. Mesa is not just another market, it is a community of residents, families, schools, and neighborhoods that experience the impacts of how this airport is used every day.

Public messaging that overlooks these impacts or misrepresents how airport funding works only widens the disconnect between operators and the community they rely on.

At the same time, we want to be clear: this issue is not occurring in a vacuum. The scale and intensity of repetitive training operations at Falcon Field have changed dramatically. Long-established Mesa neighborhoods, comprised of single-family and multi-family residential areas, as well as schools, parks, and community spaces, are experiencing levels of activity that were not present historically. The concern is not aviation itself, but the volume, frequency, and concentration of flight training operations. 

We recognize that flight training is important, and we support aviation as part of our community. However, that support must be balanced with accountability and responsible use of shared infrastructure. That includes ensuring that businesses operating at Falcon Field contribute fairly to the costs they generate.

Looking ahead, our community is also supportive of the development of minimum standards for aeronautical users, as well as a strengthened Fly Friendly program that is meaningful and tied to operational expectations. These are reasonable, forward-looking measures intended to ensure that growth is managed responsibly and that community impacts are taken seriously.

Mesa is not unaware of what is happening, we are paying close attention, and community engagement on this issue continues to grow. Residents are committed to staying involved in decisions that affect their homes, their neighborhoods, and their quality of life.

If your organization intends to continue operating in Mesa, it is important to understand that this community values both aviation and accountability. Those two things are not in conflict, but they do require balance.

We welcome constructive dialogue, but it must be grounded in an accurate understanding of how airport systems are structured and how community impacts are experienced.

Sincerely,

Concerned Mesa Residents