Scottsdale Airport is a small airport located nine miles north of the city of Scottsdale's downtown area, Maricopa County, Arizona . Being one of the largest single runway facilities in the US, the airport is not typical, nor is it a commercial airport, as it does not have typical designated facilities for airlines. Instead, the airport has three Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) on site, and is aimed at serving general and private aviators exclusively.

Capable of accommodating aircraft of 100,000 lbs (45,359 kg) or lighter, larger commercial jets could not be served at this specialized airport, even if they wanted to. However, with approximately 195,852 takeoffs and landings each year, according to a Scottsdale government fact sheet , it does plenty of business with private operations. This article will look into Scottsdale Airport, which has become the home base of many corporate aircraft in the Valley, investigating why the airport attracts private aviation business.

Scottsdale Airport: an economic overview

Scottsdale is a municipal airport, meaning that it is owned by the City of Scottsdale. Being centrally located in the industrial zone of the city's largely flat and sweeping landscape, the Airport and Airpark are primary sources of employment for the residents of the city. According to the Scottsdale government website , the Airpark area alone serves as a base for over 85 major companies and nearly 3,233 small and medium-sized businesses, creating jobs for over 59,000 employees.

Despite being government-owned, the airport functions as an enterprise fund for the city, meaning that it financially supports itself and requires no government subsidies to operate. In 2019, private aviation activity at the airport and Airpark created $1 billion in total economic benefits for the region.

At the airport, aviation activity supported 5,970 jobs with total incomes reaching $320 million. The Airpark is the second-largest employment hub in the state of Arizona, and non-aviation activity in the Airpark area added benefits of $10 billion, according to a 2021 Arizona Aviation Economic Impact Study cited in another government fact sheet for the airport.

One of the ten busiest airports for private operations

In 2023, Scottsdale Airport placed in the top ten for the most private jet departures, serving more than 28,000 such flights throughout the year. The airport covers 282 acres of land, and features a single runway, designated 3/21.

The runway is paved with asphalt, and is 100 feet wide by 8,249 feet long. Due to these specifications, the runway is most suited for smaller aircraft with shorter takeoff and landing distances, and obviously no aircraft with landing gear wider than it can accommodate with a reasonable margin of error.

For a more detailed look into Scottsdale Airport and its history, click here or see the related article above.

How Thunderbird #2 became Scottsdale Airport

The airport was established as a training field for military pilot training in June 1942, during World War Two. It was initially one of three training airfields in the area. After the war ended, operations declined and the airfield was purchased in the late 1940s by Arizona State Teachers College, now Arizona State University, with the intent of it becoming an aviation school for training civilian pilots. The aviation school was closed in 1951, and the airfield was purchased by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1953.

The church founded a Christian school called Thunderbird Academy on the site, named for the airfield's original military name, Thunderbird #2. The school is still there today, though the airfield portion of the site was bought by the City of Scottsdale in 1966 as part of Landel Inc.'s industrialization of sites around the airport. The company also provided the funds for the purchase. From that point on, the airfield became Scottsdale Airport, and was run by the city.

Commercial operations at Scottsdale Airport

The airport saw commercial airline service from 1989 to early 1990, serving StatesWest Airlines, a commuter airline that provided turboprop flights to Orange County, California and Bullhead City, Arizona/Laughlin, Nevada.

The only thing close to commercial service at Scottsdale Airport today is that of JetSuiteX (JSX), which announced that they would move their Phoenix Sky Harbor operations to Scottsdale from January 2024. JSX is a US and Mexico-serving public charter operator that offers a point-to-point service using small Embraer regional jets.

Though its services may seem very airline-like, in reality, the company charters jets from other companies and sells the seats on to the public. Thus, JSX is able to operate out of existing Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facilities. JSX provides seats on retrofitted Embraer ERJ 135 and ERJ 145 aircraft. Each aircraft has 30 seats, no overhead bins, and in-row power for passengers to charge portable electronic devices.

Commercial airline operation is forbidden at Scottsdale, as per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Airline activity there would be classed as Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 121. However, due to how JSX provides its flights, their operations are classed as being under FAR Part 135, so they enjoy being the sole company at Scottsdale Airport to offer services resembling that of a business-class airline.

A look at the operations at Scottsdale Airport

Have you ever wondered what the most popular private jet provider in the US is? Read this article to find out!

As for other parties based at the airport, the Scottsdale Fire Department is located at a facility next to the tower, and Civil Air Patrol Squadrons 314 and 310 call the airport home. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF), and consists of cadets aged from 12 to just under 21.

These cadets receive ample flying training at the site, typically with single-engine aircraft, and many become licensed pilots through the organization. The CAP provides training at Scottsdale Airport, including orientation flights. Upon request, the divisions based at Scottsdale can even provide emergency services, conducting field missions when needed.

Recent construction projects

In 2019, Scottsdale Airport unveiled its new aviation business center, pictured above. The business center was intended to act as a main starting point for customers, and includes a veteran’s memorial, access to hangars, meeting rooms, glass art by Martin Donlin, a rent-able patio area, and a Volanti Restaurant and Lounge. This $27 million redevelopment project included the replacement of an airport terminal built in 1968, with the business center being built in its place.

“Scottsdale has grown to be a key location in our FBO network, and we are pleased to open the doors on another new hangar there. We are seeing high demand for business aviation hangar space, and we look forward to the opportunities this build will provide for our customers. Investing into this key location is a priority for us and will enable us to continue offering a seamless experience for all who use Jet Aviation Scottsdale.”

Aside from the above, there are also horseback trails, resorts, golf courses, nature preserves, rock climbing, and off-road tours. For the traveler who prefers city life, there are also urban attractions, including fine dining and nightlife.

Another important reason why the airport is popular with private and general aviation customers is the rise of the private aviation industry in general. As seen in this article , the industry is on the rise in other locations, too. This is largely due to the increased accessibility to private aviation in recent years, thanks to more modern, convenient and inexpensive private aviation products.