US Flight Training Group Thrust Flight Criticizes Falcon Field Landing Fee Policy as Barrier to Pilot Training Pipeline

USA - US flight training group Thrust Flight has publicly expressed concern following the Mesa City Council’s decision to introduce landing fees at Falcon Field, highlighting potential implications for pilot training accessibility and the broader aviation workforce pipeline.

See the full statement below:

"Thrust Flight is disappointed by the Mesa City Council’s decision to adopt landing fees at Falcon Field.

This vote creates a new financial barrier for flight training at an airport that has long served as a critical entry point for students, instructors and aviation professionals. Training flights are built around repetition. A policy that charges by each landing hits that activity directly and makes the path to certification more expensive and more difficult for the people trying to enter the industry.

That matters well beyond the airport fence. Falcon Field is part of a larger aviation network that supports jobs, technical training and local business activity. When policy makes training less viable, the effects spread quickly across instructors, maintenance providers, fuel sales, support staff and the many businesses tied to airport operations.

We know the discussion around Falcon Field has been shaped by neighborhood concerns, and those concerns should be taken seriously. But a landing fee is a blunt instrument. It doesn't create a thoughtful long-term answer. It places the burden on training activity without resolving the broader challenge in a way that reflects the airport’s role in Mesa’s economy and workforce pipeline.

We are also concerned that the city moved forward without meaningful collaboration with the operators, schools and businesses most affected by this decision. Airports function best when policy is objectively informed by the people who work in the business every day and understand how operations, safety and economics intersect.

Thrust Flight remains committed to the students and professionals who depend on Falcon Field. We will continue engaging with city leaders, airport stakeholders and the broader community to push for a more practical approach, one that respects residents while preserving access to high-quality aviation training and protecting the long-term strength of Falcon Field."

On March 12, 2026, Thrust Flight and other stakeholders, through a letter, formally urged the Mesa City Council to reject a proposed per-landing fee program, warning that the measure could negatively impact pilot training activity and the regional aviation workforce pipeline.

Source: Thrust Flight