The Cottonwood Municipal Airport hosted an open house on Thursday, Jan. 19, to announce an update to its master plan, which will guide development at the airport over the next 20 years.
The airport is classified as a general aviation airport and covers about 210 acres. The airport began the master plan update process in 2019 to describe the need for and timing of airport improvements, and the resulting plan will attempt to guide development in a fashion that is cost-effective, supports the safety and growth of the airport and considers socioeconomic and environmental consequences.
The airport provided 107 jobs in 2021, paid over $5 million in compensation to workers and had an economic output — the value of sales attributable to the airport’s activities — of over $13.6 million.
From 2019 to 2039, airport management hopes to see the number of aircraft based on the field increase from 44 to 53 single-engine piston planes, from five to six multi-engine planes, from two to seven jets and from 11 to 15 rotorcraft.
The master plan development process also required evaluations of the airport’s facilities, including the runway, taxiway system, fuel tanks, helicopter operating area and hangars.
The next step in the adoption of the plan will be securing Federal Aviation Administration approval of the airport layout plan, followed by city approval. The ALP is a set of drawings that shows both the locations and functions of the airport’s existing facilities and planned developments, including non aviation areas, and the boundaries of and proposed additions to the airport.
Upcoming airport projects include a taxiway rehabilitation design study, an obstacle mitigation and removal plan, additional planning studies and a private hangar development.
Public participation in the master planning process is encouraged. Some of the residents who attended the open house expressed negative opinions regarding the airport in spite of their recent noise abatement program.
For more information, to see the master plan and to view public comments, visit cottonwoodaz.gov.
