Logo

Scottsdale OKs higher business-jet weight limits

The Scottsdale City Council put to rest months of debate over the future of Scottsdale Airport by agreeing this week to raise weight limits for business jets using its runway.

The increase in the weight limit was recommended by a consultant and by the
city's aviation community, which has been hit hard by the recession.

It was opposed by some residents living around the airport who fear it will increase air traffic, noise and safety concerns, and pave the way to commercial air service.

The council voted 7-0 on Tuesday night to heed the consultant's advice, with members saying it would make the airport more accessible to private international air traffic.

Mayor Jim Lane noted the city is trying to attract more international tourism and
business, and he said it would be an error to hobble the airport in the face of competition.

Council colleagues agreed. "This is really about companies that move
here and bring their employees here because they can bring their jets here and
have the ability to do business in China and other places," Councilman Bob Littlefield said. "The real benefit is to attract more business to Scottsdale."

Scottsdale Airport was founded in 1942 to train Army Air Corps pilots. It now is one of six in the Valley designated as reliever airports, giving private pilots an alternative to primary-service airports such as Phoenix Sky Harbor International.

Scottsdale Airport is the busiest corporatejet facility in Arizona and second-busiest single-runway airport in the country.

The Arizona Business Aviation Association figures another five jets a month might land and take off from Scottsdale under the new rules.

Councilman Wayne Ecton conceded that some residents would be unhappy with the decision.

But "if we don't react to new technology and globalization, we're going to lose some of our quality of life," he said.

Only Councilman Tony Nelssen, who voted for the plan, suggested the city could do more to protect surrounding neighborhoods from noise.

Representatives of the DC Ranch, Grayhawk and Los Gatos homeowner associations asked the council to reject the plan, saying they were worried about increased air traffic.

"We know our property values will only continue to decline," said Gerry Hrenchir of DC Ranch.

But they were a minority of the nearly 50 people filling City Hall on Tuesday.
The higher weight limit was suggested in the airport's first Strategic Business Plan, commissioned to explore ways to keep the airport competitive with Valley rivals that want a piece of its prestigious business-jet market.

Consultants came up with four options ranging from the status quo to adding
commercial service. The preferred option, they said, was to maintain the airport's focus on small to midsize corporate jets and raise its weight limit
to 100,000 pounds. The previous limit was 75,000 pounds.

The higher limit allows newer business jets, such as the Gulfstream V and the
Bombardier Global Express, to come to Scottsdale without having to comply with certain paperwork and restrictions now in place, and to leave fully fueled for trips to Europe or Asia.

Aviation businesses and the Airport Advisory Commission say the option requires no costly capital improvements.

Airport staffers will work with the Federal Aviation Administration to implement the plan.