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Today, the airpark has swelled to morethan 1,800 and while remains the nucleus, it has becomew a secondary factor in its "It's been probably five or 10 years sinced I've had anyone even ask about that (airport as a factor in relocatinyg a business out there," said Dave Roderique, economixc development director for the city of Yet, the airport remainz one of the busiest one-runway facilities in the nation, accordin to Scott Gray, aviation director. Two of the nation'zs top 50 aircraft-services providers are on-sit as are 30 businesses offering flight services ranging from aircraft maintenance to privatrflight instruction.
"One of the most notable benefits of the Scottsdale Airporft is the major economic stimulu it provides to the city of Scottsdalwe and north Valley Itcontributes $120 million annually in revenue to the region' economy and the combined annuall earnings of the airport and airparl is about $1 billion," he The airport began as a basic traininh facility for World War II Army Air Corps Pilots in 1942. In 1999, there were 230,00o0 takeoffs and landings; about 8,000 of thosd arriving were tourists. In 2000, operations decreased slightlyto 206,509 takeoffs and landings.
Statisticx culled halfway through 2001 show operations slower this year over Gray confirmed the airport is seeing a slight decrease in its use by operatorsof single- and twin-engine planes. Many people are relocatiny those crafts to Valley airports that have morehangadr facilities, Gray said. Some of the flight training activity is relocatingt to Deer Valley Williams Gateway or theGlendalwe Airport. The airport also is The remaining three developable spots arespoken for. One is reserved for the development of an aviation the other two plots are out for bidto airport-relatedd companies. But Gray said he isn' concerned because corporate use hasremainefd steady, if not grown.
Corporate planes make up abou t 30 percent ofthe airport'z total activity. Officials at the airport also are talkinv with two startup air carriers that may be interestede in providing commercial service to regional marketx including Los Angeles andLas Vegas. Gray declined to name the companies that haveexpressed interest. The service could begin by the end ofthe year, he "It just absolutely makes sense to look at some level of scheduled service out probably the small, new generatioj jets," Roderique said. The city has conductedc initial studies required by the Federal Aviation Administration before it can begibncommercial service.
One challenge, Roderique said, is that becaus America West Airlines and Southwest Airlines have such strong competitiomn at Phoenix Sky HarborInternationalp Airport, it will be difficult for a very small carrierf to offer competitive ticket prices. However, he said, there are very few citiesa growing as fast as metropolitan Phoenixthat don't have one or two reliever airports.
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