FAA picks Mesa Gateway Airport for new pilot program to streamline its air traffic control training

Mesa Gateway Airport was one of two airports nationwide chosen by the Federal Aviation Administration for its new pilot program to standardize air traffic control training, the agency announced Tuesday.

The East Valley-based facility gets the most use among all of FAA’s 264 air traffic control towers part of the Contract Tower Program, making it a strong candidate for the training regiment.

The newly unveiled program is expected to take participants between 29 and 44 months to finish, according to a press release.

Besides streamlining efficiency, the FAA-sponsored program seeks to bolster the future airspace controller pipeline, made possible through the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act. This legislation runs through the 2028 fiscal year.

“Gateway Airport has built a strong and enduring partnership with the FAA, and this selection reflects the trust and confidence the agency has placed in our airport and our team,” J. Brian O’Neill, Executive Director of the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, said. “We look forward to working closely with the FAA as we move through this process together, and we are proud that Mesa Gateway Airport will help shape the future of air traffic management in the United States.”

The Valley airport generates around $2 billion annually for the greater Phoenix economy, the release said.

It smashed a single-year record by serving more than 2 million passengers in 2025.

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