Flight schools sue city of Mesa over Falcon Field landing fees

Two flight schools filed a lawsuit against the city of Mesa, asking a federal court to block new landing fees at Falcon Field Airport.

CAE Aviation Academy Phoenix and Thrust Flight Properties filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court, saying a city resolution passed in March that charges $20.35 per landing for most planes, will put them out of business.

The schools argue the fees unfairly target flight training because student pilots routinely perform dozens of takeoffs and landings during lessons. CAE estimates the charges will cost the company about $3.2 million a year.

Thrust expects to pay more than $500,000 annually with the new landing charges in place.

The lawsuit claims Mesa adopted the fees to address noise complaints from nearby residents after city officials concluded they could not limit flights under federal law. The schools say federal aviation rules bar cities from using fees to discourage air traffic.

Falcon Field, which has been owned by the city since shortly after World War II, is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, the suit claims.

How the City of Mesa justified the Falcon Field landing fee

The city said the fees are needed to cover the airfield expenses and were set based on an expected 10% drop in flights. The city said those fees could go higher if traffic continues to drop.

Under the resolution, planes based at Falcon Field get ten landings free each month.

CAE has trained pilots there since 1991 for airlines including American, JetBlue and Southwest. Thrust opened at the airport last summer after the city encouraged it to expand from Texas.

At least one other flight school, Leopard Flight School, is already planning to leave Falcon Field because of the fees, according to the lawsuit.

Mesa said they would defend the “legality and necessity” of the added fees.

“The City believes the lawsuit lacks legal merit and does not justify delaying the landing fee program,” the city said in a statement.

The new fees go into effect on Aug. 1.

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