Scottsdale Airport is north of downtown Scottsdale, in Maricopa County, Arizona. Most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, but Scottsdale Airport is SDL to the FAA and SCF to the IATA. Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 4,798 passenger boardings in calendar year 2005 and 266 enplanements in 2006. The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2007–2011 called Scottsdale a reliever airport. It is one of the busiest single-runway general aviation airports in the nation with 186,514 operations in 2019. The airport does not have commercial scheduled service. The airport offers clearance, ground and tower services from 1300Z to 0400Z daily. U.S. Customs service is available daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This allows visitors from all over the world to come to Scottsdale with proper visas. Neighbors’ complaints about aircraft noise around the airport increased beginning in 2004, peaking in 2005 with over 15,000 complaints being logged. In 2019, complaints have decreased significantly to 1,919 complaints. It is unlikely that the airport would close, due to federal grant assurances, and its tremendous economic impact. Scottsdale Airport is an important economic asset for Scottsdale and the region contributing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic output. Aviation activity at the airport and in the surrounding Airpark created $688 million in total economic benefits for the region in FY2019 with aviation activity supporting around 3,979 jobs. Economic benefits of $1.9 million are created daily.
History
During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air ForcesArmy Air Forces Training Command as "Thunderbird Field #2" on June 22, 1942, as a primary flight training school for aviation cadets. Since its inception, Thunderbird #2 graduated more than 5,500 students, a total three times greater than the entire total contemplated by the AAF's original expansion program. In addition, Thunderbird #2 pilots flew nearly 26,500,000 miles, more than 3,000 times around the world at the equator. The school was deactivated on October 16, 1944. While in operation, Thunderbird #2 underwent a transformation that took it from a small piece of isolated desert to a primary training school. This transformation is attributable to Air Force officers such as General Henry H. Arnold and Lieutenant General B.K. Yount, acquired the airport in order to implement its own aviation program. Distance from the college campus and cost of operating an aviation program soon convinced the college to abandon its plans. The Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists bought the airport in 1953 and founded Thunderbird Academy. In 1966, the city of Scottsdale bought the airfield portion of the academy's property from the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the city continues to own and operate it since. The airport's master plan does not currently allow commercial flights due to noise concerns.
Facilities
Scottsdale Airport covers and has one asphaltrunway, 8,249 x 100 ft. In 2005 the airport had 224,684 aircraft operations, average 615 per day: 95% general aviation, 5% air taxi and <1% military. 471 aircraft are based at this airport: 59% single engine, 19% multi-engine, 20% jet and 2% helicopters. In 2019, the airport had 186, 514 aircraft operations. There are two main Fixed-base operators located on the field, Signature Flight Support and . The Scottsdale Fire Department maintains a facility next to the tower. Scottsdale Airport is also home to Civil Air Patrol Squadrons 314 and 310, assisting in field missions upon request.
