Pilots have a fresh new spot for washing their aircraft with the completion of upgrades to the aircraft washing facility (wash rack) at Mesa's Falcon Field Airport. The facility will be dedicated by Vice Mayor David Luna (District 5) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15.
Improvements include a 3,000-square-foot covered, lighted service bay with a copper-colored customized arched roof that echoes the curved roof line typical of aircraft hangars and complements the recently renovated airport terminal building. A 3,000-square-foot open-air service bay and a waste oil disposal station also are featured.
The four-month, $600,000 project was completed in January. Architect for the project is Michael Wilson-Kelly- Architects Ltd. Construction was completed by SDB Contracting Servicesunder the direction of Mike Kuebelbeck. The City of Mesa Engineering Department assisted with project management, including Farzana Yasmin,Scott Steisel and Will Warman. Airport staff supervising the project included Airport Director Corinne Nystrom, Airport Projects and Operations Supervisor Brent Shiner, and Operations Foreman Robert Aros.
"We are especially excited about completion of this project because it was requested by our tenants," Nystrom said. "We perform multiple airport improvement projects each year to keep the runways and taxiways in top condition, but this facility, located among the hangars, will also be used by pilots every day."
Falcon Field pilot Phil Pearce will help inaugurate the facility. With assistance from three of his grandchildren - Claira Reed, Laura Reed and Isaac Reed - his 1975 Cessna 172 Skyhawk II will receive a demonstrative wash following the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.
"I have been observing daily, for the last many months, the planning and construction stages of the new plane washing facility," Pearce said. "I am very pleased with the appearance and utility of the facility. The automatic lighting fixtures will allow excellent visibility while working at nighttime out of the heat. The oil disposal sump is much improved and has several features that make it easier to use. In addition, the pavement striping leading in and out of the facility will make it much safer to locate the planes for washing."
Falcon Field Airport, including the wash rack, is open 24-hours for air traffic and aviation services.Falcon Field is a general aviation airport owned and operated by the City of Mesa. Located in northeast Mesa, it is minutes from hotels & luxury resorts, major league spring training baseball, outdoor recreation, entertainment, shopping, Arizona State University, and other metro area cities.
Falcon Field serves as a reliever to Phoenix Sky Harbor International and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airports, the region's two commercial service hubs. It is convenient to three major freeways, including the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway, the 101 Freeway north-south corridor, and Highway 60 Superstition Freeway east-west corridor.
For more information about the Airport and its services, visit www.falconfieldairport.com.