Falcon Field was established in 1941 as a military airport during World War II to train British Royal Air Force and American pilots.

In 1948, the federal government deeded the property to the City of Mesa as a municipal airport.

The City contracted day-to-day operations through a private operator until 1968, when it assumed this responsibility. Falcon Field continues to be owned and operated by the City of Mesa.

Falcon Field is a general aviation (GA) reliever airport that serves as an alternative for civilian and military aviation uses (such as business, recreation and fixed-wing and helicopter flight training) so that Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport can focus on international and commercial airline services.

Falcon Field includes a total of 784 acres. The airport campus is located between Greenfield, Higley, McDowell and McKellips roads in northeast Mesa.

There are currently more than 800 aircraft based at Falcon Field. This includes fixed-wing single- and multi-engine aircraft, turboprops, jets and helicopters.

The airport has two active runways. The south, main Runway 4R/22L measures 5,100 feet. The runway design code is B-II-5000 and landing weights of 38,000 pounds single axle, 60,000 pounds dual axle, and 90,000 pounds dual tandem.

The north runway 4L/22R was built in the 1980s and measures 3,800 feet. The runway design code is B-I (Small Aircraft) -5000 and a landing weight of 12,500 pounds single axle.

Class D airspace at Falcon Field starts from the surface to 3,399 ‘ mean sea level and is a cylindrical cone shape flattened at the western boundary by Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Class B Airspace.  This boundary is delineated at Gilbert Road in Mesa.  The diameter of the airspace is 5 statute miles. It underlies Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Class B Airspace which begins at various altitudes over Falcon Field Class D airspace.  In addition, a narrow corridor of airspace exists above the Falcon Class Delta airspace, and below the Class Bravo airspace for Sky Harbor, providing a means for Visual Flight Rule (VFR) aircraft to transition through the area.  While operating in Class D airspace a pilot is required to establish communications with Falcon Field Air Traffic Controllers.  

The FAA air traffic control tower generally operates 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Summer hours may adjust slightly.

Falcon Field is financially self-sustaining and generates all revenues from airport users and federal and state grants. The Airport does not derive any revenue from the City of Mesa's General Fund.

The City of Mesa operates Falcon Field like a business. Revenues generated at the airport are only used for airport expenses and capital improvement program projects.

Falcon Field is eligible for federal and state aviation grants to assist with construction of capital improvement projects. In the past 10 years, more than $18 million has been received from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the State of Arizona for these needed safety and infrastructure projects.

Falcon Field is home to more than 130 businesses providing more than 1,100 jobs.

The Boeing Company, Arizona’s top ranked aerospace/defense manufacturer, employs nearly 5,000 throughout the state, with its largest concentration in Mesa adjacent to Falcon Field. Boeing’s Attack Helicopters and Unmanned Airborne Systems divisions are headquartered in Mesa where the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter is built. Boeing has more than 500 suppliers and vendors in Arizona.

MD Helicopters, Inc. is located on Falcon Field and is a leading manufacturer of high-performance commercial, military, law enforcement and air-rescue helicopters. The innovative NOTAR® system with no tail rotor is used exclusively by MD Helicopters to provide safer, quieter and confined-area access capability. The company has more than 2,500 aircraft currently in use around the world.

• Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona Museum, a comprehensive collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the United States and selected aircraft of other nations.
• Full-serve fixed-base operator – aircraft fueling and various pilot and passenger services.
• Certified fixed wing and helicopter maintenance and component overhaul services.
• Specialty equipment/technology manufacture and installations.
• Aircraft management services.
• Hangar sales and leasing.
• Private and commercial flight instruction.
• Custom aircraft construction.
• Aircraft charters and tours.
• Aerial photography.
• Development, repair and installation of aircraft radio and instrument equipment.

• Over $2.2 million in daily economic benefits
• Over $811 million in annual economic benefits
• More jobs and annual economic benefit than any other general aviation airport in the Phoenix area, including Scottsdale, Chandler, and Phoenix-Deer Valley airports
• When the Boeing Company, located adjacent to Falcon Field, is included, the annual economic benefit increases to $6.8 billion.