In 2020 the airport recorded 402,444 aircraft movements, making it the 5th busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements and the busiest general aviation airport in the world.[5] The airport's high ranking is attributed to its large general aviation business and its status as the home of two popular flight schools.[6]
In the 1950s, the Sperry Flight Systems Company established an aerospace/defense manufacturing facility on land north of Phoenix's city limits in what was mostly undeveloped desert. While the plant was under construction, roughly 480 acres to the north nearby was also leased as the potential site for a new flight testing facility. Later on this land was developed into a private airport and then sold, in 1971, to the City of Phoenix. A number of flight research and general aviation firms soon made the new airport their base of operations.[7]Federal Aviation Administration funding enabled upgrades to the terminal building, flight control tower, runways, and many other facilities and safety features.
The airport covers 914 acres (370 ha) at an elevation of 1,478 feet (450 m). It has two asphaltrunways: 7R/25L is 8,196 by 100 feet (2,498 x 30 m) and 7L/25R is 4,500 by 75 feet (1,372 x 23 m).[1]
In 2020 the airport had 402,444 aircraft operations, average 1,102 per day: 99% general aviation, <1% military, 1% air taxi, and <1% airline. 920 aircraft were then based at the airport: 773 single-engine, 93 multi-engine, 22 jet, 18 helicopter, 10 glider, 2 ultralight, and 2 military.[1]
On August 20, 2018, an accident occurred when an Acroduster airplane crashed at Seventh Street near the airport as it was trying to land on it, killing 54-year-old pilot Theodore Rich and his 49-year-old passenger, Elaine Carpenter.[9]
Phoenix Deer Valley Airport has hosted various air shows of vintage World War II aircraft. Among the events which have taken place is "Wings of Freedom".
^Christian Santoir. "Cloud Dancer". Aéro Movies. Archived from the original on December 22, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
