Welcome to the May 2026 Edition of the APA Approach!
I wanted to start this month with a reminder that the APA Annual Meeting is coming up on Saturday, 16 May, 10:00AM – 12:00PM at Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. We have a full agenda and will provide updates on Backcountry, FlyAZ Passport Program, Scholarships, and Day Trips and Weekend Getaways. Tom Cowan from the Parachute Operations Safety Working Group will be our keynote speaker and give us an overview of the expansion of parachute jumping operations in Arizona and pass on some important safety practices for GA pilots operating in the vicinity of jump zones.
If you are planning to attend, please RSVP via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We look forward to seeing you there!
I’m sure most of you have seen the news from Falcon Field that the implementation of the landing fees approved by the City Council in March is being postponed and will not occur on 1 May as planned. As expected, Vector Airport Systems has been awarded a contract to provide landing fee collection services. The delay will allow Vector to get their flight tracking systems in place, and the program is expected to start no later than 30 July 2026. However, they may begin sooner, and the airport will notify users of any changes.
The associated transient landing fee program at Mesa Gateway Airport has been suspended until further notice and will go into effect “when and if Falcon Field’s fees take effect.” It is interesting to note that Mesa Gateway’s director of communications indicated that they were in conversations with the FAA regarding their program so hopefully the safety implications of these fee programs are getting the appropriate attention.
On a related subject, I’m sure you may have also seen the news that Florida recently passed legislation to prohibit the use of ADS-B to collect fees. The companion Arizona bill, HB2210, has cleared all Senate committees (Appropriations, Transportation & Technology and Rules) and was placed on the Senate Consent Calendar. However, there is no firm date for the bill to clear the Consent Calendar. So, from a practical perspective, passage of HB2210 may unfortunately slip to the 2027 legislative session.
Thank you for supporting APA’s mission through your membership and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Annual meeting! As always, please feel free to reach out to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any comments, concerns or questions.
Fly Safe,
Chris