SAFFORD — In one of his last actions as manager of the Safford Regional Airport, Cameron Atkins brought forward a strategic plan for the airport that outlines a path for the airport to be self-sustaining.
During Monday’s meeting, the Safford City Council unanimously adopted the plan.
The plan was developed with the Genesis Consulting Group, and solicited the input from airport managers from Chandler, Kingman, Pinal County and Roswell, N.M.
“The airport business strategic business plan is a living document,” said Rick Crossman, senior vice president of Genesis Consulting Group. “Basically, what we’ve done is evaluate what’s on the ground, (and) what we think you need to do to go forward in the future to make the airport profitable (and) to make it more effective and so forth.”
The plan outlines a number of key components to making the airport financially successful:
- Development of a marketing plan for the airport and adjoining business park
- Focusing on aircraft storage
- Development of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for aircraft
- Attracting more corporate aircraft to the airport and offering corporate hangers
- Work toward bringing commercial air service back to Safford
Atkins said there is sufficient acreage at and surrounding the airport to accommodate all the goals, plus develop more conventional and T-hangers as well as tie-downs for general aviation users.
Operation of the airport cost slightly more than $1.5 million in fiscal year 2024-25, but only about $360,000 came out of the city’s general fund due to outside funding sources. And Crossman said that the airport recently taking over fixed base operator duties will increase that non-taxpayer revenue to fund airport services. An FBO provides fuel and other services to planes landing at the airport.
The city is currently looking for a new airport manager. In December, Atkins announced he was leaving to take a position at another airport in Arizona. His last day is Jan. 15.
