Phoenix-Mesa Gateway History


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Scot Rigby,
Acting Project Manager
480-644-5176

Amy Morales,
Project Assistant
480-644-4896

Fax: 480-644-3458

Mesa City Plaza
20 E. Main Street, Suite 200
P.O. Box 1466
Mesa, Arizona 85211-1466

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Phoenix-Mesa Gateway History

History

Williams Air Force Base was a longtime Mesa landmark where Army Air Corps pilots began training for World War II in 1941. The facility, near Power and Williams Field roads, was later designated as a U.S. Air Force Base and continued to operate as a military facility until its closure in 1993.

Today, Williams operates as a unique partnership that includes the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and the Williams Campus with five higher education institutions including Arizona State University, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College, Embry-Riddle University and UND Aerospace.

Airport generates new business

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport opened six months after the base closed. Today, the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Community employs nearly 4,600 people and generates an annual $420 million in economic impact.

T-38 Fighter Plane

The T-38, which is still in use, was the primary trainer plane for Air Force pilots at the former Williams Air Force Base.

A T-38A Talon static display was dedicated March 22, 2004, to commemorate the Airport's 10th anniversary and honor fallen aviators who have valiantly served our country. The display is set in the new Williams Memorial Park, at Sossaman and Tahoe roads.

Projections call for the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Area to become one of Maricopa County's top economic centers by 2035 with more than 100,000 new jobs.

In March 2003, the Airport's inaugural passenger flight to Nevada. Since then, three more carriers have been added.

The Airport uses the three runways and approximately 3,000 acres of the former air base. A U.S. Customs Office is now open on-site to service international air cargo carriers. In addition, an $11.3 million cargo ramp and taxiway opened in October 2003 to support international cargo needs. Nearly all of the project funding is being provided by the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Arizona.

The Airport is owned and operated by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority which includes four community partners – the Gila River Indian Community, Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Phoenix.

President Bush was Airport's first passenger

President George W. Bush helped to make history at the Airport when he became the first passenger during his Memorial Day 2001 trip to the Valley. The President's plane, Air Force One, landed at Williams and the Mr. Bush was taken by motorcade to deliver a holiday speech to veterans at Falcon Field Airport, also in Mesa.

Vice President Dick Cheney landed at the Airport in January 2004 and was greeted by Mesa Mayor Keno Hawker.

Infrastructure improvements support business development

The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority has made many improvements to the facility's infrastructure, including new utilities, construction of Sossaman Road, concrete repairs, enhanced security and installation of airfield lights and signs.

These enhancements have prompted new investment at the Airport. Himovitz Properties has built several office and hangar facilities at the Airport. All buildings at the Airport, including the new ones, are fully leased.