Prescott Regional Airport – Ernest A. Love Field (PRC) has been named Arizona’s 2020 Airport of the Year by the Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics Group. ADOT-Aeronautics Group Director Don Kriz made the announcement at the Arizona Airports Association’s 2020 Walter Burg Arizona Airports Association Fall Conference in late October. More than 130 people attended the virtual event, including airport officials, federal and state regulatory officials, legislators and consulting firms.
Prescott Regional Airport’s selection was based on several criteria, including:
1) Aviation advocacy, special events
and community outreach;
2) New processes/programs
implemented;
3) Commitment to the advancement
of aviation; and
4) 2019 awards and acknowledge-
ments.
Last year, PRC-related awards included:
2019 Outstanding Airport Award – FAA Western Pacific Region
2019 International Council of Air Shows – Best Civilian Airshow
2019 Airport Executive of the Year – Airport Director Dr. Robin Sobotta
In his remarks during the award presentation, ADOT-Aeronautics Group Director Don Kriz highlighted the airport’s multiple achievements in the past year, which included: seeking political advocacy for additional state funding support for Arizona airports, which secured an extra $10 million in Arizona airport development funding; completing an economic impact study showing PRC’s generation of $160.3 million in economic impact; conducting an innovative on-site ARFF Annual Live Burn training activity; receiving federal and state support for construction of a new $15 million passenger terminal; and achieving the status of fastest-growing commercial service airport (2019) in Arizona, with an increase in passenger enplanements of 174%.
In a later session on legislative advocacy, State Representative Noel Campbell expressed his admiration for Prescott’s approach to gaining lawmaker and regulatory agency support for the airport’s future development. In his comments, he said that Prescott “did everything right.”
Sobotta also credited the FAA and ADOT for helping Prescott secure financial support for federal and state grants, along with the City of Prescott mayor and Prescott City Council for their unwavering support.
“It is truly an honor for the city to receive this recognition from ADOT-Aeronautics for the hard work and accomplishments our team at PRC has accomplished the past year,” said Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli.
The city will receive several commemorative items, courtesy of ADOT, as a result of this award, including a plaque, a wall sign and a large roadway sign, which will be placed at the entrance to the new terminal roadway system.
This is the second time in the past decade that PRC has been the recipient of the ADOT-Aeronautic Arizona Airport of the Year award, the last occurring in 2014. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport was named the 2019 Arizona Airport of the Year.
In January 2020, PRC broke ground on a new 18,000-square-foot passenger terminal that is currently scheduled to be open in late March 2021. PRC has daily, double-hub service to Denver, Los Angeles and beyond. QCBN
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