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Airport Articles
Unsettled, but not up in the air... yet!
Story by Mac McCall, A..A.E. General Manager, Sedona Airport
Mac McCall, A.A.E.
General Manager • Sedona Airport
Arizona Airports Association’s
“Executive of the Year”
Major Story in Airport Business
Sedona Oak Creek Airport Authority
For more information, Contact: Mac McCall at 928-284-4487
Sedona Airport Starts Construction on New Restaurant
The Sedona Oak Creek Airport Authority, the non-profit organization that operates Sedona airport, officially started
construction on a new restaurant with the unveiling of a rendering of the
building at a ground-breaking ceremony on June 16th. The ceremony was attended
by officials representing Yavapai County, City of Sedona, Sedona Chamber of
Commerce, and the Sedona oak Creek Airport Authority.
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Architectural artist rendering of the new airport restaurant being built at
Sedona Airport. The 3,000 square foot building is designed to maximize the view
of air operations and the red rocks in the distance.
The new restaurant is expected to open in spring of 2011. | ||
During the ceremony, Chip Davis, Yavapai County Supervisor commented that Sedona
Airport is the most successful airport in Yavapai County noting it is
self-sustaining and attracts high-end visitors to the area. Sedona’s mayor, Rob Adams, reminded the audience Sedona Airport has become a real
community asset by extending the use of the area for functions like the Farmers
Market and the Community Fair. Jennifer Wesselhoff, Sedona Chamber of Commerce
CEO said that while change is difficult and we will all miss the quaint airport
restaurant – change is good. She concluded with the statement, “Sedona Airport is the fourth gateway into Sedona. We have Oak Creek Canyon, Hwy
89A, Hwy 179 and the airport to bring new business and visitors into our
community.”
The new restaurant, designed by Sedona’s Design Group Architects reflects a style fitting to an “airport” restaurant. Design Group’s architect Mike Bauer said, “We have designed an exciting new restaurant for the airport. This new building
will feature a dining room where every seat captures a stunning view of both
the red rocks and the thrill of planes landing and taking off.”
According to Bauer, architecturally, the building has a wing-like roof form that
creates an inviting interior, and uses building materials that will reference
the existing terminal architecture. The construction features green building technologies such as S.I.P. panel roof
framing and walls built from Navajo Flexcrete. According to Bauer, the generous
covered outdoor dining terrace, intimate bar and state of the art kitchen are
designed to contribute to a comfortable dining experience and efficient
restaurant operation.
Currently, the Sedona Oak Creek Airport Authority is soliciting proposals for
the lease and operation of the new restaurant facility including a lounge and
airport catering business. The expected completion date of the new facility is March 2011.
General Manager Mac McCall said the new airport restaurant will continue to
operate as a 3 meals a day, 7 days per week restaurant. The new leased facility
will be approximately 3,000 square feet. Consideration of the residents of Sedona in pricing will be a priority according
to McCall. “It is important the new restaurateur embrace the needs of local diners and
general aviation fly-in $100 Hamburger pilots.” McCall states that affordability, especially during breakfast and lunch is
important to the customer profile of their new dining establishment.
The current airport restaurant operators, Bob and Debbie Calia have successfully
operated the restaurant for 16 years in a location that has been a dining
establishment for over 40 years. The Calia’s have chosen to end their operation of the current restaurant around June 30th,
but the airport authority plans to hire a new operator to take over and run the
restaurant until the new facility opens.
Sedona Airport is 55 years old and has been on a path of modernization for the
last two decades. Modernization has included the modern terminal building,
built in 1993 and other improvements increasing safety for air operations such
as a wider runway, real-time weather reporting, and separate jet parking.
Sedona Airport’s operation is self-funded by income from fuel sales and land leases and does
not receive any operating income from local or state taxes. The new restaurant
is being paid for from these self-generated funds. Sedona Oak Creek Airport
Authority has a long-term agreement from Yavapai County to run the airport for
the public good.
Anyone interested in the new restaurant operation should contact Mac McCall,
General Manager at 928-282-4487.
Officials at the Sedona Airport’s
new restaurant ground breaking, from left to right: Sedona Airport Authority
board president, Geoffrey HH Roth; City Manager, Tim Ernster; Yavapai County
Supervisor, Chip Davis, Sedona City Mayor, Rob Adams, Sedona Chamber of
Commerce CEO, Jennifer Wesselhoff.
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Sedona Airport Administration’s
“Aircraft Noise Incident Form”
The Sedona Airport Administration implemented an "Aircraft Noise Incident Form"
which was developed by the Sedona Citizen's Noise Abatement Committee (SNAC), a
community-consensus committee formed at the request of the airport’s Board of Directors. According to Mac McCall, A.A.E., the airport’s manager, the purpose of the form is to obtain a better understanding of the
frequency and intensity of aircraft sound in the greater Sedona area.
“We have entered a new era of cooperation and communications between the
different interests on airport related matters, especially sound issues,” McCall said. “This will structure the various observations involving aircraft sound over
Sedona and adjacent forests since all observations will be reported in the same
manner.”
The new noise incident survey form is filled out by airport personnel when they
receive a phone call regarding any aviation related observation. The caller is asked specific questions about the incident including what the
aircraft was doing, where the incident occurred, etc. The person making the observation may also fill out the survey and forward it to
the Sedona Airport Administration.
The completed surveys received by the Sedona Airport Manager are investigated
and in some cases action is taken. In addition, the incidents of sound
complaints will be compiled for later analysis.
McCall said these initiatives reflect a commitment by the airport to find
common ground and mitigate conflicting issues between interested parties. “Real progress is being made,” McCall added.
The Citizens' Noise Abatement Committee was formed at the request of the Sedona
Airport Administration Board of Directors at a recent Airport Master Plan
Committee to bring together a representative group from a broad cross-section
of the community to address concerns about aviation-related sound. The
committee meets once a month at the Keep Sedona Beautiful office on Brewer
Road.
The form is called The Noise Incident Form and is used on an ongoing basis.
Sedona Airport (SEZ), Sedona, Arizona • 235 Air Terminal Drive, Suite 1 • Sedona, AZ 86336
Phone: (928) 282-4487 • Fax: (928) 204-1292
