Public support seems to be gaining for Embry-Riddle’s proposed private training airstrip near its sprawling campus in Prescott, Arizona. The university wants to build a 6,000-foot runway in Chino Valley on the privately owned Perkins Ranch. The proposal first came to light about six months ago and prompted fears of noise and lead pollution, but the Perkins family and Embry-Riddle claim the isolated site will actually reduce noise exposure and greatly ease congestion at Prescott Airport, where Embry-Riddle is based. The Perkins held a public information day at the ranch on Oct. 24 to explain the four-stage plan to develop and use the airstrip. The proposal has gone through various municipal regulation processes and Chino Valley residents will vote November 3 on a final land use decision called Proposition 410 to determine if the project can proceed.
Proponents have also stressed the airstrip will not be a full-service airport and will cater to about 18 training aircraft, Cessna 172s and Diamond DA42s, every day. It will be used primarily for touch-and-goes and that will generate 40 operations per hour. It’s proposed for a vacant 390-acre parcel eight miles from Prescott and at least 4 miles from the nearest homes, according to proponents. They also cite economic diversity and tax revenue from proposed businesses as benefits of the project. The university says it will allow continued expansion of its programs without clogging the existing airport any more. The Perkins family says the lease revenue from the university and the businesses will help keep the ranch financially viable.
Opponents say the project threatens the rural nature of the area east of Prescott where two-acre residential lots are the norm. They’re also concerned about noise. “Chino Valley residents have long traded ‘city convenience’ for the rare gift of silence. The proposed … runway brings a permanent change to our environment,” says materials prepared by the opposition group Keep Chino Rural. They’re also concerned about added stress to local water resources and that the airfield will begin industrialization of the area.
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