Sedona Airport Crowned Prestigious Airport of the Year

For the first time since 1993, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has named the Sedona Airport as the Airport of the Year for 2025, selecting it from a pool of 67 public-use airports statewide.

The award was accepted by the Sedona-Oak Creek Airport Authority during a reception at the terminal building on May 14, attended by approximately 50 community members and officials at various governmental levels.

Jeff Webb, ADOT Airport Grants Manager, highlighted the rigorous selection criteria that include safety, operational excellence, and environmental sustainability. “Competition is always stiff,” he remarked, expressing his congratulations to Airport Manager Ed Rose and his team for this achievement.

Board President Pam Fazzini played a crucial role in preparing the award application.

Upon receiving the news, Rose expressed his surprise and pride. Since taking the helm in October 2019, he has engaged with multiple stakeholders to enhance airport operations, including talks about constructing a secondary access road with the Sedona Fire District, Yavapai County, and the U.S. Forest Service.

“SFD prefers a secondary means of access,” Rose noted, emphasizing that any solution needs to be a municipal project involving city resources. He is focused on engineering solutions that would facilitate this access.

The airport collaborates with local emergency services, providing annual training for firefighters and developing its first emergency response plan alongside the Sedona Police Department.

Rose also initiated plans to reconstruct the airport’s fire suppression system, expecting the addition of a 250,000-gallon tank to replace the existing 88,000-gallon tank, along with a backup generator to be installed by October.

According to an ADOT press release, the Sedona Airport has reduced its environmental impact by offering jet fuel containing 30% sustainable non-fossil sources. The airport has implemented several eco-friendly initiatives, including converting hangar lighting to LED and upgrading weather observation systems using grant funding from ADOT.

Recently, Rose was elected president of the Arizona Airports Association, advocating for public-use airports across the state. His tenure will focus on protecting the Arizona Aviation Fund, a crucial resource for local airport projects that has seen significant funds diverted to the general state budget.

“The fund has been swept several times, and we are owed about $80.4 million,” he stated, voicing concerns about ongoing discussions to sweep it again. He pointed out that important local projects, including a runway strengthening study and taxiway extension, are currently in limbo due to funding challenges.