Seventeen-year-old Becca Moreno can’t get the keys to the family car — but she’s hoping to fly a plane solo in the spring. “Since I was a little girl, I’d always look up at the sky and say, ‘I want to do that,’ ” said Moreno, a senior at Mesa’s Mountain View High School.

Eric Horton stood on the runway Friday at Casa Grande Municipal Airport, flanked by rows of aircraft — some of them sleek and sporty and others somewhat odd.

Eric Horton stood on the runway Friday at Casa Grande Municipal Airport, flanked by rows of aircraft — some of them sleek and sporty and others somewhat odd.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport will never be big enough to be financially successful, will inevitably face noise lawsuits from residents and will be a financial burden on Mesa for decades, according to a local aviation expert.

A helicopter took off one recent Wednesday morning from Mesa’s Falcon Field for a nearly two-hour flight around Arizona.

The Valley’s airports should be on the radar for federal funding as the demand for air service increases in coming years, U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell said.

 The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed an anticipated multi-million dollar grant for the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in east Mesa.

 A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman says a helicopter crash has crashed in north Phoenix, killing a child and two adults.

FLAGSTAFF -- The National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration are working on proposals that would lessen aircraft noise over the Grand Canyon.

NEW YORK — A child apparently directed pilots last month from the air traffic control center at John F. Kennedy Airport, one of the nation's busiest airports, according to audio clips. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it was investigating.

The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport has been named the 2012 airport of the year by the Arizona Department of Transportation. ADOT recognized the airport for accomplishments that include Allegiant airlines adding five new nonstop destinations, the addition of Spirit Airlines, breaking ground on a two-gate expansion and organizing an aviation event that drew more than 10,000 people to the airport.

For the 11th consecutive year, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport has received a perfect score from the Federal Aviation Administration for operations and safety.

A Scottsdale air charter company has been ordered to pay $94,000 to an employee who was fired after raising flight safety concerns.

Commercial and general aviation aircraft will be flying lower over Mesa and other East Valley communities if a federal proposal to modify airspace is adopted.

Commercial and general aviation aircraft will be flying lower over Mesa and other East Valley communities if a federal proposal to modify airspace is adopted.

Able Engineering broke ground Wednesday on a new aircraft maintenance facility at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, starting work on what will be the airport's largest structure and biggest private employer. In the 191,000-square-foot building, Able will repair and overhaul private and military aircraft. The facility will be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and will allow the airport to attract additional commercial, cargo, general and business aviation companies as well as defense contractors.

A small plane made a rough landing on Friday night at Stellar Airpark in Chandler.

The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport has been named the 2012 airport of the year by the Arizona Department of Transportation. ADOT recognized the airport for accomplishments that include Allegiant airlines adding five new nonstop destinations, the addition of Spirit Airlines, breaking ground on a two-gate expansion and organizing an aviation event that drew more than 10,000 people to the airport.

The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport has been named the 2012 airport of the year by the Arizona Department of Transportation. ADOT recognized the airport for accomplishments that include Allegiant airlines adding five new nonstop destinations, the addition of Spirit Airlines, breaking ground on a two-gate expansion and organizing an aviation event that drew more than 10,000 people to the airport.