Why do so many pilots train in Arizona? The answer traces back to WWII
After moving to the Valley and meeting pilots more often than usual — young pilots who were flying solo at the ripe age of 18 — I thought: Why is the Valley a hotspot for training pilots?
After doing some research, I was surprised to learn that, in 1928, Douglas Municipal Airport in Arizona became the first international airport of the Americas. With that, an entire history of aviation in the Valley began to unravel, dating back to World War II.
The area's popularity grew due to Arizona's climate and its year-round blue skies. Additionally, the state's infrastructure made it possible to build airports and runways in nearly every decent-sized city. Yet, according to Women in Aviation International, female pilots represent only 6% of the pilot population. This number, though, is expected to change in the upcoming years. The FAA also said it issued 69,503 new student pilot certificates in 2023, which was up 13,334 since 2022.
This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we tried to answer the question: Why is flight school so popular in Arizona? We spoke with Joe Abrahamson, a retired corporate pilot and president of the Deer Valley Pilots Association; Anthony Wende, an assistant teaching professor at Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering; Anna Ruffly, an air-traffic control student; and Mackensey Culp, an instructor at ATP Flight School in Arlington, Texas, who used to teach in Arizona.
Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below.
Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast.
Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
Subscribe to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher
Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram.
Reach producer Abby Bessinger at abby.bessinger@gannett.com or follow her on X, formerly Twitter @abby_bessinger
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why flight school in Arizona is becoming so popular for pilot training
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