Scottsdale Airport has received more than $5.4 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration to improve the efficiency, safety and capacity at the airport.

These grants will provide funding to construct an aircraft runup area, reconstruct a portion of the taxiway and taxiway connectors to current FAA safety standards, and rehabilitate a taxiway connector.

The entire project will be funded by two grants:

•  $4,690,602 from Airport Improvement Grant funds
•  $763,000 from Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation

During Scottsdale Airport’s busy season — especially during event season with Barrett Jackson Auto Auction, WM Phoenix Open and the Arabian Horse Show — there are spikes in business jet operations. With a boost in operations from a mixture of aircraft types from smaller propeller, turbo prop and business jet aircraft — they all compete to depart.

The business jets departing with instrument flight rules have a certain window to depart the airport when they receive clearance from the FAA tower, according to a press release. Unfortunately, with a single taxiway and aircraft lined up to depart, the business jet aircraft are unable to taxi around smaller aircraft. And in some instances, some aircraft waiting to depart, obstruct others and delay their departure.

“This causes a bottleneck of aircraft at our runway end,” said Aviation Director Gary P. Mascaro. “These grants support the importance of improving these capacity issues at Scottsdale Airport.”

Aviation staff, in collaboration with Mead & Hunt, the airport’s on-call engineer, and the FAA Air Traffic Control staff, designed the project to introduce five aircraft run-up positions at the north end of the runway. This provides adequate spacing for aircraft and allows the Air Traffic Control Tower to efficiently clear aircraft for departure.

The FAA recognized the importance of this project — especially with Super Bowl LVII coming this January — and awarded these grants to Scottsdale earlier than expected, the press release stated.

The project will start this fall. Completion is anticipated by the end of the year, just in time for Scottsdale’s “Super Season.”