Mesa, Ariz. – The United States Marines, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, will conduct several aircraft operations involving helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft over the Phoenix metropolitan area as part of Marine Week planned activities. Several of the operations will include helicopter landings at area high schools and high performance aircraft flyovers at public events. The aircraft will be based at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport when not in use and can be viewed at the public viewing park located at 5835 South Sossaman Road.

Expected aircraft participation includes:

• F/A-18C ‘Super Hornet’
• KC-130J ‘Hercules’
• H-1Y ‘Venom’ (Huey)
• H-1Z ‘Viper’ (Cobra)
• MV-22B ‘Osprey’

The operations, which will vary in aircraft participation, will take place:

• Tuesday, September 8 between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. at Westview High School in Avondale
• Tuesday, September 8 between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at South Mountain High School in Phoenix
• Tuesday, September 8 between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix
• Tuesday, September 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.  near 1^st Street and Jefferson in Phoenix
• Wednesday, September 9 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Basha High School in Chandler
• Friday, September 11 between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. at Buckeye Union High School in Buckeye
• Friday, September 11 at approximately 8:30 a.m. at the Arizona National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix
• Friday, September 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
• Friday, September 11 at approximately 6:30 p.m. at Chase Field in Phoenix
• Saturday, September 12 at approximately at 8:00 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe
• Sunday, September 13 at approximately 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.  at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
• Sunday, September 13 between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. near 1^st Street and Jefferson in Phoenix

East Valley residents should expect low-flying military operations as aircraft arrive and depart Gateway Airport. Concerned residents can call the Airport Authority’s noise complaint line at 480-929-7902.

About Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority
The Airport is owned and operated by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, which consists of Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Gila River Indian Community, Phoenix, and Apache Junction. Gateway Airport offers nonstop passenger service to 35 cities via Allegiant and has 1,000 acres of undeveloped land available for future job growth in the East Valley. For more information, visit www.phxmesagateway.org.

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Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Media Contact:
Brian Sexton
Phone: 480-988-7618
Email: bsexton@phxmesagateway.org