Phoenix Goodyear Airport

It was built during World War II as a naval air facility, NAF Litchfield Park, then upgraded to naval air station status and renamed NAS Litchfield Park.{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=James E. |date=December 2, 1986 |title=Goodyear cuts deep tracks in Arizona history |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/120303079/ |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} Its primary role after the end of World War II was storage and preservation of obsolete or excess U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard aircraft.{{Cite news|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/45586426@N06/galleries/72157627638783878/|title=NAS Litchfield Park|website=Flickr}} In 1968, all Department of Defense and U.S. Coast Guard aircraft preservation and storage was consolidated at the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson and NAS Litchfield Park was slated for closure.

File:Goodyear-Phoenix Goodyear Airport-Old Radar Tower-1941-2.JPG

Following the closure of NAS Litchfield Park in 1968, the Goodyear company discussed using it as its Aviation Products Division. The airport is not served by any airlines. Ultimately, the city of Phoenix purchased the airport as a general aviation reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Paul |date=February 4, 1968 |title=Litchfield ready for mufti and golden eagle on label |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117795382/ |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} The airport is, however, a major keep and maintenance spot, and the aircraft of many airlines, both domestic and international, can be spotted there.{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitingphx.com/gyrphotos.html|title=Goodyear Photos Page 1|website=www.visitingphx.com}}

Phoenix-Goodyear Airport is a Superfund site due to a number of soil and groundwater contaminants from its time as a military installation.{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OSRTI |title=PHOENIX-GOODYEAR AIRPORT AREA Site Profile |url=https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/CurSites/srchsites.cfm |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=cumulis.epa.gov |language=en}}

Phoenix Goodyear Airport covers {{convert|789|acre|ha|lk=on}} at an elevation of {{cvt|971|ft|m|lk=on}} above mean sea level. GYR has one asphalt runway and one concrete helipad:

• Runway 3/21 measuring {{cvt|8500|x|150|ft}}
• Helipad H1, measuring {{cvt|64|x|64|ft}}

In 2020 the airport had 79,599 aircraft operations, average 218 per day: 94% general aviation, <1% airline, 1% military and 4% air taxi. 215 aircraft were based at the airport: 183 single engine, 6 multi-engine, 19 jet, 6 military, and 1 helicopter.

File:Goodyear-Phoenix Goodyear Airport-Boneyard-1941.JPG

The airfield is home to several companies offering aircraft maintenance and commercial pilot training:

• AerSale, Inc. operates a maintenance facility on the airfield which comprises maintenance, storage and disposal. The northern side of the airfield is used for storage and many Boeing 737, Airbus A340 and Boeing 747s are visible from the road as they await their fate.
• Airline Training Center Arizona (ATCA) was the training facility for the Lufthansa Flight Training of German Lufthansa Airlines. Basic flight training for German Air Force student pilots was also conducted in Grob G 120 aircraft.
• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy (CAE OAA) is the US name for CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, a British company specializing in training airline pilots for United Kingdom, British Airways and other European airlines. CAE OAA moved to Falcon Field in October 2013 and is no longer based at KGYR.
• FLY Goodyear, formerly known as Buckeye Flight Experience, is a training center based at Lux Air Jet Center. They offer single-engine and multi-engine flight training for those looking to learn to fly for fun or those wanting to pursue a career in aviation.
• Lux Air Jet Center, is the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) for the Phoenix Goodyear Airport. They provide, fuel and support services for government, military and emergency medical service operators, also hosts many of the arrivals and departures for major sporting events in the Phoenix area.
• CTC Wings aviation academy started to use the airport as a training facility in 2014, in addition to its center in Hamilton, New Zealand.
• United Aviate Academy, opened in early 2022 is the main pilot training center for United Airlines.{{cite web |title=United Aviate Academy Opens Doors to First Class of Future Pilots |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/27/united-airlines-opens-flight-school-to-train-pilots.html |publisher=CNBC |date=24 February 2022 |access-date=19 May 2025}}{{cite web |author=Niraj Chokshi |title=The End of the All-Male, All-White Cockpit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/business/pilots-diversity.html |work=The New York Times |date=23 April 2022 |access-date=19 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=United Airlines Launches United Aviate Academy |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/february/24/united-airlines-launches-united-aviate-academy |website=AOPA |date=24 February 2022 |access-date=19 May 2025}}

Through December 31, 2020.

File:NAF Litchfield Park aerial photo 1950.jpg|Aerial view in 1950

File:NAF Litchfield Park aircraft storage views 1959.jpg|Different aircraft types stored in 1959

File:SNJ-5B at NAF Litchfield Park 1960.jpeg|SNJs at Litchfield Park in 1960

File:FJ-4F retired at NAF Litchfield Park 1960.jpeg|FJ-4F in 1960

File:AJ-2 Savage retired at Litchfield Park.jpeg|AJ-2 in the 1960s

File:A-1H VNAF at Litchfield Park c1961.jpeg|VNAF A-1H in 1961

File:KGYROAA.JPG|Seen from Lufthansa's former ramp looking north, the commercial parking and the OAA parking

File:PA34-200T.JPG|A PA34 of Oxford Aviation Academy at Seneca's ramp

Image:Lufthansa Flugschüler und Bonanza F33.jpg|A former Lufthansa Flight Training Bonanza 33

File:RampGYR.JPG|Oxford Aviation Academy's airplanes Piper PA-28 Warrior, as seen from the apron

File:Ford Trimotor landing at Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.jpg|A Ford Trimotor landing at Phoenix Goodyear Airport during March 2017

file:Phoenix_Goodyear_Airport_from_Air_GYR.jpg|A recent view of Phoenix Goodyear Airport

• List of airports in Arizona

{{commons category}}

• [https://goodyearairport.com/ Phoenix Goodyear Airport] (official site)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130223181211/http://azdot.gov/MPD/airport_development/airports/airports_list.asp?FAA=GYR Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR)] at Arizona DOT airport directory
• [http://aspm.faa.gov/main/atads.asp Air Traffic Activity System (ATADS)] (FAA Statistical Data)
• {{FAA-diagram|06648}}
• {{FAA-procedures|GYR}}

{{US-airport-ga|GYR}}

{{Airports with boneyards}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airports in Maricopa County, Arizona

Category:Post–World War II aircraft storage facilities

Category:Aircraft boneyards

Category:Superfund sites in Arizona

Category:Goodyear, Arizona

Category:World War II airfields in the United States

Category:Closed installations of the United States Navy