Garmin expands flight test footprint with Mesa Gateway acquisition

The Arizona site strengthens certification capacity and extends infrastructure supporting airworthiness approvals and product validation activities.

Garmin has acquired a hangar and office complex at Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona (KIWA), expanding capacity for its aircraft certification and flight test organisations.

The facility comprises two adjacent hangars totalling approximately 75,000 sq ft, including office space for around 75 associates. Mesa Gateway Airport features three parallel runways, two exceeding 10,000 ft, supporting year-round flight operations in typically clear weather conditions.

Phil Straub, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Aviation at Garmin, says: “We are excited to add another aviation facility to our business. The capabilities this location will provide are instrumental in extending aircraft airworthiness approvals and market coverage for our product lines. This expansion represents Garmin’s continued investment in infrastructure that supports growth and innovation in our aviation business segment.”

The Mesa site joins Garmin’s existing flight operations centres in New Century, Kansas and Salem, Oregon. The airport also hosts customer support and service centres for three major aircraft manufacturers, reinforcing the operational appeal of the location.

Garmin has maintained an engineering presence in the Phoenix area for more than 25 years, first in Tempe, later in Chandler, and more recently in Scottsdale following its 2019 acquisition of AeroData. The additional facility is expected to support further recruitment across engineering, airworthiness approvals and flight test teams.