[5] The airport's high ranking is attributed to its large general aviation business and its status as the home of two popular flight schools.

[6] In the 1950s, the Sperry Flight Systems Company established an aerospace/defense manufacturing facility on land north of Phoenix's city limits in what was mostly undeveloped desert.

While the plant was under construction, roughly 480 acres to the north nearby was also leased as the potential site for a new flight testing facility.

[7] Federal Aviation Administration funding enabled upgrades to the terminal building, flight control tower, runways, and many other facilities and safety features.

[8] Phoenix Deer Valley Airport has hosted various air shows of vintage World War II aircraft.