Garmin announces the acquisition of a hangar and office complex at Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona, expanding its aircraft certification and flight test operations.
The new facility comprises two adjacent hangars totaling approximately 75,000 square feet, including office space designed to accommodate approximately 75 associates.
The expansion strengthens Garmin’s aviation infrastructure and adds a third flight operations center alongside existing locations in Kansas and Oregon. The Mesa site offers three parallel runways, two exceeding 10,000 feet in length, and year-round clear weather that supports frequent flight testing and certification activity.
“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,” said Phil Straub, Executive Vice President Managing Director Aviation.
The new Mesa Gateway facility is designed to enhance Garmin’s ability to conduct flight operations, engineering work, and certification programs under one roof. The combined hangar and office space enables teams to coordinate aircraft testing, regulatory approvals, and product development, improving efficiency across aviation projects.
Mesa Gateway Airport’s infrastructure is central to the expansion. With multiple long runways capable of handling a wide range of aircraft types and generally favorable flying conditions year-round, the location provides an optimal environment for flight testing and operational training.
The airport also hosts numerous aviation businesses, including customer support and service centers for several major aircraft manufacturers. This concentration of aviation activity reinforces Mesa’s role as a growing aerospace hub and creates opportunities for collaboration across the local industry.
Garmin’s presence in the Phoenix metropolitan area spans more than 25 years. The company first established an engineering facility in Tempe before relocating to a larger campus in Chandler to support continued growth. In 2019, Garmin further expanded to Scottsdale through the acquisition of AeroData, adding specialized aviation expertise to its regional operations.
The proximity of Garmin’s Arizona locations provides a strong support network for the new Mesa facility. Engineering teams, flight test crews, and certification specialists can operate across sites, sharing resources and technical knowledge as the company scales its aviation capabilities.
The additional hangar space is expected to support the hiring of experienced associates across engineering, airworthiness approvals, and flight test functions. Garmin states that the Mesa expansion will allow it to grow its workforce while advancing innovation across its aviation product portfolio.
Garmin’s aviation business serves a wide range of customers, including general aviation pilots, business aircraft operators, rotorcraft owners, government and defense organizations, and commercial air carriers. Its systems are widely used for navigation, flight control, safety automation, and cockpit integration.
The company is also recognized for developing autonomous safety technology designed to assist pilots during in-flight emergencies. These advancements have positioned Garmin as a key player in modern avionics, with a focus on reliability, automation, and user-centered cockpit design.
By expanding its flight operations footprint in Mesa, Garmin is reinforcing long-term investment in aviation infrastructure as demand for advanced aircraft systems continues to grow. The move reflects broader industry trends toward increased testing capacity, regulatory certification efficiency, and innovation in flight safety technologies.
Company leadership indicates that the Mesa Gateway facility will play a strategic role in future aviation product development, supporting both current aircraft platforms and emerging technologies across the aviation sector.
With expanded hangar capacity, access to major runways, and proximity to established engineering hubs, Garmin’s new Mesa operation positions the company to accelerate certification timelines and strengthen its market presence across global aviation segments.
