Bring back Sedona's Night Sky

Every four seconds, the Sedona Airport beacon sends a pulse of light across portions of Sedona's red rock landscape and surrounding neighborhoods. We are not asking to compromise aviation safety. We are asking that reasonable steps be taken to reduce unnecessary light spill and protect the dark-sky experience Sedona has worked so hard to preserve.

Sign the Petition
The Problem

Repeated light spill into Sedona's nighttime landscape.

Sedona was designated the world's eighth International Dark Sky Community in 2014, a recognition earned through years of careful work by residents, the City of Sedona, and Keep Sedona Beautiful. Protecting the night sky matters because it is one of Sedona's most extraordinary natural resources.

Beginning around mid-December, residents began noticing a powerful flash of light approximately every four seconds throughout the night. After repeated observation, the source appears to be the rotating beacon at Sedona Airport (KSEZ), which may have been upgraded or adjusted in a way that has significantly increased its visibility.

From some vantage points, the recurring flash is bright enough to illuminate portions of nearby red rock formations and reach residential areas well beyond airport property. While aviation safety lighting is necessary and respected, this level of repeated light spill raises a reasonable concern about whether the beacon's current brightness, angle, or shielding can be improved.

This is why residents are asking for a collaborative review and practical mitigation measures that preserve aviation safety while reducing unnecessary light spill into Sedona's dark-sky environment.

4sec
Interval

The airport's white-green beacon rotates and flashes across portions of the surrounding landscape roughly every four seconds. All night. Every night.

What You Should Know

A call for practical solutions, not a challenge to aviation safety.

Sedona's airport serves an important safety function, and residents respect that. The concern is whether the beacon's current brightness, angle, or shielding is creating more light spill than necessary. A thoughtful review can help identify practical ways to protect both safe airport operations and Sedona's dark-sky environment.

2014

Sedona became the world's 8th Dark Sky Community, reflecting a long commitment to protecting the night sky.

4 sec

The beacon flashes every 4 seconds, creating recurring light visible from nearby neighborhoods and red rock viewpoints.

Safety

This effort supports aviation safety while asking for ways to reduce unnecessary light spill.

Solutions

Shielding, angle adjustment, filtering, or dimming may reduce light spill while preserving safety.

What We're Asking For

Five reasonable, safety-compatible requests.

1

Evaluate shielding for the beacon.

Review whether a directional shield or other approved fixture modification can reduce lateral light spill into residential areas and surrounding red rock formations while preserving visibility for aircraft.

2

Review the beacon's angle and alignment.

Determine whether the beacon can be adjusted so its light is directed toward the airspace it is intended to serve rather than sweeping unnecessarily across nearby neighborhoods and landscape features.

3

Assess brightness and recent upgrades.

If the beacon was recently upgraded to LED or otherwise changed, evaluate whether intensity settings, filtering, or other approved measures can reduce the current level of light spill while still meeting aviation safety requirements.

4

Open the issue for public review.

Place the airport beacon on a Sedona-Oak Creek Airport Authority board meeting agenda for transparent community discussion, with appropriate technical input from FAA, ADOT Aeronautics, dark-sky advocates, and affected residents.

5

Honor Sedona's dark-sky commitment.

Although the airport sits on county land, the beacon's light extends well beyond airport property and into the surrounding community, including Sedona neighborhoods and red rock formations. Protecting Sedona's dark sky is a shared responsibility. We ask the airport, city, county, and dark-sky partners to work together to reduce unnecessary light spill while preserving required aviation safety standards.

Add Your Name

Sign the petition.

Your signature tells SOCAA, Yavapai County, and the City of Sedona that this matters to residents, voters, and visitors. The form takes under a minute.

Sign on Change.org

No fees. No spam. Names only shared with decision-makers.

Beyond The Petition

Help keep the conversation moving.

A petition helps demonstrate community interest. If you would like to become more involved, consider sharing your observations with the organizations and officials who may play a role in reviewing this issue and exploring potential solutions.

The contacts below represent airport, community, aviation, and dark-sky stakeholders who may be able to help evaluate concerns about light spill and identify practical mitigation measures.

SOCAA Board of Directors

Primary decision-maker

The Sedona-Oak Creek Airport Authority sets airport policy.

info@SedonaAirport.org
(928) 282-4487

Cameron Atkins

Deputy General Manager

Often more responsive than the GM's office.

cameron@sedonaairport.org
(928) 282-4487

Nikki Check

Yavapai County Supervisor, Dist. 3

The county owns Airport Mesa and holds SOCAA's lease.

district3@yavapaiaz.gov
(928) 639-8110

Sedona City Council

Interim Mayor Holli Ploog + 6 councilors

A council resolution carries political weight.

Contact all councilors
(928) 282-3113

Keep Sedona Beautiful

Dark Sky Committee

KSB led Sedona's original dark-sky designation effort.

info@keepsedonabeautiful.org
(928) 282-4938

DarkSky International

Certifying body

Holders of Sedona's dark-sky certification.

darksky.org/about/contact
(520) 293-3198

ADOT Aeronautics

State aviation authority

Michael Klein, Aeronautics Group Manager.

azdot.gov/contact-us
(602) 712-7647

Sedona City Clerk

Public-comment scheduling

JoAnne Cook — get on the next council agenda.

jcook@sedonaaz.gov
(928) 282-3113

Share Your Perspective

Personal messages are often more effective than form letters. If you choose to contact officials or community organizations, consider sharing your own observations, concerns, and appreciation for Sedona's dark-sky environment. The talking points below may help you organize your thoughts.

Introduce yourself

  • Sedona resident
  • Part-time resident
  • Frequent visitor
  • Photographer, stargazer, or nature enthusiast
  • Business owner
  • Other connection to Sedona

Share what you have observed

  • When you first noticed the beacon's increased visibility
  • Where you observe it from
  • Whether you have noticed illumination of nearby red rock formations, neighborhoods, or the night sky
  • Whether others have shared similar observations with you

Acknowledge aviation safety

  • Recognize the airport's important role in the community
  • Express support for aviation safety
  • Clarify that you are not asking for the beacon to be removed

Request a review

  • Ask whether the beacon's brightness, angle, shielding, or filtering can be evaluated
  • Encourage exploration of reasonable mitigation measures
  • Request public discussion and community input where appropriate

Share why it matters

  • Sedona's dark-sky designation
  • Protection of the night sky
  • The experience of residents and visitors
  • Appreciation for Sedona's red rock landscape and natural beauty
  • The community's long-standing commitment to dark-sky stewardship

The goal is not to oppose the airport or compromise safety. The goal is to encourage collaborative solutions that support both aviation safety and Sedona's dark-sky environment.

Sample Letters

An example letter you can adapt.

Personal messages are often more effective than form letters. The example below shows one way to frame your concern while supporting aviation safety. Adapt it to reflect your own observations and connection to Sedona.

Sample Letter

A respectful request for review

Dear [Official Name],

I am writing to share a concern regarding the visibility of the Sedona Airport beacon and its impact on Sedona's nighttime environment.

Beginning around mid-December, I began noticing a recurring flash of light approximately every four seconds throughout the night. From my location, the beacon's light appears visible across portions of the surrounding landscape and has become noticeably more prominent than in previous years.

I fully support aviation safety and appreciate the important role the airport plays in our community. My concern is not with the existence of the beacon, but whether its current brightness, angle, or shielding may be creating more light spill than necessary.

Sedona's dark sky is one of the community's most treasured resources and an important part of the experience enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. I respectfully ask that the airport and appropriate stakeholders review whether reasonable mitigation measures — such as shielding, angle adjustments, filtering, or other approved solutions — might reduce unnecessary light spill while maintaining safe airport operations.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate your service to our community and your willingness to review this concern.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Neighborhood, City, or Relationship to Sedona]