Other than Salt Lake International, Utah has very little access to airline services. Some cities in Utah are more than a 3 hour drive from airline service. Local airports are a valuable asset to Utah’s outlying communities.
In this video produced by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) actor Harrison Ford discusses the value that local airports provide to communities.
Here is a list of ways Utah benefits from General Aviation airports
- Jobs and Technological Advancements – Utah is home to many successful and innovative aerospace companies which provide thousands of jobs and develop products used in military and commercial aviation and space applications. These highly technical jobs coupled with the highly educated graduates from Utah schools help our economy flourish and make Utah a prime location for more businesses.
- Revenue (taxes on aviation services such as fuel) – Tax is collected on the sales of fuel used in helicopters and airplanes.
- EMS – Air Medical Transportation – People living in communities far from large hospitals and specialized medical services can still have access to treatment. Persons in critical condition can be transported directly from their community via helicopter or airplane (with all of the life support services) to an area where they can receive the care they need. Click here to find out about an organization that does this.
- Wildfire Fighting – Local airports allow firefighting aircraft the ability to refuel and reload fire retardant much closer to a fire, saving the crews time and fuel. This becomes a huge cost savings to the public.
- Flight Training/Education – Utah has several universities and colleges with provide flight training, preparing students for careers as airline or corporate pilots. Every airline pilot had to learn to fly in smaller aircraft. Local airports provide Utah with many locations for student flight training, moving the most of the instructional air traffic away from the busier Salt Lake International airport. If local general aviation airports are closed down, the flight training would increase the traffic at Salt Lake International, likely causing an increase in delays.
- Business and Economic Growth – Businesses that bring new jobs to the Utah usually establish their operations in areas which are easily accessible. In Utah, areas like Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo, businesses can easily access Salt Lake airport for their business travel. For a Utah business to locate further from Salt Lake City, means increased travel time. Smaller communities in outlying part of Utah are in need of economic growth, but cannot provide the same airline travel capabilities. Local airports provide a solution to this problem by allowing companies and individuals the ability to save time and resources by using air travel.
- Medical Specialist Transportation – Outlying parts of Utah do not usually have specialized medical clinics. Local airports allow medical specialists to expand their serviceable area and provide these small communities with the services they need.
- Aviation is Magic - Children dream of soaring through the air like birds upon the wind. Aviation creates a sense of freedom and challenge. It inspires kids to dream and to go beyond the technological boundaries around them.
- Tourism/Recreation – Many people come from outside the state to experience Utah’s one of a kind landscapes. Aviation provides tourists easy access to many of Utah’s remote (but beautiful) areas. Many pilots in Utah fly for recreational purposes. Both tourists and locals purchase fuel and other services provided at local airports.
- Agriculture – Aircraft are used to help farmers effectively use alfalfa, corn, wheat and barley farm land all over Utah. Airplanes drop seeds on the fields early in the spring, spray insecticide and herbicide to quickly fight off invasions of insects, and use sophisticated camera equipment to help farmers get the most use of their water.
- Predator Control – In northern Utah many farmers make their living off of sheep. Coyotes often attack vulnerable young lambs, killing off many of the farmer’s flock. Aircraft are used to hunt coyotes (classified as varmints) and preserve the sheep herds.
- Civil Air Patrol – Search & Rescue
- Law Enforcement