Some private airplane owners are flying the coop, saying they can’t afford to move to St. George’s new airport. Members of the Airport Users Association, a loosely knit group of private pilots, trainers, business owners and other tenants who fly out of the city’s current airport, say the City of St. George is saddling them with unfair costs if they want to move to the new facility, expected to open in January.
Most of the daily traffic at the airport comes from private planes - there are only six daily commercial flights to Salt Lake City - but the number of planes could fall as they city moves into its $160 million new facility. The new airport will offer more services, better safety and a chance for commercial operations to expand, and city officials contend tenants who plan to move will have to accept the costs involved.
Rates and fees are headed up, as well as safety requirements. One of the most contentious issues is a requirement to have sprinkler systems in the hangars for fire protection, something association members say is unnecessary and could add more than $10,000 to building costs for even smaller hangars that already cost in excess of $50,000. The Spectrum
