Officials with a number of aviation associations including the Utah Business Aviation Association (UBAA), the Utah Airport Operators Association (UAOA), the Utah General Aviation Association (UGAA), and the Utah Back Country Pilots Association, are optimistic that a new coalition will boost support for general aviation in the State.
It’s hoped that the new Utah Aviation Coalition will have a bigger voice in the state, in particular with regard to how state aviation funds are allocated. Richard Stehmeier, CM, Airport Manager for St. George Regional Airport, said one of the goals is to make sure that the money in the aviation fund, which is supposed to be restricted to aviation interests, is used properly. He also hopes the clout of an all-state aviation coalition will positively impact the influence of general aviation with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), of which the Division of Aeronautics is a relatively small part.
Jared Esselman, Director of the Division of Aeronautics, said rather than having five to seven groups always making requests and proposals in all different directions, the Utah Aviation Coalition provides “a unified voice on major issues for the aviation industry in Utah.” The Coalition will meet with Esselman once a quarter to discuss budgets, airport projects, and aviation programs across the state. “They then communicate back to their association memberships,” said Esselman. “They also have a unified voice when it comes to legislative efforts. That is a much-needed function for aviators in the state.”
Organizers noted that the coalition is already working closely with several state legislators, informing them about the need to protect the restricted fund and their concerns about how the state will pay for some potential aircraft purchases it is considering. All the groups in the coalition have a stake in how aviation fund monies are spent, especially since they are vital to helping receive matching grants from the FAA.
