Pub. 2 2019-2020 Issue 3

21 The Power of Airports Airports can fuel economic development and lift the local economy off the ground. Airport improvement projects are key to raising the economic profile of the sur- rounding region. The Cedar City Regional Airport itself occupies 1,040 acres and has two runways, 2-20 and 8-26. The airport currently serves the following: • Air charter operators • Air taxi operators • Pilots and passengers • Scheduled air carriers for cargo and passengers Origin of the Airport The airport’s initial construction occurred in 1929when the federal government installedan emergency landing strip for airmail. The Cedar City Chamber of Commerce recommended that Cedar City receive control of the airport in July 1931, and control transferredMarch 1938. In 1941, a CAA grant of $287,000 enabled civic leaders to level and grade the airfield. They had two runways built, fenced and lighted the boundary, and added a beacon. SouthernUtahUniversity (thencalledBranch Agricultural College) began training pilots in1938, andstill uses theairport for flight training today. Commercial airline service started in 1951, and the airport currently has SkyWest Airlines providing daily flights to and fromCedar City. Today, the Cedar City Corporation owns the Cedar City Regional Airport, and the airport boardconsistsof volunteers fromour local com- munity who are appointed by the mayor and represent the city. The Airport Board consists of eight boardmembers who assist the airport manager and staff in management decisions related to the airport rules and regulations. Airport Boardmeetings arepubliclyheldmeet- ings, andtheboard invites allwhohavean inter- est in aviation to attend. These meetings are a great way for individuals to be kept up-to-date on current events at the airport. Renovation Happening Now Cedar City Regional Airport is currently undergoing a runway reconstruction project with Sunroc Corporation, a UAPA Member. The scope of the project includes the following: • ReconstructingRunway2-20andrehabilitating Runway 8-26. The pavement on runway 2-20 was 24-55years old; a runway’s lifeexpectancy is 20 years.The asphalt onportions of Runway 8-26 was 49 years old. • Correcting Runway 2-20’s nonstandard cross slope at intersections, areas where water ponds during storms (a safety issue), a nonstandard longitudinal slope, and nonstandard lighting where Runway 2-20 intersects with Runway 8-26. • Relocating awildlife fence near Runway 2-20 outside the object free area. Also, theMALSR lighting system needed replacement after more than 30 years, and after more than 25 years, so did the lighting and signing system on the airfield. The airport has gone through and renamed its taxiways and intersec- tions leading onto the main runway. These changes will conform with a more logical configuration that will bring the airport’s layout plan more in line with the FAA’s rec- ommended standard. These changes will reduce risk and allow pilots to avoid loss of situational awareness. • Finally, the existing irrigation box culvert and pond dikes needed to be moved outside the airport property. This change will increase safety and functionality for the airport while still allowing the irri- gation company to provide water to all those property owners that rely on it west of the airport. Cedar City is excited about these improve- ments. The new and improved runway will meet all of the FAA design standards and will provide the community with a runway that will allow the community to benefit from businesses that choose to fly in and out of Cedar City. Many of the local factories and businesses use the airport. Some of these businesses that rely on the airport include: • BLM Tanker Base • Charlotte Pipe • FedEx • Life Flight • Rocky Mountain Retina