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Show Airports airplanes important to community growth Ever think what the local airport means to us as a community and state? You probably think first about someone you know who got bit by the flying bug, and talks about nothing but airplanes and flying and his or her experiences. You may think they are just a little nuts to get their main kicks from punching holes in the sky. Some of us undoubtedly have never considered the idea of climbing in one of those little planes and going along for a ride, or heaven forbid! actually flying-one of those things. We, and Utah generally, owe a lot to those airports and airplanes and those people who call themselves "flyers" or pilots. Think about the services they provide. There is good medical care for all Utahns because of the speedy transportation tran-sportation of patients, professionals and medical supplies to and from the metropolitan areas. Aerial applicators are important to the success of our agricultural crops; fertilizing, seeding, applying pesticides, and even doing a type spraying which hastens spring removal of the snow pack. And, aerial cloud-seeding cloud-seeding has brought additional moisture from reluctant clouds over the Beehive state. We have fish and wildlife in relative abundance thanks to the use of aircraft in planting fingerlings in remote lakes and reservoirs, and as a result of management information gained from aerial counts of big game herds. You can get into backcountry for recreation with small aircraft and they are sometimes the same planes that find you when you get in trouble. Where recreation is concerned, it is airplanes that bring skiers and their dollars to the Wastach Mountains and vacationers to other parts of our state. And, if you really have a desire to see Europe, the Orient or some other part of the world, you can do it in a two-week vacation starting from your airport, thanks to airplanes and pilots. There's more, when you start thinking about it, and this is the time to think about it. Governor Matheson just declared the week of April 27 through May 3, Utah General Aviation Week. Pilots and FBO's (Fixed Based Operators those guys who fix airplanes and sell the tires, gas and other items needed by members of your community who fly), are descending on St. George for their annual get-together. When they get home, tell 'em you like 'em. They make our life here in Utah better. |