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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER IS, MW 8 The Kanab Airport is much more than an airport By Barbara Pyles Recently, 1 paid a visit to the Kanab Airport. When I walked into the terminal, Dick Brewer, airport manager, and his wife, SLarlotte, greeted me. We sat down to chat over steaming cups of coffee. "Whoa, this is a lot nicer than when 1 had been here before.1 The Kanab Airport held an Open House in April to show off the improvements made at the airport, but I had missed it. This enthusiastic couple, and few a other hardworking people, put in personal time and money remodeling the airport to make it more homelike. "Many people have to sit here for a few hours, and we want them to be comfortable, said Brewer. In June of 1946, Mayor L. Elmer Jackson called a special council meeting and appointed Claude M. Glazier as chairperson of the aiiport project.The Federal Government and the State of Utah took care of the major part of the traveling by car stop here before Who pays for improvements? And how does the airport make money? Accordingto Brewer, the federal government pays ninety percent of capital improvements made to the airport. The average citizen that has nothing to do with the airport, never pays for capital improvements, he explained. For example when you buy fuel for your car, youre paying for improvements for the roads . Ifyou dont drive, you dont pay for the Kanab Airport managers cost. Over theyears, the Kanab Airport has played an important roll in the progress of Kanab. During the building of the Glen Canyon Dam, the airport proved to be of great economic value. Every year since, many movie companies and other business interests have come to Kanab that would have otherwise gone elsewhere (from History ofKane County ). Since that time, the airport has been maintained and Sharlotte added, Tourists improved. going into Kanab. Sometimes its almost like a visitor center. Kanabs scenery, and because it is centrally located between Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, draws hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. A good many of them stop at the Kanab Airport for information. Convenience, comfort and friendly service is the hallmark of any business. Thanks to the Brewers, the Kanab Aiiport is in good hands. The airport, owned by the City of Kanab, is at an elevation of 4864 ft. It is located two miles south of Kanab at 2370 S. Hwy 89A and is open to the public. In March of 1946, Kanab was without an airport. So, Flight Officer Emron Findlay Robinson landed his Piper Cub in a pasture east of Kanab. two-passeng- er roads.1 Sharlotte added. If you have a plane you buy fuel, the fuel tax helps pay for improvements. But if you dont have a plane.. Brewer says most of the profits from the sale of airplane fuel goes to the city. Other sources of income for the city come from private citizens who rent hang- Mead Air. Dick and Sharlotte Brewer with local pilot Shea Houston, who offers scenic flights for Lake Photo by Barbara Pyles. an individual builds a hanger at the airport, the city leases them the land for a small amount. After about a twenty year period, the city owns the hanger. Its a good deal for everyone,15 The person buildBrewer. says the hanger has a reasonable ing ers to store airplanes. Also, when rate.The city gains another capital improvement on the airport without putting a dollar of their money into it.Last June, the Kaibab Fire - weather to clear. We have a courtesy car for them to use, says Sharlotte. Or we may take them into town. Airports offer a variety of services, and the Kanab Airport is no different. Shea Houston flies scenic flights for Lake Mead Air from the airport. We take off and go down to Mount Trumble, do a 90 degree turn and come up the Colorado River, over the Kaibab and back into Kanab, he says. His other picturesque flights soar to Biyce, Zion, Lake Powell, and Monument Valley. brought additional use of the airport by the Forest Service, increasing revenue to the city. Private businesses also gain income because of the airport. Many of the people who fly into The KC Amateur Radio Club the Kanab Airport stay in motels, eat at restaurants, rent cars took part in a spook patrol and patronize other places of Halloween night, October 31. business. The purpose of the patrol was Who uses the airports 6,000 to assure the "ghosts and gobfoot runway? Its a public air- lins of a safe evening. They diport and everyone is entitled to vided the town into sections. use it, says Brewer. Besides With mobile radios they were private use, the airport is used able to keep in contact with each by Life Flight, the Forest Ser- other. Should there have been a vice, Kaibab, BLM, Energy Fu- problem incident they would els, government officials, and law have been able to communicate enforcement agencies. Ofcourse with the police dispatcher via the annual Memorial Day Air- Ham Radio through the dub craft Fly-i- n keeps the airport "autopatch. Fortunately there were no incidents hopping. "We are starting to get a lot of The KC Amateur Radio Club transient traffic, says Brewer. meets on the second Thursday The pilots know they can get of every month. The Catholic sendees here 24 hours a day. Church is gracious enough to He explained that ifthe weather lend the use of their serial hall is bad beyond Kanab, pilots will for these meetings. Meetings are fuel up at the Kanab Airport held at 7 p.m. The next schedand go into Kanab to wait for the uled meeting will be on N ovem- - HAM Lorin Tonks 310 s 100 E Kanab, Utah 644-268- 3 Lilia a soon r.alclzZor, is tltsra . State Form insurance Companies Home offices: Bloomington, lllinoli Shea says he will charter Ms plane to wherever a person wants to go. Have you ever dreamed of flying?. Well, you can fulfill your fantasies by living them. Call the airport to find outmore about taking flying lessons. In addition, the airport offers UPS services. Get your package in by 1 p.m. and they will go out the same day. Brewer, who has a private pilot certificate and is working on Ms commercial license, took over as Airport Manager in March. Radio spook patrol her 14. Anyone interested in this exciting hobby is invited to attend these meetings A license is not required tolearn more about tMs group. A beginners license class is planned to begin about November 26. If there are members of the community who are interested please contact either the dub 6 or president N7KDU at the instructor KG7SR at either 644-883- 644-256- 0 or 644-234Weneed to know if there will be enough interest tohave a dass. Alsoplanned is an upgrade dass TMs may be held on Saturdays As code is required to upgrade, this will be one of the points of emphasis For more information on upgrading contact either WA7RDC at 4 4 or N7PBX at All HAM dasses are free except for 0. 644-265- 644-286- study materials . |