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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES' November 29, 2007 Conference center credits base for growth UPDATE From page 1 BY TOM BUSSELBERG Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau tbusselberg@standard.net L AYTON — When previous Davis County commissioners expressed a need for a conference center, Hill Air Force Base was a strong factor in support of the now 3Hi year-old facility. Already demand and use of the center have been so strong that construction-is continuing on an expansion'that will double its size, with completion set for April, said Scott Lunt, general manager and CEO. In addition to overseeing the county-owned conference center, he manages the adjacent and connected Hilton Garden Inn, which has 147 guest rooms, a restaurant and a private club. "If the base went away, so would a lot of the lodging," said Lunt, a veteran of many years in the business. "I would say 70 percent of our business is base-related." That figure would count not only military guests or those visiting the base, but also aerospace companies and related businesses. "We do an average of 20 or more baserelated conferences or meetings a year," said assistant manager Dave Hilliard. "We host a lot of prestigious events, such as the A-10 Review that's coming in January, or the AFA (Air Force Association) Focus on Defense Symposium in June," Lunt said. The A-10 Review will bring in more than 250 attendees while the AFA event draws about 400 people. This time of the year, there are many Christmas and holiday parties, from a handful of people to groups of hundreds. Among those are festive events booked by the 419th and 388th fighter wings. "We hosted the going away party for Gen. Kevin Sullivan," Hilliard said. "One of the things we love about working with the base is their consistency. Those aren't 'filler,' but good business." And Lunt spoke of the well-organized way Air Force meetings are conducted at the center. "The technology we have, they love. And the efficiency of our layout works so well," Hilliard said. "We get rave reviews. The Conference Center is Davis County's MATTHEW HATFIELD/Standard-Examiner Construction workers work on the expansion of the Davis Conference Center in Layton on Nov. 17. Officials say Hill Air Force Base attracts visitors to Davis County and conferences at the center. first large venue that was built to host large gatherings and, with the addition, will enable hosting of meetings of as many as 2,000 attendees as well as accommodating large exhibits connected with many conferences and conventions. "Bringing all these new people here, and the proximity of the Conference Center to the base," have been positives, Hilliard said. Previously, such events had to be held in Ogden or Salt Lake City. The expansion was called for, officials have said, because the existing center is being used at capacity. "We're accommodating between 650 and 750 groups" during a year's time, Hilliard said. In fact, the center virtually reached capacity within one year, something that experts in the field said normally takes upwards of five years to accomplish. The center is only minutes from the base, accessible from Hill Field Road and sits in the "restaurant row" area of Layton, at 1651 N. 700 West (Heritage Park Boulevard). "If meeting groups have to shuttle from the base, it's close and convenient," said Lunt. "We are absolutely, very grateful for the base and the close proximity that we enjoy to it, as well as the relationships we have with the base," said Barbara Riddle, CEO of the Davis Convention & Visitors Bureau, whose offices share a parking lot with the Conference Center. said the new technology CCIP has brought to the helm has made his job as a pilot a lot easier. "The capabilities we have right now allow us to be better than we have ever been." Beginning in October and continuing through the winter, pilots from Hill will participate in night-flying training exercises at the Utah Test and Training Range. Schmidt said the new technology in the planes is a big reason why Hill conducts the night-flying sessions. "We have certain capabilities that are exclusively used in the dark," he said. Two elements in particular have proved to be invaluable during night combat operations, Schmidt said. One is the advanced targeting pods that allow pilots to fly at low altitudes — at night and under the weather — to attack ground targets with a variety of precision-guided and unguided weapons. The other is a new information system called Link 16. "The targeting pods are basically a targeting system for laser-guided bombs," said Sgt. Kevin White, specialist section supervisor with the 419th Fighter Wing. "There is an infrared scanning capability that the pilots train with at night. It's one of the primary reasons they fly night missions." The advanced targeting pods have provided pilots with never: before-seen technology to fight an increasingly mobile enemy, Schmidt said. "Today, there is no Iraqi army that we are fighting. It's just the insurgents, so our guys are on the ground trying to find these insurgents, and it's our job to support them. "With these advanced targeting pods, we can help track and monitor things they are interested in. We can follow them like a traffic cop in the sky." The Link 16 system, introduced to F-16s in 2004, is another valuable tool for fighter pilots, especially when flying at night, he said. "One of the best things we have right now is the Link 16 system. It's a joint standardized link system that is like an Internet for tactical operations." The system helps pilots keep formation at night, when visibility is low and other planes are occupying airspace, Schmidt said. "Sometimes it's kind of hard to tell if a guy is three miles away or 60 miles away. You see a flashing light in the distance, and you say to yourself, 'Is that my guy or just airline traffic?1" The Link 16 system allows intercomputer data exchange. "With Link 16, we have introduced the idea of sensor formations, meaning you don't have to physically see your guy," Schmidt said. "So instead of a one-mile formation, you might fly a three- to five-mile formation using sensors. It's the biggest factor for enabling our ability to fly at night and maintaining a variety of formations." Schmidt, an experienced combat veteran, will deploy to Iraq again in March. Although he has been deployed multiple times, flying in combat zones can still be unnerving, he said. However, knowing he is better equipped than anyone else goes a long way in quieting any doubts. "It's scary sometimes, but you realize nobody is better qualified. You just have to tell yourself you are trained and ready to do this." YOU'D TAKE AN OATH TO GET IT. Share the gift of life. 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