Another huge impact from the loss of these airports will be the rescue operations and the ability to respond to disasters. Planes and helicopters that drop fire retardant from the air use the small community airports to get more supplies and fuel. Rescue pilots utilize the airports to transport personnel and drop off evacuees before returning to save more lives. Without these airports, the planes flying to and from the fires would be forced to take more time between trips and spend less time fighting the blaze. The consequences of the lack of small airports means that the response time of the firefighters would be severely limited, causing untold damage to our forests, communities and, most importantly, our citizens.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has the right idea, though. Soon after the Senate Commerce Committee delivered S1300, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, under the leadership of Reps. James Oberstar and Jerry Costello, introduced a bill that has the full support of the general aviation community. This bill would retain the current fuel tax system while adjusting for inflation, and it provides historic funding for a modern and upgraded air traffic control system that secures general aviation's place in Utah's skies. General aviation pilots and airport operators, along with small businesses across America, now look to the members of the Senate Finance Committee as they draft their own proposal. We know that our own Sen. Orrin Hatch, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, will have a voice in the debate, and we strongly urge him to do the right thing and follow the lead of the House committee. By securing general aviation's future, we make sure we have pilots ready to take to the skies and do what they can to save homes, communities and the lives of Utahns and our neighbors.

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Steve Thompson is the executive director of the Utah Heritage Foundation and a member of the Logan City Council.