Booming St. George sees a new airport as vital to its future

ST. GEORGE — Summer temperatures are back — but the real sizzle this year in Utah's Dixie is the economy. With sales up 12 percent, unemployment half the state's average and an apparently unrelenting surge in the number of newcomers, economists and local officials see nothing but blue skies ahead.

And big planes in those skies — as well as a brand new airport for the future to land on.

The St. George of tomorrow has already outgrown the city's single-lane, geologically bound mesa airport near downtown. Lengthening it or otherwise making it suitable to larger jets — those that carry more than 30 passengers — is impossible.

"Because of the growth that is forecast in aviation activity, which is driven by population and economic growth in the area, these deficiencies are projected to increase substantially through 2020," states an environmental assessment of the current St. George airport filed with the Federal Aviation Administration.

That's why St. George Mayor Dan McArthur and Washington County economic development director Scott Hirschi have their sights set on a $78 million airport.

"We have to have it," both are in the habit of saying lately.

The new airport has even become election talk. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and his challenger, Republican John Swallow, have both vowed their support.

One of the new airport's most ardent supporters is current airport manager David Ulane.

"We're getting unbelievable numbers," said a clearly excited Ulane, in reference to the number of paying passengers boarding SkyWest flights in and out of the city's airport. "May revenue passengers were up a whopping 35 percent from last May."

Ulane's enthusiasm for his job cranks up another notch when he talks about the future.

"We've got huge support from the Federal Aviation Administration for the new airport site," Ulane said. Federal funds will pay for 95 percent of the airport; local and state funds the remainder, he said. "We are breaking new ground here and being very deliberate. We want this to be watertight."

Located about five miles southeast of St. George, the new airport site of 1,458 acres takes in neighboring Washington City, which means both city councils and other landowners must work together on the project.

"There are 26 property owners out there that we need to work with," Ulane said. "We've got kind of a blank slate when it comes to determining the land use plan around the airport. One thing we'd like to do is get a set of ordinances together that both cities and the landowners can agree on."