From Deseret News archives:
Travel perks hold steady
State-owned planes fly almost daily even as fuel prices keep rising
Huntsman told his cabinet Friday to make sure they only use state planes for essential trips. "He just wants to make sure that everybody is considering the use carefully," his spokeswoman, Tammy Kikuchi, said.
Even with the price increase, state Division of Aeronautics Director Pat Morley said he didn't expect use of the planes to slow down. "It's been steady," he said. "We don't have anyone just going for a joy flight . . . they're going for heavy-duty business."
Only two of the state's seven airplanes and two helicopters are regularly used by government officials — a pair of turboprops. The others belong to the state Department of Public Safety and the state Division of Wildlife Resources.
Right now, it costs state agencies $400 an hour to use the larger of the two jets, which seats eight. By the start of the new fiscal year, that will jump to $570 an hour, Morley said. The smaller jet, which seats six, will cost $465 an hour then, compared to $325 now.
The state pays about $3 a gallon for jet fuel, compared to the $5-plus it costs regular customers at the Salt Lake City International Airport. The bigger jet uses about 100 gallons of fuel per hour of flying time, Morley said.
Still, the flights can be cheaper than buying commercial airline tickets for several employees. Even at $570, the one-hour flight to St. George, for example, can be justified financially if the plane is full or close to it.
Plus, Morley said, many state agencies calculate the amount of time a trip can take by car when deciding whether to fly or drive. Flying can mean the difference between a same-day trip and an overnight stay.
"Really, it's a business tool used by the state agencies to get around efficiently," Morley said. So far this year, the biggest user is the Department of Health, which holds clinics throughout the state, followed by the Division of Facilities Construction and Management.
Today, he was scheduled to leave for Santa Fe with a delegation of legislative and political leaders to discuss the proposed Western states presidential primary with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
The most popular destination for the state planes is St. George, with 41 trips logged since January. Blanding is next, followed by Cedar City, Richfield, Price, Moab, Vernal and other cities throughout the state and region.
Most of the trips made by the state planes are within Utah, but there were flights to cities in Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado and Montana.
The 6-year-old planes, which would cost some $6 million apiece to replace, are "well used," Morley said, booked for travel an average of 400 hours annually. "They fly virtually every day."
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