| Salt Lake City |
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| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
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| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
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| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
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| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
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| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
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| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
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| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
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| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
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| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
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| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
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Business Soars at Small Airports
John Hollenhorst
KSL-TV
A lot of big shots are flying to tiny airports in out of the way places, because of security restrictions. News Specialist John Hollenhorst has the suprising details.
The restrictions on air traffic around Salt Lake City in the last two weeks have been troublesome — even devastating — for some businesses. The helicopter-ski industry, for example.
But it's been a big boon to aviation interests in key locations.
You never know who's going to be flying into Evanston these days.
"Can't tell you who all's flying. It's a private jet and that's why they use it," says charter pilot Kris Smith.
Whether it's a Cessna Citation, a Gulfstream or a Lear Jet, the big-money planes are coming in for the Olympics. Last weekend, there were 25 jets parked overnight, three nights in a row.
Airport manager Mike LaSalle says, "I've never seen that here. Not 25 jets. No, never."
Normally a tanker truck brings in aviation fuel about once a month. During the Olympics it's been once a day.
The passengers are business bigwigs, Olympic sponsors, high-rollers, and every now and then a celebrity or two.
"Well, I guess we did have the vice premier of Russia come through, which I didn't realize until after she was here," Lasalle says. "And then Howie Mandel."
Pennsylvania businessman Matt DeSoto is already on his second trip to the Salt Lake Olympics.
"I ended up flying my girlfriend home, then came back with some work associates today," he told us.
So why is Evanston suddenly the airport of choice for jet-setting Olympic visitors?
It's because Evanston is just outside the 45 nautical mile protective limit that security officials drew around Salt Lake City.
Private planes that land inside the circle are required to land first at gateway airports in Nevada, Idaho or Colorado.
"You have to stop at that airport, get searched by the FBI, take all your stuff off, get back on. Now you're allowed to go back to Salt Lake City. Once you're in Salt Lake City, you also get searched," Smith explains.
In Evanston, National Guardsmen do spot checks. But you and your jet won't be delayed by searches or intermediate stops.
"Come in to here, you're only 60 miles away," DeSoto says. "So you can drive in. It's a lot simpler."
Some other airports outside the security zone are also busy, busy, busy with jet traffic. That includes Logan and Wendover. The airport in Nephi has also been jumping. But they handle only light aircraft, not the big corporate jets.
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February 22, 2002
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