Hello all,

There's a good chance I will be moving to SLC later in the year and was hoping to get some input on where might be a good place to base my airplane. Looks like the immediate options are BTF, SLC, and U42. Can't really afford a hangar, but a shade hangar would be nice. I spoke to places at all 3 and looks like even tiedown spots at BTF are a year out, shade hangars at SLC are a couple months out, and U42 has tiedown space but a couple years for shade or T hangars.

That considered, are there any locals on here that could recomend one of the 3 for access, community, FBO, fuel, airspace, etc? I prefer small airports with a hometown FBO and cheap gas, but that doesn't seem like it'll happen. Is SLC GA friendly? Never thought I'd keep an airplane at a class B but I guess it's an option. Any insider leads on tiedown/hangar space?

Thanks!

Fly over or call to West Desert Airport/Rocky Mountain Kitplanes in Fairfield. They cater to exp. types mostly but would probably have some suggestions nearer to SLC.
801-766-0160

asa,

Shoot me a PM, it might be best to talk by phone. I'm based at U42 and can give you a pirep for the area.

Rich

Ground traffic in the SLC valley can be brutal. Don’t pick a airfield thirty miles away thinking it’ll be a thirty minute drive...

U42 isn’t too bad, but I can’t imagine basing out of SLC. I think that if that was my only option I’d sell my airplane. Even at U42 I’ve had to climb the fence to take off before the FBO opened so as to avoid the $60 call-out. You’d think they’d give me the gate code since I had an airplane parked there, but no.

Good luck. It’s beautiful country, just ridiculously crowded.

I bought my airplane at SLC and flew it home. It was almost 45 minutes of taxiing and waiting before I got off the ground. Flying out of there with any regularity would be miserable.

Not sure where you are going to live but I'd consider 42U (Morgan County) and EVW (Evanston WY). I've been in contact with the airport manager at EVW and he is great. I know it's a bit of a drive. KTVY Tooele would be worth considering as well. All are a bit of a drive depending on where you end up.

MW

Ok, I'll jump in here. If you live in the SLC valley, 42U Morgan and TVY Tooele are at best a 45 minute drive and closer to an hour of traffic is a factor. EVW Evanston is close to a two hour drive. BTF Bountiful Skypark is close but you have to deal with KSLC and class B. HCR Heber is an hour drive and the most GA unfriendly airport in the country. Just look it up on the AOPA site. OGD Ogden, UT9 West Desert and PVU Provo are better than an hour away on a good day with no traffic. That leaves U42 South Valley Regional, located just west of the middle of the valley. I live on the east bench and for those familiar with the area, between the Cottonwood canyons. Most days my drive to the airport has me in my hangar in 20-25 minutes. Evening rush hour extends it by ten minutes max. We're under the shelf of bravo, within the mode C boundary and required to be ADS-B out compliant. There is a long waitlist for hangars at U42 for good reason, it's not a shabby place to be. I have a million dollar view of the Wasatch Mountains from my hangar and spending a day hanging out cleaning and polishing the birds does not suck. Rent goes $375 for a fire sprinkled 40' hangar with a bifold door. I see hangars go well north of $500 at BTF. Notice I'm not saying anything about basing a airplane at KSLC? I've been there and it's not too bad but at airline peak times you can have a long wait and the taxi seems to take forever. One good thing, you get polished on your radio skills. As I fly into or out of U42 I use CTAF. Rarely do I talk to KSLC, and that's heading N,S,E or W. The scenery around here is second to none, mountain flying? check, dry Lake beds, check, Mexican Mountain, Hidden Splendor, Escalante, etc, etc., check, Las Vegas, Lake Powell, Jackson Hole, check, check, check. And let's not forget the Idaho backcountry, just next door. They are all close by air. There are so many good reasons to base out of U42 that a little bad is overshadowed. Now the bad, U42 is run by the Salt Lake Airport Authority. They act as the FBO and don't provide much to the GA community other than pump fuel. Fuel is reasonable for the area and at $5.05 right now. Self serve and off the truck is the same price for aircraft on the field. Air Center was here several years ago and it was a failure. Leading Edge Aviation was awesome but unfortunately the Airport Authority couldn't play nice and they left the airport. Leading Edge is based at KLGU Logan, a good place to stop at the north end of our state.

This went a lot longer than I intended. Utah is a great place to fly, and live. The Salt Lake Valley is experiencing incredible growth which really sucks for the old timers like me that remember the "better days". Do I want to see more pilots with the same aviation interests show up? Hell yes, the more the merrier.

Tailwinds, Rich

I appreciate all info very much Rich and others. I don't have a place yet, but plan to be living somewhere in South Lake City proper (what can I say, I'm young and dumb and trying to ruin the city with my heathenism). Using google maps from my friends house in a desirable area, U42 shows 23min drive. Not bad. Bountiful is 13min. KSLC is 7min. I will not be driving an hour+ to an airport.

Sounds like U42 is the spot. I'm on the shade hangar waitlist there and at SLC. Suppose I'll be tied down until then.

Thanks again everyone. Any other local tips that you think I need to know would be appreciated.

I was based at KSLC for 14 years until 2017. I loved the Class Bravo life because it kept me sharp - enjoyed mixing with the big boys and wasn't a big nuisance unless you are flying at peak times. You will get a shade or T-hangar there faster than anywhere else on your list. Weird that you can have an enclosed hangar to yourself at an International Airport for $275 / month... Its not ideal though and isn't for everyone. I work in a Corporate hangar there and it was nice to have the plane next door to work for many reasons.

I'm now at U42... got on the wait list and bugged Phil incessantly - still took over 2.5 years for a T. Its closer to my home and a better Airport to frequent if you end up there. Quick in and out.

BTF is expensive as mentioned. A little tight too. Probably has the best community feel. I have a lot of friends there and most have owned their hangars for some time and couldn't afford to buy one now. One of the only airports in the middle of a big city where you can buy the land under your hangar. $$$$

I long for the day I can buy a hangar at a small town airport but its not going to happen anytime soon. Not many Gulfstreams at Bear Lake County - 1U7

Hi, I'll send you a PM. But, I'll add my thoughts/questions here too. I'm also moving to the SLC area in 2021, w/ my 1941 Interstate Cadet (non electric). Flying out of SLC probably isn't an option for me.

I was just told by Phil at U42 that the T-hangar wait list is 3-5 years.

It looks like a neat back country community is developing down at UT9. I just got some details on some new Quonset hut hangars that are planned. They're bigger (50' x 64' x 22') and pricier (base price $200K) than I need. But, I might consider a partnership.

I'd like to hear an update on your search as well as any other suggestions.