Frequently Asked Questions
The Flightpath project team continually answers questions from the community and posts them here. Check back often for new questions and answers.
Geographic
Why do we need to be concerned about what other airports are doing in the surrounding area?
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Change 2, Airport Master Plans, requires that the airport service area and the presence and role of airports that might compete with the study airport be described (Section 604. b., page 30). This question is answered in part in Chapter 2. Socioeconomic Overview and Background (Section 2.1 Area and Airport Overview, Area Airports, page 5).
I heard that the airport is only used by people who live in Park City. What value does the airport provide the Heber community?
- Emergency medical flights
- Aerial firefighting flights
- Law enforcement flights
- Flight training
- Time-sensitive cargo services
- Business travel
- Personal travel
- Agricultural functions
- Livable wage aeronautical jobs
- Public events and museums
Understanding the scope of services available at Heber Valley Airport helps to explain its critical role in travel, transportation, and infrastructure. The Heber Valley Airport also offers facilities for pilots, refueling and refreshing. Other services include offering conference rooms, flight crew quarters, and aircraft mechanical services.
In terms of aircraft and hangar owners, the demographics are as follows:
- 45% – Park City Area
- 45% – Heber Valley
- 8% – Other Utah residence
- 2% – Other places outside Utah
Is there any way to keep HCR small without shutting it down?
What can we do to move the airport? What would it take?
These questions will be answered as part of the Development Alternatives chapter.
How will the airport affect the surrounding cities?
Is the proximity of schools to the flight path of jet traffic being considered in the Master Plan?
Is the Transfer Station location in the RPZ being considered in the Master Plan?
If my house needs to move, will I get compensation?
What does expansion mean in terms of this project? Does it mean increasing traffic? Acquiring more land?
This question will be answered as part of the Forecast, Facility Requirements, and Development Alternatives chapters.
Safety and Environmental
How safe is the airport? Have there been many accidents?
This question is answered in Chapter 2. Socioeconomic Overview and Background (Section 2.3 Aircraft Accidents, page 11).
What safety considerations will be made for surrounding area?
This question will be answered as part of the Facility Requirements, Development Alternatives, and Compliance (Land Use) chapters.
What kind of noise considerations will be made?
Will the louder traffic increase after the Master Plan is complete?
What is the environmental impact of increased air traffic?
Can we instate a noise curfew or other limits?
How much fuel is burned from large craft?
If larger planes use the airfield for emergency situations at the same time as smaller craft, who dictates the air traffic considering the difference in approach speeds?
Operations
Is commercial service coming to the airport?
If the City makes design criteria improvements at the airport, what prevents even larger aircraft, like passenger jets (commercial air service) from using the airport?
Can the City limit the number and type of aircraft using Heber Valley Airport?
Can we prevent larger planes from utilizing the Heber Valley Airport?
Can we just close the Heber Valley Airport?
Are you putting in a control tower?
Who sets regulations for the size, speed, and noise of air traffic operations in and out of HCR?
What do B-II and C-II mean? What is HCR rated as now?
Are private jets considered commercial?
How common are NetJets at the Heber Airport?
Cargo aircraft: what does that look like at HCR? Will it benefit the community more than trucking?
What does expansion mean in terms of this project? Does it mean increasing traffic? Acquiring more land?
Is the data for operations made available?
What are the current dimensions of HCR’s runway?
Are aircraft at or above C-II landing at HCR currently?
Which classification of aircraft is the loudest?
Project Planning and Timeline
What is an Airport Master Plan and why do we need one?
In the last few years, Heber City Airport has seen an increase in small business jet traffic. The runway at Heber City Airport was designed for aircraft with much slower approach speeds than the aircraft that now use our airport. Because we have more than 500 operations (takeoffs or landings) by these business jets each year, the FAA has strongly encouraged Heber City to prepare an update of the airport master plan so the City can make a well-informed decision about the future airport development of the airport in light of its existing and predicted future traffic.
Is a Master Plan required?
What is the process for the Airport Master Plan update?
Do you have copies of other Master Plans that you could provide?
What are Grant Assurances, and why do we have to abide by them?
When is the final decision going to be made?
How do we find out who is on the committees (CAC and TAC)?
How were the committees selected?
When is the next public meeting? Will we be notified? How?
This question is answered in part by the project timeline posted on the Flightpath website here. In addition to posting upcoming public meetings on the Flightpath event calendar, the team will also share the announcement via blog post and alert, social media, and local advertising options such as the Wasatch Wave.