Pilot wants Ogden airport to stay put, despite multiple crashes

OGDEN, Utah (KUTV) — After several plane crashes over the years, including one last Wednesday, it’s been suggested that the Ogden airport needs to move or something else needs to be done.

After last week's crash,Roy Mayor Robert E. Dandoy told 2News his idea to move the airport to west Weber County.

MORE:Small plane crash raises questions about Ogden Hinckley Airport's proximity to homes

A previous plane crash victim warned another crash will happen if nothing is done.

But, a pilot at the airport said some of the suggestions just won't fly.

Just from looking at it, you'd probably never guess the Ogden airport to be as busy as it is.

"Ogden Airport sees around 290 flights a day,” said Erik Johanson, a pilot there.

Johanson flies out of the airport nearly daily and has worked there for years, so he knows about its operations.

When he hears suggestions like moving the airport after a crash like the one last week, he can't help but disagree.

“That’s not a solution,” he said. “You can’t move this airport. There are too many resources here, there’s been too much invested in it.”

Johanson doesn’t think there’s a problem with the airport, but he does admit there are challenges as a pilot.

He said their airspace butts up against Hill Airforce Base's airspace, which requires them to fly 200 feet lower than most airports.

They also have to turn sooner because of where Hill's airspace begins.

He thinks there are ways to improve, but said it’ll take some work to figure out what those might be.

“By analyzing certain accidents or certain things that have happened in the past, by talking to other pilots, by talking to air traffic control, by talking to the airport manager, and people who actually know what happens here, we can come up with solutions,” he said.

Last week a spokesperson for the City of Ogden told 2News that the airport remains compliant with FAA standards and is inspected annually.

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