Two recent occurrences have emphasized once again the need for equipping the Provo Airport with the Terminal Omni Range (TVOR) radio directional device for instrument landings.
The first occurrence was the plane crash less than two weeks ago in which 13 Salt Lake persons met death in a plane crash near Camp Williams. Local aviation officials believe that the Provo Airport, with the benefit of TVOR, could have guided the pilot by his instruments to a safe trip despite weather hazards he encountered.
The second occurrence has been the fog which for the past few days has shrouded the area from the Point of the Mountain on the south, to Brigham City on the north, to Wendover on the West, including the Salt Lake and Ogden Airports.
During the fog many private planes and Frontier Airline have used the Provo Airport successfully when they could not land at Salt Lake.
However, the major, regularly-scheduled transcontinental airlines will not use the Provo airport until it gets beam navigation equipment. The Federal Aviation previously has turned down n Provo request for TVOR. But this week, application is being submitted in writing by the Provo Chamber of Commerce Aviation Committee and Provo City, with the endorsement of the State Aeronautics Commission, Robert Walker director.
The application, it is understood, will go to Vaughn Clayton of Salt Lake City, area manager for FAA, who undoubtedly will forward it to officials of the agency in Washington.
The Provo Airport has made big strides in the past several years in improving its capability and versatility in handling aircraft ranging from small private planes to the big airlines.
One of the more significant recent improvements was the rebuilding of the 7100 runway, deepening the base to provide greater impact strength.
Today, this runway can handle even the 727 jetliners used by major airlines.
The Provo Airport now has a weather reporting station which provides reports every six hours on weather conditions to flight stations. The information is available throughout the country.
Further, direct communication with planes and flight stations has been established through a direct line to the FAA flight service station at Salt Lake City for filing of flight plans, weather briefing, etc.
The airport also has two other runways of 6800 and 5600 foot lengths which can handle medium-size transports as well as the wide range of smaller aircraft. At least one of these runways, it is understood, is due for resurfacing in the not-too-distant future.
Thus, about the only thing the Provo Airport now lacks is the TVOR which enables pilots to “home in” on the runways from any direction. Such a device would be a great boon not only for convenience sake but in saving lives.
The aviation committee of the Chamber of Commerce has a verbal commitment from one major airline that it will recommend approval of TVOR for Provo, and is soliciting the support of other lines.
Provo area citizens who have been inconvenienced this week by inability of the airlines to land at Salt Lake should join in the campaign by writing to these carriers, urging their help in backing Provo’s application before the FAA.
Obviously, from reports filtering to Provo, many people, including many fliers are uninformed concerning the excellent facilities at the Provo Airport. Perhaps a campaign should be undertaken to publicize it.
Besides the advantages already cited, the location of the Provo Airport is an important factor, with unobstructed approaches, and weather that frequently is clear when airports to the north are fogged-in.
Air traffic at the Provo Airport has increased tremendously in the past decade. It is bound to continue its upward curve. Surely we are ready for the Terminal Omni Range equipment. Now is the time to convince federal authorities. The help of every responsible organization, individual or agency would be welcomed.