Wild Blue Yonder

A pilot who will perform in the Warriors Over the Wasatch Air Show at Hill Air Force Base this weekend practices an arial acrobatics routine northeast of Brigham City’s airport on Wednesday, June 20.

BC gets sneak peak at air show acrobatics

Residents of Brigham City had a little preview of the Warriors Over the Wasatch air show, taking place at Hill Air Force Base this weekend.

For a couple of hours on the morning of Wednesday, June 20, a pilot and his plane put on an arial acrobatics showcase northeast of the Brigham City Airport.

Brigham City’s public works director and airport manager, Tyler Pugsley, said the city was approached about a year ago by several acrobatic pilots looking to use the airport as a practice facility prior to the airshow. Such activities require the airport to designate a specific area, called an acrobatics box, for the safety of the acrobat and other pilots who might be flying in to the area.

Pugsley said a possible area northeast of the airport was identified. Although approval from property owners isn’t required when establishing an acrobatics box, Pugsley said “good faith” efforts were made to contact those with property in and around the area.

Pugsley said that Brigham City’s airport was attractive because there is less traffic than other airports, like Ogden.

“Our airport is more user-friendly,” Pugsley said.

A temporary acrobatics box was approved for the small group of pilots for 10 days in April and June 13-21.

In other potential airport developments, a skydiving group has recently expressed interest in using Brigham City’s airport, and perhaps even relocating all of their activities here.

Pugsley said the airport committee is updating its standard and requirements in preparation for that eventuality.

“We’re trying to be proactive with this,” Pugsley said.