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Sam Penrod reportingThat deadly plane crash last week near Provo has brought renewed calls for an air traffic control tower at the airport.
The airport's traffic has -increased dramatically in recent years and city officials believe a control tower will make air traffic in and out of Provo -safer.
There is no evidence a lack of a control tower had anything to do with last week's crash, the cause of which is still under investigation.
But the crash is giving more steam in the push for a control tower at the Provo Airport.
Every day, there are an average of 400 take offs and landings at the Provo Airport.
But with no air traffic control tower, pilots don't radio for permission, instead just broadcast their flight plans on a channel that all planes in the area monitor.
"PROVO TRAFFIC, NINER TANGO 31 FINAL PROVO"
But with between 175- and 200- thousand flights a year from the airport, Provo City officials say the airport has become so busy a control tower is needed.
Michael Mower/Provo City Spokesman - "MICHAEL MOWER: A LOT OF THAT TIES INTO STUDENT FLIGHTS WITH UVSC AND OTHER PRIVATE PROGRAMS AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE THOSE BUT WE FEEL THAT A CONTROL TOWER WILL DRAMATICALLY INCREASE SAFETY, NOT ONLY FOR PILOTS AND PASSENGERS BUT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF PROVO WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA."
Some pilots say the lack of a tower and coordination of air traffic could lead to a mid air or runway accident.
City officials are lobbying for the two million dollars needed to construct a control tower. Federal funds will cover about half of that, the city must come up with the rest. And despite city budget crunches, city officials still say a control tower is still a top priority.
"Mike Mower/Provo City Spokesman - "WE FEEL ITS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY WORTHWHILE FOR OUR CITY FOR RESIDENTS, PILOTS AND STUDENTS, TO HELP MAKE AIR TRAVEL SAFER HERE IN UTAH COUNTY."
Provo recently formed an airport committee to look for ways to make an air traffic control tower part of the Provo Airport.
