'Desperately needed' or a nuisance? Utah County airport facing pushback from town residents

FAIRFIELD, Utah County — A dispute is brewing between the owners of a small, public-use airport and the neighboring town of less than 150 people.

The West Desert Airpark, in western Utah County, was started in 2002 by four veterans to build a grassroots aviation community they could share with the public. Mark Pringle, the only founder still alive, said the airpark has accomplished that with aviation events, internships, field trips and pilot training. The West Desert Airpark is also home to Rocky Mountain Kitplanes, the only light aircraft manufacturer in Utah, according to Pringle, and the West Desert Flight School.

"We were one of the first that really built anything in the town," Pringle said.

The airport operated through Utah County until 2004, when it came under the jurisdiction of the newly incorporated Fairfield town. In 2018, the airpark was designated a public-use airport by the Federal Aviation Administration.

As a nearby landfill expanded and received permission to be built taller, the airport had to relocate its runway so there would be adequate room for planes to descend. West Desert received three state grants to install a relocated runway built to FAA standards.

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An air show Saturday at the West Desert Airpark in Fairfield, featuring aerobatics, skydiving, cool cars and a pumpkin drop, marks a significant upgrade to the small public runway.

But the Pringles claim the town is now backing out of its approvals for additional airport expansion.

"The town said yes, but now that we went public and there's more traffic, the residents are saying, 'We don't like the airplanes. Never mind,'" said airport manager Alina Pringle. "The town now is fighting against us even existing."

In April 2025, the town passed a resolution halting applications related to the airpark until the town had formally adopted regulations for the zones. The resolution said there were "numerous concerning issues" in the zoning that, if left unfixed, could have a "countervailing interest against the public."

Right before the moratorium expired, the town passed the resolution again in September.

Mayor Hollie McKinney said the Town Council is working on clarifying regulations for aviation uses so "there is a transparent framework going forward." Applications are paused so "decisions can be made under consistent standards rather than piecemeal."

In a town of only 140 people, "everybody feels it," when the airpark's operations expand, the mayor said.

"From the town's perspective, this is about being fair to the airpark and fair to neighbors who are dealing with increased flights overhead, more noise and safety concerns close to their homes and property," McKinney said.

A recent petition signed by about half of Fairfield residents cited concerns of excessive noise, increased air traffic and alleged invasion of privacy from planes flying "low and slow over homes." The airport has become "unfit for the community," and residents do not "support the growth and expansion of an already invasive and under-regulated private airpark," the petition claims.

"We knew an airpark was in town, but we never agreed to having our peace, homes and property rights be controlled by one person's personal interest," the petition states.

Alina Pringle said a lot of the increased air traffic is due to the growth of the Provo Airport, which has planes begin their descent above the town. The Pringles said they've asked for feedback from residents and sent out letters to explain the noise abatement procedures they have implemented and altered flight patterns to accommodate residents.

"Their pushback is, they want their sleepy little town that nobody else can move into. They make it really hard for anybody to move into the town because they want to keep it to themselves," Mark Pringle said.

In December, the airpark was denied its business license renewal, which it has held for more than two decades. The denial stated that the airport was not in compliance with the town code and had expanded the runway without proper approval.

A letter from the airport's attorney, however, says those claims are inaccurate. The airport was issued a "runway permit" in August 2024, and two months earlier, the Town Council approved a master site plan for the airpark that included the relocated runway, the letter said. The airpark is appealing to get its license back.

A Utah Department of Transportation audit determined that the airpark was in full compliance with local ordinances and codes and had been approved by the town to construct the new runway.

"After more than two decades of continuous, compliant operation — and with the state's own audit confirming that compliance — the airport is being treated as though it has no right to exist," Alina Pringle said.

She said they have received letters of support from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and UVU aviation professors about how they need the airport to stay public for students.

"All other airports are just too busy; they are maxed out. It's dangerous," she said.

The Pringles said they have tried working with the Town Council on solutions, but feel they are being silenced.

McKinney said when a property grows or changes in a way that affects people living nearby, it needs to go through the town's land use process.

"That's how we sort out things like increased activity, runway expansion, hours of operation and how nearby property owners are protected. Those decisions should happen openly, with public input and action by the Town Council, so everyone understands the rules and the expectations going forward," McKinney said.

The West Desert Airpark is the only active public-use airport in the valley, and "it's desperately needed," Mark Pringle said.

"We're the small guys. It's a mom-and-pop-type setup airport, but we have a huge community that it supports. We're not some big corporation putting something in," Mark Pringle said.

Small airports are a crucial part of the national transportation system and drive aviation growth through pilot training, Pringle said. Utah County is in support of the airport as it helps bring more jobs to Cedar Valley, so fewer people have to commute out of the area for work, he added.

"What's at stake here goes beyond one airport. It speaks to how rural communities can either embrace or obstruct the kind of infrastructure that brings jobs, skills training and connectivity to areas that need it most," Alina Pringle said.

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