Garfield County Commission approves standards and leases to clear way for helicopter tours from Bryce Canyon Airport

The Garfield County Commission on an unspecified date approved minimum airport standards and a set of lease arrangements to allow a helicopter tour operator to begin flying from Bryce Canyon Airport after a presentation by John Power, owner of 5 Star Helicopter Tours, Bryce Canyon Helicopters and Zion Helicopters.

Power told the commission his company operates sightseeing flights for domestic and international visitors and plans to begin operations from Bryce Canyon Airport with a dedicated helicopter "later this month". He described a mix of short sightseeing products, saying, "We're going to keep it to simple tours. We're gonna fly a 15 minute flight, 30 minute flight." The commission approved the county's minimum standards for FAA purposes and a ground-lease form to permit hangars and related improvements.

Commission action followed a roughly half-hour discussion during which Power outlined his company’s operations, safety protocols and local plans. Power said his firm operates multiple helicopters and global bookings, and that it emphasizes pilot training and aircraft tracking technology. He described a recent $1.7 million purchase of a six-passenger, panoramic-view helicopter and said the company gives pilots a minimum of 10 to 12 hours of flight training in a given type-design aircraft before independent operations. Power also said the company tracks flights and locations for oversight.

Power told commissioners the company would not initially fly into the national park; instead operators would skirt the park boundary to avoid using limited National Park Service flight allocations. He noted industry-wide restrictions under the Air Tour Management Act and ongoing review of allocations, and said the company is coordinating with National Park Service superintendents and the Federal Aviation Administration. Power said the business hopes to expand later with hybrid fixed-wing aircraft for longer trips and plans for a 2,500–3,000-square-foot hangar and two leased office spaces at the airport.

Votes at a glance: The commission voted to approve the county's minimum standards for FAA purposes (motion made and seconded; recorded as approved), approved the airport ground lease document to govern private hangars and improvements (motion made and seconded; recorded as approved), approved a business license for Laser Construction (motion made and seconded; recorded as approved), and—after an executive session—ratified a lease for two office spaces with Utah Helicopter Services LLC (motion made and seconded; recorded as approved). The meeting record shows votes taken by voice; individual member vote names were not recorded in the transcript.

Commissioners asked about local employment, and Power estimated staffing tied to a single based aircraft would include about five employees at the airport plus additional support and maintenance personnel rotating from his company’s Las Vegas operations. Power said the company’s broader operation carries roughly nine helicopters and has flown what he described as about 700,000 passengers over its history; in other remarks he referenced annual passenger volumes and a local plan to fly roughly 9,000 passengers from the area.

The commission also scheduled an executive session later in the meeting on potential litigation and real estate and confirmed that final lease documents would be emailed to staff for distribution. The county and the operator agreed to continue coordination on hangar siting, office space, and community use such as emergency response support.

The commission’s approvals allow the operator to proceed with local permitting and facility agreements; Power said he hopes to begin marketing and ticketing immediately and to start flights once required FAA and National Park Service arrangements are in place.