After nearly 10 years working for the Heber City Municipal Airport, Travis Biggs left his role as airport manager on Tuesday for the private sector.  Biggs joined the Heber City Municipal Airport as assistant airport manager in August 2016 and was promoted in May 2019 when the previous airport manager, Denis Godfrey, moved to Colorado.  Biggs still lives in Heber City but will now commute to Orem for his new position at Dibble, a company that provides services for airports throughout Utah and Colorado. Biggs will provide consulting services for some of Utah’s 46 public airports, helping municipalities create mission statements and long-term plans. Travis Biggs served as assistant manager and manager of the Heber City Municipal Airport for nearly 10 years. Credit: Photo courtesy of Travis Biggs “Most of those airport managers aren’t airport managers. Like, Fillmore’s is this really nice lady who lives in a house on the airfield. That’s all she knows about airports. Nephi’s is the city manager. He knows nothing about airports,” he said. “So basically, you help them understand, ‘Where do I get my funding? How do I run an airport? What can I do and not do?’ A lot of them are breaking (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations and don’t even realize it.” Biggs started his new role on Wednesday. He planned on leaving his position at the Heber City Municipal Airport before Tuesday, but stayed on longer to ensure a smoother transition for airport and city staff. Heber City hopes to fill the position by June 1. In the interim, City Manager Matt Brower will be adding the responsibilities of airport manager to his already very busy schedule. He previously oversaw the municipal airports of Ocala, Florida, and Lincoln, California, in his role as city manager, so “it’s not (his) first rodeo,” he said. But for the most part, he will be relying on airport staff to oversee operations for the next two months, many of whom have been given increased hours and responsibilities. For example, Assistant Airport Manager Adam Bunker will oversee operations and ensure compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration. The Heber City Municipal Airport is not a commercial airport, but a general aviation airport that provides private airplane service, including for business purposes. The Heber City Municipal Airport saw 5,755 operations (take-offs and landings) in the first quarter of 2026. All of those flights are domestic. In comparison, the Salt Lake City International Airport saw an average of 82,088 operations per quarter in 2024.  Among other responsibilities, the airport manager ensures compliance with local, state and federal aviation regulations and Heber City policies. The airport manager also supervises airfield safety, maintenance activities and emergency response procedures. Heber City’s ideal applicant would have at least three years of airport management experience, a pilot’s license, English and Spanish fluency and a bachelor’s degree in aviation management, aeronautical science, public or business administration or a related field. The salary range for the position is between $83,000 to $123,000 annually. The median annual salary for transportation, storage and distribution managers, including airport managers, in 2024 was just over $102,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The area median income for a family of four in Wasatch County is $136,400. The airport manager will be appointed by Mayor Heidi Franco, confirmed by the City Council and report to Brower. An initial qualifications review will take place on April 15. The first round of interviews, which will be 60 minutes long and include scenario-based evaluations, is scheduled between April 27 and May 3.  The second round of interviews will start on May 4, and the Heber City Council’s appointment of the airport manager will be made during the May 19 meeting. The new airport manager will start on June 1. Heber City HR Manager Cherie Ashe said the next airport manager will have “big shoes to fill.” “We’re really going to miss him. Travis is great. He’s so positive, and he’s just a pleasure to be around,” she said. Airport Advisory Board Chair Jason Talley agreed. “Travis has been a treasure for the Heber City Airport over the past decade,” he said. “He is always the first one there and the last one to leave when the airport needs attention, and we’ve been very fortunate to have him as a steward.” The post Heber City Airport sees leadership change after a decade appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less