Bolinder Field Tooele Valley Airport — Erda, Utah
Bolinder Field Tooele Valley Airport serves the Tooele Valley in Tooele County, Utah, located near the community of Erda approximately 30 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. Named for the Bolinder family who contributed to Tooele County's aviation heritage, the airport provides general aviation access to one of Utah's fastest-growing counties, where military industrial facilities and suburban growth coexist with vast desert and mountain terrain. The airport sits at approximately 4,453 feet MSL and operates under FAA Northwest Mountain Region oversight.
Tooele County's unique character blends suburban residential growth driven by proximity to Salt Lake City with the legacy of major military industrial facilities including Tooele Army Depot, Dugway Proving Ground, and Utah's Chemical Agent Disposal facilities. The county's military footprint creates significant restricted airspace that pilots operating at Bolinder Field must navigate carefully, particularly the extensive Dugway Proving Ground restricted areas that cover much of the county's western reaches toward the Nevada border. The airport serves both the county's growing civilian population and the occasional contractor or official visiting the military facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What military facilities affect airspace near Bolinder Field?
Dugway Proving Ground, one of the largest chemical and biological defense testing facilities in the US, creates extensive restricted areas (R-6413 and related) in western Tooele County. Pilots must review current airspace charts carefully before planning flights in this area.
What is the Tooele Valley's recent growth story?
Tooele County has been one of Utah's fastest-growing counties, with communities like Tooele City, Erda, and Stansbury Park expanding rapidly as Salt Lake City real estate prices push residents further west. This growth has increased the base of private pilots and aircraft owners in the valley.
Is Bolinder Field suitable for jet operations?
Bolinder Field's runway length and pavement strength should be verified through the FAA Chart Supplement before planning turbine operations. The county's primary general aviation facility typically accommodates piston and some turboprop aircraft.
What recreational flying destinations are accessible from Tooele Valley?
The Stansbury Mountains east of Tooele, the Cedar Mountains to the south, and the vast Great Salt Lake Desert to the west all provide scenic flying destinations for local pilots. The Great Salt Lake itself, with its distinctive color gradations, is spectacular from altitude.
Bolinder Field Tooele Valley Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Erda, Utah.
| Name | Bolinder Field Tooele Valley Airport |
| Address | West Erda Way, Erda UT 84074 Map |
| Phone | |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Bolinder Field Tooele Valley Airport
Tooele County Aviation Between the Wasatch Front and the West Desert
Bolinder Field Tooele Valley Airport sits at the interface between one of Utah's most rapidly urbanizing landscapes and the military-industrial complex that has defined Tooele County's federal economic relationship since World War II. The airport serves both constituencies, providing general aviation access for the growing residential population while supporting the occasional military contractor and official who needs aviation access to facilities not served by commercial carriers.
The Utah DOT Aeronautics Division's planning for Tooele County aviation accounts for both the population growth driving demand for GA services and the military airspace constraints that limit the operational freedom available to pilots in the region. Bolinder Field's position within a reasonable driving distance of Salt Lake City while maintaining a distinctly rural airport character makes it attractive for pilots who prefer the operational flexibility of a non-towered environment over the complexity of operating within SLC's Class B airspace.