Pilots
… Not Profits
New Public Airstrips on the Horizon!
You’re on short final. The runway isn’t in sight
yet, but from evaluating the approach at altitude, you know where
it lies: lined up with the riffle on the second bend in the river.
Full flaps, you nudge the throttle slightly to hold your altitude
until the threshold comes into view. From here on, there is no
go-around. The controls are soft and there is little margin for
error. Almost simultaneously, the strip comes into view, the edge
of the river slips by, and the mains touch down.
You’re not the first one who has landed here; your well-worn
copy of Galen Hanselman’s Fly Idaho! is proof of that. Thanks
in-part to the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), you won’t
be the last.
The Wurtz airstrip along the North Fork of the Flathead
River in Montana. The Forest Service says this airstrip
is "neither open or closed".
The RAF is a private foundation dedicated to preserving existing
airstrips and actually creating new public-use recreational airstrips
throughout the United States. Recognized by the IRS as a non-profit
501(c)(3) charitable organization, the RAF is using tax-deductible
donations to acquire private land for the development of new airstrips.
Johnson Creek in Idaho and Spotted Bear in Montana are examples
of recreational airstrips that most general aviation aircraft
of moderate performance can operate in and out of safely. They
offer good approaches with relatively long turf runways. Camping
facilities, fishing and hiking opportunities, and peaceful relaxation
are all in abundance.
Open your latest issue of Pilot
Getaways Magazine and you will see that most pilots envision
this type of simple, rustic, natural-surface destination where
they can blend family recreation with their love of airplanes.
It is this type of setting the RAF is looking for when considering
locations for new airstrips.
Many pilots don’t have the high-performance aircraft or
experience to operate safely into some of the more remote strips;
however, they still want to tour the countryside in their own
airplane.
To assist these pilots, and to provide a connection between the
backcountry and surrounding communities, the RAF is attracting
donors who wish to specifically target their charitable donations
locally. These funds have recently been directed toward a campaign
to construct pilot shelters at larger, paved airports that serve
as gateways to the backcountry. Similar in concept to the rest
stops along our interstate highway system, the first of these
shelters is under construction at Gallatin
Field (BZN) in Bozeman, Montana. It offers pilots a place
to pitch a tent on the grass near their airplane, relax in front
of a fire and even take a hot shower – all at no charge.
RAF board president John McKenna worked closely with the Gallatin
Airport Authority to receive matching funds and a donated site
for the shelter. “It’ll be a great place to relax
and off-load some gear so your airplane will perform better. Plus,
if the weather closes-in for a while, you’ve got a place
to stay,” McKenna said.
Preserving What We Have
While Montana and Utah have been at the forefront of battles
over the suitability of air access to public lands, Colorado,
Arizona and California have also hosted recent challenges to this
access. Even in Idaho, where aviators previously considered their
cherished airstrips congressionally protected, rule changes on
aircraft access were narrowly averted by vigilant backcountry
pilot groups.
The RAF hopes to become a central source of educational materials
available to pilot organizations from around the country. These
documents can be tailored to address specific applications when
approaching local land management agencies regarding potential
closures.
Board members of the Recreational Aviation Foundation have already
provided assistance to pilots in several western states and are
working closely with the BLM to protect six airstrips in Montana’s
Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument.
They have developed a good, working relationship with the Bureau
of Land Management and US Forest service by presenting factual
data and making reasonable requests. In their presentations to
land managers, the RAF has shown that aircraft create a minimal
impact on public lands and offer access to remote areas regardless
of physical limitations.
Promoting The Future
The RAF is depending on other pilots to help them in identifying
potential real estate for the development of new airstrips. Oftentimes
we have friends or acquaintances who built their own airstrip
and want to see their dream continue long after they are gone.
These situations lend themselves perfectly to the tax-deductions
that are available to the donor.
Without the enabling work of the RAF, your recreational opportunities
-- whether cross-country or backcountry -- will continue to diminish
as airfields are closed or their use restricted. Earning your
pilot certificate wasn’t easy. Creating new airstrips isn’t
easy either. Nothing worthwhile ever is.
The foundation invites donations of any kind, including land
suitable for airstrip development. Cash donations are always welcome
and fully tax-deductible. The RAF offers tax and legal assistance
for donors and the Board members receive no compensation. They
love flying as much as the rest of us and they’re here for
us, the pilots…not profits. For more information on making
a donation - Click Here
Planning on enjoying the backcountry of our Western states in
the near future? Galen Hanselman’s Fly Idaho! and Fly The
Big Sky! are indispensable and available on-line at www.flyidaho.com
or give him a call at (800) 574-9702. Galen is working on a new
book Fly Utah! to be released in the near future.
Active membership groups that are doing important work to keep
the backcountry open to airplanes include the Recreational Airstrip
Committee of Montana Pilots Association. For a full list of active
pilot groups - Click Here
The RAF is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated
to preserving, maintaining and creating recreational airstrips
throughout the United States.
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2005 issue
of Pilot
Getaways Magazine written by RAF Board member Mike Sidders.
You can download the article as a .pdf file here: http://www.pilotgetaways.com/raf/
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