Those of you who were at Sun-N-Fun 2011 and visited the RAF booth saw first-hand the destruction from the tornado that tore thru the area.  The RAF was relieved to have only minor damage.  Yes, the display booth fell over, the television was smashed, and we all wandered around in ankle deep water, picking up brochures and registration sheets, but thankfully none of our hard working volunteers were hurt.    

On the RAF website we featured a video taken from inside the RAF tent, a chronicle of events that threatened to destroy the brand new Aviat Husky loaned to us to complete our camping display. It seemed to happen in slow motion: the tornado level winds blew, uprooting the tie downs that secured the Husky and leaving us helpless to watch as it left our display finally coming to rest against posts across the street.  But this Husky was tough and she fought back, determined not to give into the storm.  We knew then it was “Tougher Than A Tornado”. 

Last week AOPA announced that the perfectly repaired N40WY, the same Husky that weathered the storm in front of the RAF booth, will be the AOPA 2012 Sweepstakes airplane!  Since the RAF put the “tornado” in the Tougher Than A Tornado Husky and since this airplane ideally represents recreational aviation, AOPA has invited the RAF to participate in the year long adventures of N40WY leading up to the 2012 AOPA Summit in Palm Springs, California.  The RAF  hopes you will participate in the Tougher Than A Tornado Husky activities as it wings its way thru this next year and in to the hands of some lucky AOPA member in the fall of 2012. 

AOPA's Dan Namowitz weighs in on the Missouri River Breaks airstrips.

Special thanks to Dan for his interesting perspective regarding the RAF and the Breaks.

Click here to follow the link and Dan's article in today's AOPA Online.  “Gateway to a good time”

A blue sky, perfect temperature, fun group of people, and one of the prettiest places in the West...That was Russian Flat last weekend.

RAF volunteers from Montana, New Mexico, Idaho, and Washington spent much of the day clearing brush and rocks from the campground area, felling some dead trees, and bucking them up into firewood.  As the shadows lengthened, we all enjoyed a taste of the Recreation that is the reason the airstrip exists.  With tents pitched and planes tied down, burgers and brats cooked over the fire, and stories got taller.  Mother Nature kicked up her heels just a little, with a rumble of thunder, a few flashes of lightning, and a splash of rain and small hail, but no harm was done, and the clouds were gone as quickly as they had formed.  Soon dark moved in, stars came out, and Larry Larson treated us to some campfire music, Montana-style.

Already looking forward to next time...Mike Todd, Yelm, WA

Check out Mike’s blog at http://www.wingsanddreams.com/

In Fort Kent, Maine a small group of pilots has contacted the town requesting that they be allowed to re-open the local municipal airport near the Fish River.  They formed the Fish River Flying Club and have now signed a lease agreement with the town to repair, maintain and operate the 3,200 foot grass runway. 

John Nadeau of the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) contacted Mr. Tommy Voisine of the Flying Club and learned that the Town Council of Fort Kent seemed to be in favor of the agreement, but they were concerned about liability.  Nadeau explained that Maine now has aviation included in the Recreational Use Statute, and that if the Town was not concerned about other recreational activities on the land, then noncommercial aviation activities should be seen no differently than those other activities, such as hunting or snowmobiling.  Mr. Voisne took this information to the Town Council and they agreed.  The Town attorney drew up a five year lease for the Fish River Flying Club which was signed on July 8, 2011.

Mr. Voisine is careful to explain that the airport, closed since the 1980’s, is not yet opened.   It will require some smoothing and the addition of some gravel to fill some ruts made by trucks over the years.  The Flying Club is in the process of obtaining services and funding for the needed work.  Mr. Voisine has been in contact with the FAA and will complete the licensing procedure only when the repair work is finished to assure operational safety. 

The RAF has made a donation to help with the repairs and encourages others to do so.  Donations can be sent to Fish River Flying Club, c/o Tommy Voisine, 242 Market Street, Fort Kent, Maine 04743.

Nadeau said, “Helping the Fish River Flying Club at Fort Kent perfectly fits the RAF Mission of‘Keeping the legacy of recreational aviation strong by preserving, maintaining, and creating public use recreational and backcountry airstrips nationwide."

Watch for information regarding the opening of Fort Kent Airport on this web site.  Mr. Voisine stated that the airport will be licensed as restricted use rather than public use, and that he should be called for a safety briefing and airfield information and conditions at 207-834-5685.   Mr Voisine also indicated that, though on the chart the airport will be designated as restricted use, the public will be welcome to use it once they have requested and received a safety briefing.   Camping will be allowed, and the Fish River is only a short walk from the airfield. 

Donations to support the RAF Mission can be mailed to RAF, 1711 West College, Bozeman, MT 59715 or click here to donate now.

Pennsylvania Adds Aviation to RUS

On July 7, 2011 Pennsylvania became the ninth state to include aviation in its Recreational Use Statute (RUS).   House Bill 870 was sponsored by Representative Garth Everett and strongly supported by Representative Tina Pickett along with twenty two other co-sponsors, and was approved last week by Governor Tom Corbett.   HB 870 added the words “recreational noncommercial aircraft operations or recreational noncommercial ultra-light operations on private airstrips” to the list of other activities in the law that define “recreational purpose. ”

Recreational Use Statutes provide landowners a degree of liability protection when others are using their land for recreational purposes.  Due to the regulatory nature of aviation, private airstrip owners have not been certain that they are provided with the same protections afforded by this statute for aviation activities as they are for such activities as hunting, pleasure driving, etc.  Passage of HB 870 clarifies the statute to include noncommercial aviation.

Pilots will still need to request permission of the airstrip owner before operating aircraft on private airstrips.  But with this new language in the state RUS Pennsylvania’s private airstrip owners are more likely to allow public access for noncommercial aircraft operations.

Credit for getting this accomplished for Pennsylvania airstrip owners and pilots goes to George Jenkins and his local Representative, Tina Pickett.   Mr. Jenkins had worked for several years to get legislation introduced.  After learning of the RAF effort to pass RUS legislation in New York, Mr. Jenkins contacted the RAF and requested information from other states that have included aviation in their RUS.  That information was forwarded to the PA legislators.

Learn more about Recreational Use Statutes