December 2016 - Recreational Aviation Foundation

BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIPS SUPPORTED IN U.S. BUDGET REPORT

The annual Appropriations process is underway in Congress, and the RAF is pleased to point out language that supports backcountry airstrips is included in the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee report at the request of Montana’s U.S. Senator Steve Daines. “Increasing accessibility to public lands and providing another recourse in case of emergencies is great news…

NEW MEXICO GAINS AN ADDITIONAL STATE LIAISON – RON KELLER

The RAF is pleased to announce a new State Liaison in New Mexico, Ron Keller, teaming up with Larry Filener, current New Mexico State Liaison. Toward the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Ron Keller was stationed in Albuquerque and has lived in New Mexico ever since. His first ride in a GA aircraft was…

STOL SKILLS – MORE THAN HAIR-RAISING SPECTATOR SPORT

Around thirty pilots and instructors assembled in Burnet, Texas in early December for a STOL Tips Seminar put on by RAF Colorado Liaison Patrick Romano’s Back Country Aviation. See: learntolandshort.com. I was privileged to have the opportunity to be one of the instructors at this event which helps pilots improve their takeoff and landing performance – in nearly…

TIM CLIFFORD RETIRES FROM RAF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“If you just work on stuff that you like and you’re passionate about, you don’t have to have a master plan with how things will play out.” – Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. I think Tim Clifford must have chatted with Mark Zuckerberg when Mark was a kid, since that is how Tim has lived…

RAF ATTENDS USFS PARTNERS EVENT

In Washington, D.C. in early December, RAF President John McKenna and RAF Maryland Liaison Craig McCullough attended the annual U.S. Forest Service “Partners Reception”, a gathering of citizen groups that interact with the USFS. Chief Tidwell gave John McKenna and Craig McCullough a warm welcome, expressing his appreciation for their attendance. Their conversation made it clear…

FEATURED AIRSTRIP: GRAPEVINE, AZ

Each month we will be highlighting an airstrip that the RAF has had an impact on. We hope that you will get out and enjoy these airstrips. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Grapevine Airstrip, Arizona. Grapevine Monthly Fly-In Weekend – December 16-18, 2016 Grapevine airstrip is located on the Tonto Basin District of the Tonto National Forest,…