Archive for May 2025

A group of 27 volunteers organized by RAF Director Jeff Russell gathered at Gillette’s Lakewood Lodge, 14WS near the hamlet of Stone Lake, Wisconsin to prepare the airfield and property for summer flying and recreating. Russell reports that this annual spring work party was a great success in spite of challenging weather. “Regular Lakewood volunteers,…

RAF Alaska/Michigan Ambassador Rob Aho and Alaska Liaison Jeff DeFreest and his wife Ambassador Kari DeFreest were awarded an RAF grant toward reconstruction and repairs at the US Forest Service Black Bear Cabin on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska. The fly-in cabin is 50 air miles west-northwest of Ketchikan and provides hiking, camping, hunting,…

Join the RAF at Bozeman International Airport (KBZN) Saturday, June 14 for your opportunity to meet AOPA’s new President, Darren Pleasance. He’s touring the country, sharing his vision for GA’s future and AOPA’s exciting mission to promote aviation and protect our freedom to fly. The RAF will be there in our orange shirts, beginning with…

Ryan Field, 2MT1 has been prepared for this year’s flying season thanks to RAF volunteers, directed by RAF’s volunteer Ryan Field Operations Manager, Dave Schuler. Water is on in the pilot shelter, firewood is stocked, the restrooms in the barn are available, and the turf runway is mowed. Visitors will enjoy the new multi-purpose kiosk…

Use the RAF’s Event Calendar and the Airfield Guide to plan your trips this summer! Connect with other pilots, get involved in work parties, and spend time with your RAF friends. Plan your routes with airports that have the amenities you care about most, and the upload them into ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot. These tools…

RAF Utah Liaison and Utah Back Country Pilots (UBCP) board member Wendy Lessig has announced that Rustler Canyon airstrip near Bears Ears National Monument is the newest backcountry airstrip to be added to the aeronautical chart, and will appear as 09UT on the Denver Sectional and ForeFlight in June. The RAF assisted UBCP in the…

The RAF is pleased to announce that its Backcountry Etiquette Team (BET) is rolling out its initial messaging to the GA flying public. We’ve partnered with AOPA, Tread Lightly, and state pilot organizations on this initiative to raise awareness on the importance of respecting the backcountry to preserve access to these special places.  The RAF…

In the RAF Airfield Guide, a number of airstrip listings indicate that prior permission is requested before landing. Prior Permission is typically required for private airfields, and is sometimes required on public lands, such as many US Forest Service airstrips. Like checking NOTAMs prior to every flight, be aware that you must request permission each time you…