Over 120 RAF volunteers and noted speakers from across the country gathered in Bozeman for the RAF’s biennial Education Conference May 16-19. A dozen flew their own GA aircraft, lining BZN’s ramp with an impressive array. One stalwart volunteer, RAF Maine Liaison Andy Rowe, took honors for longest distance road trip in his electric SUV…

Dave and Julie Powell of Rogers, Arkansas were honored with the “Wind Beneath Our Wings” award during the RAF’s biennial education conference in May. This award recognizes extraordinary efforts to further the RAF mission. This award was created and sponsored by RAF co-founders/volunteers Dan and Margie Prill, and Chuck and Penny Jarecki. Powells’ names have…

RAF Washington Liaison Ray Ballantyne received an RAF grant to install a vault toilet and shower at Olympic Airfield, WA45 near Port Townsend, WA near a camping area among the trees. A water landing area lies parallel to the turf 2,759-ft runway, and there is a pond and dock where small seaplanes can be secured.…

Volunteers continue making improvements at the USFS airstrip at Sacaton, New Mexico, NM16 as part of the Challenge Cost Share agreement with the US Forest Service. Organized by RAF New Mexico Liaison Ron Keller, RAF and New Mexico Pilots Association volunteers poured the concrete pad for the vault toilet recently, in spite of weather that…

The BLM has progressed in the process of revising its Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bears Ears National Monument (BENM) and invites public comments to guide their final decision. The BLM is proposing that aircraft only be allowed to take off and land at the Bluff Airport and the Fry Canyon Airstrip. By placing…

After a year of planning the project and logistics with Seth Roseberry, Recreation Management Specialist with the US Forest Service in Ketchikan, RAF Alaska Liaison Jeff DeFreest organized a seven-day volunteer work party for maintenance at the SE Heckman Lake public use cabin. With the help of an RAF grant, the USFS had approved DeFreest’s plan, and the project…

Cavanaugh Bay homeowner, Idaho Aviation Association member, and RAF supporter Steve Pryor reports that thanks to well organized teamwork, an irrigation installation was completed at Cavanaugh Bay, 66S the weekend of May 4-5. Improvements at the parklike airport have been provided by Idaho Aeronautics, Idaho Aviation Association and the RAF. A substantial amount of volunteer work has…

Seventeen volunteers tackled annual spring cleanup and readiness at Ryan Field near West Glacier the first weekend of May. Working throughout typical Montana spring weather, they added eight tie-downs, set out chairs and picnic tables, cleaned bear boxes, removed brush, cut trees, bucked and stacked firewood, and seeded, fertilized and dragged runway areas. The barn…