RAF GRANT AWARDED TO LENGTHEN AMIGOS RUNWAY

RAF New Mexico Liaison Ron Keller was awarded an RAF grant to lengthen the crosswind runway at Amigos del Cielo airport, (NM90) near Rodeo, NM.

The grant provides funds for the airport manager to reclaim the crosswind runway to its original length of 1,900 feet, with expected completion by the end of May.

The crosswind runway had become overgrown, essentially reducing it by 500 feet, which was a safety concern. “This will allow pilots, especially those with tailwheel aircraft, a safer option during windy days, a common occurrence in the area,” Keller said. Keller constructed and placed new windsock poles at this airport using a previous RAF grant.

“The manager is a pilot and aircraft owner, and wants to increase utilization of this recreational aviation asset,” Keller said. Amigos del Cielo has unique facilities including camping, lodging, hangars, and a movie theater. Non-pilots stay at the lodging to bird watch and star gaze. Keller hopes that a weekend fly-in will become an annual event in late February of each year.

It’s not the highest recreational flying destination in New Mexico, but with a name that literally means, “Friends of the Sky,” it sounds like a great place to experience.

Amigos del Cielo is listed in the Airfield Guide as a permissive airstrip. See Airfield Guide for updated information.

Submitted on April 26, 2020

Posted in News

    Recent Posts

RAF AND USFS COLLABORATE ON LOST CREEK, MI IMPROVEMENTS

August 28, 2026
RAF Michigan Liaisons Tanmoy Ganguly and Scott Anttila met with district U.S. Forest Service staff prior to starting work at Lost Creek airstrip, now MI45, (formerly 5Y4) in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in north-central Michigan. “We had a very constructive discussion about what the RAF does, and what we envision for future amenities at Lost Creek airstrip,” Ganguly said. The mid-August work weekend attracted 16 aircraft and 20 volunteers, including new MI Ambassador Ryan Minnick, MI Ambassador Ehsan Hamtaei, and IN Liaison Bill Steinmetz, many of whom enjoyed camping overnight in the forested setting. The crew was joined by nearby residents who donated their time, tools, and machinery to help and provided snacks.

RAF LOUISIANA LIAISON CAPTAIN MARCEL LEBLANC (RET)

August 27, 2026
Submitted August 27, 2025

PUBLIC COMMENTS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO 10 OF UTAH'S BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIPS

August 25, 2026
CALL TO ACTION: Public Comments Requested to Support Access to 10 of Utah's Sensational Backcountry Airstrips The BLM has issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the following ten Moab-Monticello backcountry airstrips. Pilot comments will help to open access to the airstrips. Your Comments are Needed by Thursday, September 3. Please use the link below to state in your own words why you support access to these backcountry airstrips: Nokai Dome Piute Canyon Potato Ridge Playa Big Flat Red Canyon Spring Canyon Castle Creek Steer Ridge West Wee Hope Mine

WORTH THE READ: BILL MCGLYNN EDITORIAL

August 25, 2026
Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Bill McGlynn, President of the RAF.

VOLUNTEERS CLEAR GLACIER CREEK WITH HAND TOOLS

August 25, 2026
Nestled in among awe-inspiring mountains, Glacier Creek (KGZ) airstrip is 15 nm east of McCarthy in Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. On July 11, a work party drawing 25 volunteers was held there, led by RAF Alaska Liaison Stef Goza, her husband Randy, and Alaska Ambassador Bri Norby. They were joined by a group of National Park Service maintenance crew members who’d been flown in the night before and cleared the trail from the airstrip to the cabin before volunteers arrived.