RAF HOSTS AOPA REGIONAL MANAGERS FOR ANNUAL ONLINE UPDATE

The RAF hosted AOPA’s seven Regional Managers for an hour-long online update September 19. AOPA’s VP of Airports and State Advocacy Mike Ginter introduced each of the seven. These persons bird-dog issues critical to General Aviation like preserving airports facing closure, preventing airspace encroachments and unreasonable ramp and user fees. Other timely initiatives are Avgas supply and hangar availability. They are registered lobbyists, and are GA’s advocates in state legislatures and at airports in all 50 states.


RAF Liaisons from each region tuned in for advocacy updates from their AOPA counterparts, who encouraged RAF Liaisons to bring forward issues of concern in their states. One current mutual effort is preserving Custer State Park airport, threatened with closure due to runway maintenance cost. Both the RAF and AOPA have issued Calls to Action encouraging pilots to oppose the plan to close the facility. More than one AOPA Regional Manager gave examples of success in preserving an airport, thanks to pilot-citizen comment and participation. The most recent example of a big win was Portage, Wisconsin, where 70 pilots and community members attended a city council meeting to oppose closure of this airport (C47). City Council reversed their decision and has voted to keep Portage Municipal airport open and seek state and local funding.


Alaska’s Tom George updated the group on efforts to increase the number of live webcams – now occurring in the lower 48 – and the successful charting of useful information at mountain passes, beginning in Alaska. See AOPA’s website on “mountain pass charting”.

Ginter explained that the Congressional FAA Reauthorization bill has passed the House; AOPA will notify members when and how to contact US senators to vote “yes” when the Senate takes up their version of the Reauthorization Bill. Ginter said, “We value our strong working relationship with the RAF and all State Liaisons, and enjoy collaborating to save airports!”


The services these persons provide are another benefit of AOPA membership. The RAF encourages all pilots to support the organization that for nearly 80 years has worked to protect our freedom to fly. See AOPA.org/join and receive a $10 discount by entering Promo Code: 23GOVA10.

By Carmine Mowbray
Submitted on September 27, 2023.
Photo by Jim Crawford, Grapevine, AZ

Posted in News

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MAGEE, ID FLOOD MITIGATION ASSESSMENT BEGINS

By lellington • June 26, 2026
RAF President Bill McGlynn met in mid-June with the US Forest Service, Idaho Dept of Aeronautics, and Idaho Aviation Association to evaluate steps to improve Magee (S77) airstrip, 23 nm east of Coeur d’Alene. On the way, Bill picked up Joe Sober, one of two airport engineers from Oklahoma City who have volunteered their professional services, and have been instrumental in creating maintenance and remediation plans on Idaho backcountry airstrips. “The Forest Service engineering teams have too much on their plate just addressing roads, so having this resource to make airstrip engineering assessments and plans is instrumental to resolving challenges on USFS airstrips like Magee,” McGlynn said. The improvement project at Magee has been organized through a Cost Share Agreement the RAF has with the USFS. McGlynn, Sober, Willy Acton of the Idaho Airstrip Network, along with USFS District Ranger Holly Hampton, Don Macintosh of IAA, Dan Conner of Idaho Aeronautics, and RAF Idaho Ambassador George Weaver investigated the sources of flooding that plague Magee airstrip every spring and analyzed means of re-directing the problematic water. Magee airstrip was created in the 1940s by the Corp of Engineers as a hidden fighter base in case of Japanese attack on the western US coast. A dike that was built to channel water away from the runway has eroded over the eighty years. Sober took numerous measurements and will develop a plan to submit to the USFS for approval. Work could begin over the next year or two to recover about 700 feet of runway. “We truly could not do this work without our volunteer engineers and are very fortunate to have their expertise,” McGlynn said. Weaver said, “The airstrip is a real gem, and the restoration work will make it a great backcountry destination.”

TEAMWORK GETS THINGS DONE AT HISTORIC MEDICINE BOW, WYOMING

June 26, 2026
“It was really nice to spend some time with Wyoming folks cleaning up a little piece of history,” RAF WY/UT Ambassador Karen Larson said of the May 30 work party at Medicine Bow airport, on the historic US airmail route. RAF Wyoming Liaison Joe Feiler organized the work and reports that about 15 people with a wide range of backgrounds arrived at 9 am to help. Attendees included RAF supporters, EAA Chapter 420 members, local residents, as well as Lee Cook, Medicine Bow airport board member and town council member.

STEVE JONES

By lellington • June 25, 2026
Steve Jones was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio just an hour from the birthplace of aviation. He fell in love with airplanes at an early age and has been flying ever since. That passion grew exponentially when he landed off-airport in a tailwheel airplane for the first time and discovered the world of backcountry aviation. He first encountered the RAF while attending a “Peaks to Pavement” seminar in 2019, where he met Ohio State Liaison Christine Mortine. Since that time he has enjoyed supporting the RAF including getting his hands dirty helping with campsite improvements at Noble County Airport. He has also supported technology projects for the HQ team and RAF volunteers. As a State Liaison for Ohio he will be focused on initiating new grant projects, adding more recreational airports in Ohio to the RAF Airfield Guide, and increasing RAF engagement and collaboration. Steve is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BA in Aviation Management and is a loyal Ohio State Buckeyes football fan. He works in Flight Operations for a large private aviation company where he has worked for the past twenty years. He resides in Pickerington, Ohio with his wife Kasey who is also an aviation enthusiast. Steve can be reached at sjones@theraf.org (614) 353-8895 

RAF VOLUNTEER STEVE JONES STEPS INTO OHIO RAF LIAISON ROLE

By lellington • June 25, 2026
Joining RAF Ohio Liaison Christine Mortine is Steve Jones, who is stepping into a Liaison role from having volunteered on RAF technology projects. Raised in Columbus, Ohio just an hour from the birthplace of aviation, Steve fell in love with airplanes at an early age. That passion grew exponentially when he discovered the world of backcountry aviation. He first encountered the RAF while attending a “Peaks to Pavement” seminar in 2019, where he met Christine. Since then, he has enjoyed supporting the RAF by helping on campsite improvements at Noble County Airport. As a new Ohio Liaison, he will focus on initiating new grant projects, adding more recreational airports in Ohio to the RAF Airfield Guide, and increasing RAF engagement and collaboration. Steve is a graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Aviation Management and is a loyal Ohio State Buckeyes football fan. For the last twenty years, he has worked in Flight Operations for a large private aviation company. He resides in Pickerington, Ohio with his wife Kasey who is also an aviation enthusiast. Steve can be reached at sjones@theraf.org

WORTH THE READ: NEIL MORTINE GUEST EDITORIAL

June 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 Neil Mortine, a marketing and relations executive, RAF Supporter, and husband of RAF Ohio Liaison Christine Mortine.