RAF’S PRIVATE USE AIRPORT INITIATIVE
The RAF has been made aware of an effort by the FAA to get updated information from owners of private use airports by the end of 2020.
RAF Liaisons and Ambassadors are reaching out to roughly 2,700 private use airport owners/managers within their respective states to make them aware that if airport data is older than three years, the airport risks “closed indefinitely” status.
Ignoring this request could have these consequences:
• If your airport gets listed as “closed indefinitely”, it may affect the insurability of aircraft that operate there, as it may now be considered an “off-airport” operation.
• The area may likely no longer be spared from low-level military training flights or other special activities; or the placement of a cell tower or other structure nearby.
It’s easy to update your airport data with the FAA, and it must be done by December 31, 2020
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AIRPORT OWNERS
Please use any one of the following methods to notify the FAA that your airport’s data is still correct:
1. If you have the letter from the Private Airport Survey, please complete it and return it to the FAA at the address provided in the letter.
2. If you do not have the letter, or if you prefer to notify the FAA online, you can use the Airport Data and Information Portal (ADIP) by visiting https://adip.faa.gov. Click on “Register” to register for an account. You may have to wait for a return email confirmation from the FAA. In the Requested Role field select “Airport Manager”. Once registered, log into the system. For technical assistance after you are logged in, locate the HelpDesk link.
Note that logging in will satisfy the requirement to notify the FAA. No further action is needed.
3. You may also call your FAA Regional or Airport District Office. Find your regional contact using this web link: https://www.faa.gov/airports/news_information/contact_info/regional/
4. If none of the above methods are possible, please call Christopher Criswell at the Office of Airports, 202-267-4634 or send an email christopher.criswell@faa.gov and he can assist you.
Submitted September 29, 2020
It would be helpful to see a scanned copy of the FAA letter and other information that expands on the RAF suggestion of dire consequences for private airstrips that fail to act by the 31 Dec deadline. Has the FAA published a news release or???. What has either AOPA or EAA said?? What does the NBAA or crop dusters association have to say? True or not, there’s a sense of hysteria in this RAF article.
Thanks for your comment, John. I am a Director for the RAF and have been leading the RAF outreach effort to private airstrip owners to make them aware of this FAA initiative. It was not our intent to make the consequences look dire or create any sense of hysteria. We simply want to make people aware of the FAA initiative and get them the information on how to update their data. Many of the airstrip owners we have contacted were not aware of this initiative.
Regarding EAA and AOPA, I was just on another conference call with both groups yesterday and we are all working together on this outreach effort. I am very happy to say that to-date our collective efforts have generated lot of updates. The FAA expressed their appreciation of our efforts in a call with them a couple of weeks ago.
I have your e-mail address and will send a copy of the form letter that the FAA sent out to airstrips owners.
I hope I have addressed your concerns.