RECREATIONAL USE STATUTE UPDATE

Both Utah and South Dakota have passed amendments to their state recreational use statutes to include aviation as a recreational activity. Bills have passed both the house and the senate in each state and are being sent to the respective governors for signatures.

Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) Member Dave Tunge led the effort in South Dakota and contacted Representative Nick Moser, who sponsored the bill. Many other representatives and senators also signed on as co-sponsors. The RUS amendment adds “aviation activity” to the definition of “Outdoor recreational purpose. ”

In Utah Steve Durtschi of the Utah Back Country Pilots Association contacted Representative Roger Barrus who sponsored the bill along with Senator Todd Weiler. The RUS amendment in Utah adds “aircraft operations” to the listed recreational activities in the definition of “Recreational purpose. ”

John Nadeau, RAF Director

Recreational use statutes provide a degree of liability protection to landowners who allow others to use their land for recreation. Now aviation is clearly included as a recreational activity in both Utah and South Dakota. This brings the number of states with aviation listed in their RUS to twelve. RAF’s goal is all 50 states.

Submitted on February 23, 2012.

Posted in News

ROB KEANE

February 24, 2026

FLORIDA AMBASADOR

HOWIE BOHL

February 24, 2026

CALIFORNIA AMBASSADOR

RAF AWARDS GRANT FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HCRC

February 24, 2026

Oregon RAF Liaison Bill Ables has been awarded a $5,000 RAF grant to retain RAF membership in and support the Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative (HCRC) for the next five years. The HCRC was organized in 2016 at the request of Idaho’s Congressional Delegation as a framework for the various recreational user groups to collaborate with the US Forest Service within the 652,488-acre Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Ables, a past Director and current member of the group, explained that HCRC membership is a cross-section of user groups from both the private and commercial sectors, including river rafters and jet boaters, backpackers, horse packers, aviators, and governmental management agencies. Providing ongoing support ensures continued aviation representation. The rugged Snake River canyon region hugs the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, and includes nine backcountry airstrips within the Recreational Area. All are maintained by volunteer aviation groups in collaboration with the USFS: Cache Creek, Salmon Bar, Dug Bar, Temperance Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Lord Flat, Memaloose, and Big Bar. “Our support of HCRC, combined with the other involved aviation groups, ensures ongoing maintenance and improvements at each of these nine airstrips. It benefits general aviation by preserving access to enjoy the beauty of the Hells Canyon area, which directly speaks to the Mission of the RAF,” Ables said. For more information on Dug Bar, Cache Creek, Big Bar, and Memaloose, see the Airfield Guide . Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Temperance Creek, and Salmon Bar are not listed in the Airfield Guide at this time. Submitted February 24, 2026