SEAPLANE PILOTS ASSOCIATION HELPS FUND HECKMAN LAKE CABIN REPAIRS
The RAF thanks the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) for their financial contribution to help preserve and maintain the Southeast Heckman Cabin in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, a public-use, fly-in cabin. Cabin maintenance had been deferred due to slim budgets, and the dock had sustained winter ice damage, making the ADA accessible ramp ineffective. A collaborative effort between the RAF and USFS took care of these needed maintenance items.
“Given the number of USFS cabins accessible only by floatplane, the RAF is excited about the Seaplane Pilots Association contributing to our efforts of preserving special public cabin resources in remote places,” says Jeff DeFreest, one of the RAF’s Alaska Liaisons.
DeFreest obtained an RAF grant to help fund the project and organized a work party in early 2024. RAF volunteers and the USFS worked for seven days, with volunteers remaining on-site for the duration, including RAF Director Jeff Russell.
An RAF fire ring was shipped in and installed, the dock was reclaimed and situated, the cabin was re-stained, its deck and stairs were repaired, the outhouse was cleaned, brush was cleared around the premises, and the woodshed was stocked.
DeFreest has his sights on other remote fly-in cabins where flight costs for USFS maintenance crews can be prohibitive.
For information on Heckman Lake Cabin, see the Airfield Guide. See the Seaplane Pilots Association for general information and their Alaska Public cabins webpage.
Submitted November 1st, 2025