WORTH THE READ: STEF GOZA GUEST EDITORIAL

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 Stef Goza, a pilot and an RAF Alaska liaison.

Backcountry Etiquette: Balancing Freedom and Responsibility

Flying in the backcountry is a privilege. It’s one that comes with a responsibility we don’t talk about enough: being a good steward.

Being a good steward isn’t complicated, and most of it is just common sense. It’s being aware of your prop wash so you’re not blasting someone’s tent into the bushes. It’s packing out what you brought in. It’s spending time at the place you just landed instead of racing off to the next “best” spot. It’s knowing that your actions, both in the air and on

the ground, speak for all of us who love backcountry flying.

Etiquette isn’t something written down; it’s something you learn from watching, listening, and caring enough to do it right.

My relationship with the backcountry is like a trust: something I’ve been given the privilege to care for. Every landing, every campfire, every quiet evening beside the airplane is part of that agreement. I get to enjoy it, but I’m also responsible for taking care of it. That trust is between pilots and the land, between freedom and responsibility.

When you camp next to your airplane, listening to the sweet sounds of the wild and wishing that moment would never end – that’s what we’re protecting. The silence. The solitude. The gratitude of realizing how lucky we are to be here.

The next generation of pilots deserves that same experience. The wide-open spaces, the challenge, the beauty of landing somewhere most people will never see. We take care of it not because someone told us to, but because we love it.

Practicing good stewardship starts with preparedness. It begins long before you take off. A solid preflight isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about knowing your airplane, your limits, and the environment you’re stepping into. Preparedness is what earns you the privilege of flying there safely and coming home with good stories instead of lessons learned the hard way.

In addition to packing out what you brought in, bring an extra trash bag and pick up those half-burned cans someone else left behind. It’s not a big deal - it takes two seconds, and it’s one of the simplest ways to be a good backcountry neighbor. Leave it better than you found it.

That also refers to inspecting where you just landed. Take a few minutes to walk the strip, checking for hazards like rocks, ruts, or debris. Noticing washouts or overgrown brush helps land managers, and who knows, your trip report might spark the next RAF work party.

Minimizing your impact isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing better. Be mindful of the marks you leave… from your tire tracks to your campfire ashes. Nobody wants to be the pilot whose ruts are still there two years later.

Being aware of others goes a long way. As more pilots explore the backcountry than ever before and as outdoor recreation continues to grow, awareness and respect matter more than ever. (2025 Outdoor Participation Trends Report)

The backcountry is big enough for all of us if we fly it with intention.

When you’re taxiing, take it slow and notice where your prop wash is headed. Shut down and be willing to push the airplane out of the way instead of blasting everyone with dust. Give others space on the strip. Be mindful of your surroundings and of those who are sharing it with you. Stay awhile and enjoy it.

Because at the end of the day, good airmanship in the backcountry isn’t just about how you handle the airplane; it’s about how you handle the privilege of being there.

Aviation author, Michael Maya Charles, once wrote, “…our approach to flying should be the same, as if someone is watching us, evaluating our every move. Because they are. No matter where we step, we leave footprints in the sand.” (1992, January. What makes a pro. Flying Magazine.)

Most of us started flying the backcountry because it makes us feel alive: the quiet, the challenge, the way the light hits the mountains while you’re sitting by your airplane, coffee in hand, thinking, I can’t believe I get to be here. That’s what we’re protecting.

The backcountry: fly it like you want to keep it…forever.

Stef Goza learned to fly as a teenager in Iowa and eventually found her way north to Alaska, where the freedom of backcountry flying became part of her everyday life. She serves as one of the Alaska State Liaisons for the Recreational Aviation Foundation and the Chair of her local 99s Chapter.

With a background in leadership, mentoring, and community outreach, Stef brings a practical approach to aviation advocacy, working to strengthen connections within the general aviation community. Stef enjoys exploring the backcountry with her husband and capturing the beauty of their adventures through her award-winning photography.

Submitted December 23, 2025

Posted in Guest Editorial, News

TIME TO REVIEW AIRSTRIP SAFETY BRIEFINGS

March 30, 2026

As you're planning your 2026 flying adventures, remember to review safety briefings for the airstrips you plan to visit. The RAF strongly recommends you review safety briefings and print a copy to have in your airplane - it's even required to fly into some airfields, like Ryan Field (2MT1). For those airfields, pilots flying in are required to review the briefing on an annual basis, and now is the perfect time to catch up on any changes to the runway/area that happened throughout the winter. You can find safety briefings on the RAF Airfield Guide . If an airfield in the Airfield Guide has a required briefing, the airfield listing will clearly indicate it and have a tab to view the briefing. Submitted March 30, 2026 Photo By Jim Stevenson

RAF VOLUNTEERS BEGIN TO RESTORE HISTORIC RANGER AIRFIELD HANGAR

March 30, 2026

RAF Texas volunteers and Ranger Airfield Foundation volunteers helped begin restoration of the historic 1928 Ranger Airfield hangar on March 28. “A Wright biplane landed here at the field in 1911, and people have been using it ever since,” Ranger Airfield Foundation Founder Jared Calvert said. He noted that Amelia Earhart landed there in a Pitcairn Auto Gyro. Richard Bach, Pancho Barnes, and General Patton also landed at the field. It’s the oldest continuously used turf field in Texas.

FEATURED AIRSTRIP: SACATON, NM

By Carmine Mowbray • March 30, 2026

For adventurers seeking access to the Gila Wilderness, we suggest landing at Sacaton Airstrip, NM16, near Buckhorn, New Mexico. The runway lies on a “finger mesa,” and the Rain Creek trailhead lies just northeast of the field. Thanks to RAF New Mexico Liaison Ron Keller's coordination with the USFS using a Cost Share Agreement, Keller was able to organize RAF and New Mexico Pilot Association (NMPA) volunteers to rehabilitate and reopen the long-abandoned airstrip in 2022. Beyond reopening the airstrip, Keller added camping amenities, including picnic tables and a new vault toilet. Most recently, Keller oversaw the installation of new shade structures, most welcoming to campers and hikers. RAF and NMPA volunteers complete ongoing maintenance at Sacaton and other airfields in the Gila National Forest. You’ll see white-painted rocks along Sacaton’s 3,989-ft dirt runway, and surrounding the segmented circle near the RAF windsock. The airstrip lies at 6,200-ft elevation, so pilots should be mindful of density altitude while flying over high terrain in the vicinity, even in winter temperatures. “Anglers will enjoy plying streams for the rare native copper-colored Gila trout, once a threatened species,” Keller reports. The mile-and-a-half trail to the crossing at Rain Creek is narrow and challenging and traverses a variety of terrain, but the serious hiker will be rewarded trekking through steep canyon walls lined with green alder, willow, and boxelder, hoodoos, and eagle aeries above. There are rumors of a double waterfall some distance on the west fork of Rain Creek trail. See the Sacaton page in the Airfield Guide for more details. Note that the airstrip may be unusable due to snow or after heavy rains. This runway should be considered one-way in/one-way out to avoid overflying the Wilderness boundary. There is a 4.6% upslope to the East, favoring landing Runway 08 with right traffic, remaining clear of the Wilderness east and north of the airfield. Please consider others seeking a Wilderness experience. Prior to landing at Sacaton, permission is required by calling the USFS Gila Dispatch center at 800-538-1644. Please familiarize yourself with Sacaton in the Airfield Guide and the New Mexico Pilots Association Safety Briefing . Submitted March 30, 2025 By Carmine Mowbray