Backcountry Airstrips Debate Goes To Capitol Hill | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Fri, Mar 05, 2004

Backcountry Airstrips Debate Goes To Capitol Hill

Idaho Congressional Delegation Takes Fight To Cabinet Level

While many GA supporters fight for their local urban airport, others are trying to keep those isolated, yet important, backcountry airstrips open. AOPA and members of Congress from the western United States are working closely together to make sure millions of acres of wilderness remain accessible by air. For many of these areas, flying is the only way in or out.

The entire Idaho congressional delegation has called on Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to guarantee public access to four backcountry airstrips in the Frank Church-River of No Return Federal Wilderness Area. The department's U.S. Forest Service has issued a decision closing the Dewey Moore, Mile-Hi, Simonds, and Vines airstrips to all but emergency operations. AOPA has appealed that decision. In a letter to Veneman, Idaho's Sen. Michael Crapo (R), Sen. Larry Craig (R), Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R), and Rep Mike Simpson (R) note that "restricting the public use of these airstrips is contrary to the legislation authorizing the [wilderness area]."

Under the law creating the wilderness area, the Forest Service is required to obtain the express written consent of Idaho's state aviation agency before closing or rendering unusable the four airstrips. "The Idaho Director of Aviation is on the record, stating the agency's desire to keep the airstrips open," the four members of Congress wrote. "Additionally, the Idaho State Legislature has passed two resolutions outlining their support for keeping the airstrips open."

"Whether it's a downtown airport in a big city, like Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg (FL), or small airstrips in the wilds of the American West, AOPA believes all of America's landing facilities need to be preserved," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Working closely with a state's entire congressional delegation, as we've done in Idaho, helps us take that argument to the highest levels of the government."

FMI: www.aopa.org

Advertisement

More News

KidVenture Educational Activities Lineup At EAA AirVenture 2025

Youth Explore With Hands-On Builds, RC Airplanes, Flight Sims, Much More KidVenture is located just north of the EAA Aviation Museum, at Pioneer Airport, and has arranged a myriad >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.07.25)

“About nine decades ago, Amelia Earhart was recruited to Purdue, and the university president later worked with her to prepare an aircraft for her historic flight around the >[...]

Airborne 07.07.25: Sully v Bedford, RAF Vandalism, Discovery Moving?

Also: New Amelia Search, B737 Flap Falls Off, SUN ‘n FUN Unveiling, F-16 Record Captain Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who saved 155 people by safely landing an A320 in the Hu>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.08.25)

"It is critically important for North American flight safety that Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations are avoided. All pilots must familiarize themselves with updates to >[...]

Airborne-NextGen 07.08.25: Joby in Dubai, Army Electra, Archer iin Abu Dhabi

Also: Hackers v Aviation, Discovery Moving?, Gogo Galileo HDX, EVE to Costa Rica Joby Aviation announced its electric air taxi successfully completed a series of VTOL wingborne tri>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC