Keeping Backcountry Strips Open Is No Easy Task | 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-06.02.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.03.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.04.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.05.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.06.25

Fri, Feb 06, 2004

Keeping Backcountry Strips Open Is No Easy Task

AOPA Takes Fight To New Level

The beauty of flying in the western part of the US is enjoying the land's natural beauty, uncongested skies and isolated landing areas, which allow for spectacular flying excursions.

Unfortunately, these airfields are being threatened and one organization is fighting for their survival.

AOPA, in its continuing fight to protect pilots' access to backcountry airstrips, has appealed a U.S. Forest Service decision to ban all but emergency access to four such strips in Idaho.

The association maintains that the Forest Service does not have the required authority to close the Dewy Moore, Mile-Hi, Simonds, and Vines airstrips in the Frank Church-River of No Return wilderness area.

AOPA President Phil Boyer recently met with Sen. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho), a strong supporter of the backcountry airstrips, about measures to keep them open.

"I thanked him for his past support in the struggle to keep these airstrips open," said Boyer, "and suggested that now would be a good time for the Forest Service to hear from him and the rest of the Idaho congressional delegation."

"We do not believe the Forest Service satisfactorily considered the comments of the aviation public before issuing [their decision]," said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government and Technical Affairs Andy Cebula. "Furthermore, the Forest Service has failed to receive the approval of the Idaho Division of Aviation before closing the airstrips, as required by federal law."

Last year, AOPA turned to the Idaho congressional delegation to help bring the Forest Service back to the bargaining table. But the agency had already signed its record of decision closing the airstrips. Officials pledged to review pilot comments but that it could only be done through the formal appeals process.

In that decision, the Forest Service claims that the four airstrips are unsafe. AOPA's appeal states that the agency is neither entitled nor equipped to make that determination, especially without consultation with either the FAA or the Idaho State Division of Aeronautics — the agencies responsible for establishing minimal safety requirements.

"While we recognize that these airstrips are unique and require certain skills and proper equipment to operate from them," wrote Cebula, "the association has found no data, including investigation of the National Transportation Safety Board's information on aircraft accidents, to support the claim that these airstrips are unsafe."

FMI:  www.aopa.org

Advertisement

More News

Citation Operators Get Another Flight Data Connection for QA

LinxUs System Adds Capabilities for Data-Driven Operators Textron Aviation announced another option for operators processing their post-flight data, adding interoperability with GE>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.01.25)

Aero Linx: The de Havilland Moth Club Ltd The de Havilland Moth Club evolved from a belief that an association of owners and operators of Moth aeroplanes should be formed to create>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Bellanca 8GCBC

(Pilot) Inadvertently Applied Excessive Braking Action, And The Airplane Nosed Over Analysis: The pilot reported that, while landing at a remote, rough and uneven airstrip in a tai>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.01.25)

“MCADT is committed to rapidly integrating armed first-person view drones into the FMF, enhancing small-unit lethality and providing organic capabilities that warfighters cur>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: High-Speed Match-up - Venom and GE Rebirth A Legend

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): Major Engine Supplier Joins Forces With Small Aircraft Manufacturer… GE recently made an agreement with Venom Aircraft to supply engines for the>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

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