The Recreational Aviation Foundation Offers Guidance To Owners Of Private Airfields

The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) is dedicated to preserving existing airstrips and actually creating new public-use recreational airstrips throughout the United States. However, this is not something the foundation can do on its own; the owners of private airstrips or those planning on establishing a private recreational airstrip need to have guidelines.

With the issue of a guideline in mind, the RAF reports that they have now released a guide for private airfield owners. Driven by their State Liaisons’ requests for more information about private airfields, the RAF has compiled the ‘Guide for the Private Airfield Owner.’

The Guide states that private airfields are invaluable, especially as pressure increases on public lands to restrict aviation access to many of our nation’s special places. The RAF recognizes private airfields are a resource to tap for increasing aviation access to recreation.

“Preserving private use airfields is a primary mission for us here in the East,” said John Nadeau, former RAF Massachusetts Liaison. He owns Old Acton Airfield in Maine (02ME), and took the lead in drafting the document, which has gained the endorsement of AOPA.

The Guide includes discussions of the FAA charting process as well as legal, liability and legacy issues.

The RAF has long been the “go-to” group for answers regarding recreational aviation on public lands, found in the RAF Land Manager’s Guide and Advocate’s Guide. “We expect that we may now be seen as the ‘go-to’ organization regarding private airfield support,” Nadeau said, adding, “It will be RAF folks who show up at an airfield with rakes, shovels and pulaskis when word goes out that an airfield owner needs physical help.”

The document is available online or RAF State Liaisons and members may request printed copies.

FMI: www.recreationalaviationfoundation.org/