Recreational Aviation Foundation Issues Call To Preserve Utah Airstrips

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Key Takeaways:

  • The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) issued a call to action for pilots to oppose a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposal to close 16 airstrips in Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument (BENM).
  • The BLM's plan would restrict aircraft operations within BENM to only the Bluff Airport and Fry Canyon Airstrip, pending a new travel plan.
  • The RAF argues that all 18 airstrips have been in use for 40-70 years and should be preserved as recreational assets, not closed without individual merit evaluation.
  • Pilots are urged to submit positive comments on preserving these airstrips before the deadline of June 11, 2024.
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The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) issued a call to action requesting pilots submit feedback on a proposal from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding the closure of 16 airstrips in Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument (BENM).

According to the RAF, the Bureau of Land Management’s plan would restrict aircraft operations to only the Bluff Airport and Fry Canyon Airstrip—effectively closing the other 16 airstrips within the BENM pending the development of an implementation-level travel plan by the BLM.

The RAF is urging pilots to submit positive comments on preserving these “recreational assets” noting that “all 18 of the airstrips have existed and have been in use for the past 40-70 years” and that none of them should be closed or banned without evaluating the merits of each.

The deadline to submit comments is June 11, 2024.

Amelia Walsh

Amelia Walsh is a private pilot who enjoys flying her family’s Columbia 350. She is based in Colorado and loves all things outdoors including skiing, hiking, and camping.
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