Riddick Field, a public-use airport in western Montana, has become the focus of an aviation dispute after county commissioners voted to effectively limit nighttime operations by restricting use of the airport’s rotating beacon.
On Jan. 9, the Granite County Commission unanimously approved an ordinance designating Riddick Field (3U5) as “daytime use only.” Under the measure, the airport’s recently installed LED rotating beacon may be activated at night only for emergency landings and only by designated local authorities, according to local news source Citizen Portal. Commissioners and some residents cited concerns over light spill and community impacts from the beacon.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Montana Pilots Association (MPA) sharply criticized the decision, warning that the restriction could compromise safety and jeopardize future funding. The groups noted that Riddick Field has supported nighttime operations for decades with a beacon and runway lighting, and that limiting beacon use effectively reverts the airport to daytime-only status.
AOPA Northwest Mountain Regional Manager Brad Schuster urged officials to reconsider, calling night restrictions at a lighted public-use airport “likely unprecedented in the century of U.S. public airport history following the Air Commerce Act of 1926.”
AOPA and MPA also cautioned that the move could negatively affect eligibility for state and federal airport improvement funding, though they acknowledged that only the FAA and Montana Aeronautics Division can determine grant impacts.
Despite those concerns, county officials said the decision reflects local authority and citizen input and will remain in effect.
I can’t actually remember the last time I used the rotating beacon to locate an airport at night–if I ever did. Usually, I have to know where to look, and then, maybe, I can find the rotating beacon. I know Montana is a lot more sparsely settled than Ohio, so there’s a lot less light clutter on the ground, but the rotating beacon is really a relic left over from the first half century of aviation. As long as the runway lights work, I don’t think I’d even notice the rotating beacon being out.
Tail wagging the dog here again! 841 people control a Federally funded airstrip. Which is well away from the inhabitants. This is likely a move to close the airport and build a shopping center there. Where is the developer money going?
The money goes where it always goes - from developers to officials pockets - discretely, of course.
Who is monitoring the airband radio for emergencies so the beacon can be activated when needed? It would be far more affordable to simply keep the beacon on than to pay someone an overnight salary to monitor the radio.
AOPA and local pilots should insist that this information be publicly documented and that the county either has a person on payroll assigned to monitor the frequency—or admits that no one is.
And if no one is monitoring the radio (which, of course, they aren’t), then the county’s so-called “fix” was never intended to be a real fix at all. Either they acknowledge that reality, or they pay for the monitoring they’re claiming exists. Either way…force the County to admit it publicly.
All good posts.The story doesn’t confirm the runway lights will operate as normal. So, who needs a beacon? I find my runway just fine without a beacon.
Even in Montana! In the words of Jakof Smirnoff: What a country! Sheesh!
You don’t need a beacon, you don’t need runway lights, you don’t need to find the runway(at night).
The airport is closed at night.
Protect dark skies?
Pfft
It would probably help to have the correct airport code in the post.
3U5 is the code assigned to Augusta airport which about 78.5 miles northeast of Riddick
The code assigned to Riddick Field is U05.
There’s so much flat, open space around there it cannot possibly be for that purpose nor more housing. I’m betting on a few complainers about a little noise once in a while.
People here complained about noise so they got the 17 traffic switched to a righthand pattern. They still complain about the helicopter traffic flying low. That would be the traffic flying direct to T74 then northeast to the local hospital since there is no ID for the helipad at the hospital.
the airport does indeed have pilot controlled runway lighting
Runway Details
I went back and read the story again. While the writer said it was effectively closed because of the beacon I then saw about the county ordinance. Missed that the first time around. My mistake.
You have developers moving and creating housing, then the homeowner starts getting mad about the noise and complains to the county. Then the county has a committee meeting to figure what to do. Then bye bye airport.
I know it will never happen, but would be nice if AOPA members acknowledged the serious harm they do to quality of life of nearly every American. We HAT, HATE, HATE the noise and lead pollution. Yes we do! This group has long been in denial of the large negative externalities of their activities.