Aviation has been included as a “legitimate mode of access” by the U.S. Forest Service.
Officials with the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) note that their lobbying efforts, through participation in USFS public comment sessions and attending meetings of the Federal Advisory Committee as observers, secured the documenting of aviation within the service’s Final Planning Directive (FSH 1909.12).
The document acknowledges recreational aviation in multiple places. “These aviation references clarify and solidify aviation as a legitimate mode of access, and one of the three legs of the National Forest Transportation System,” RAF officials said.
Aircraft access on National Forest lands is critical to the RAF mission of “preserving, maintaining and creating public use recreational and backcountry airstrips nationwide,” officials noted.
The RAF was founded in 2003 after the closures of some scenic USFS airstrips in the west.
“In examining the problem, it was apparent that our public lands planners included travel plans for off-road vehicles, pack animals, bicycles, hikers and boaters, but airplanes were conspicuously missing,” RAF officials said.
The RAF began by building relationships with the USFS, beginning with district rangers and later with RAF leadership traveling to Washington, D.C., “and building trust with policy-makers.”
“For years, the RAF has persevered,” association officials noted. “Volunteers attended specific Forest Plan meetings, wrote letters and continued to meet face-to-face from the backcountry of Arizona to marble-walled offices of Washington, D.C.. On Feb. 3, their hard work resulted in the formal inclusion of aviation, airstrips and aircraft in the USFS Final Planning Directive.”
What does this mean to pilots?
“With responsible use of the backcountry airstrips on National Forest lands, we can be sure of continued access and enjoyment,” RAF officials said.
Excellent comments Mr. Hawkins.
I’m a native Idahoan (4th gen, pioneer stock) and have spent plenty of time recreating in its large and beautiful wilderness areas.
The history of GA flying in Idaho is as interesting and colorful as you may imagine. However, population pressures are exacerbating the conflicts among various categories of users.
The hikers have always complained about the damage pack horses do as well as the stink of both the animals and the road apples in their wake. The packers respond “We were here first.” and “Why would anyone walk then they can ride?” Off-road bicycles are a new phenomenon and seem not to bother most other users (except those offended by the sight of men wearing skintight dayglo lycra). Ditto on the rafters, assuming they carry and use porta-potties
All of the above activities are relatively quiet. The biggest noise offender categories include off-road vehicles, (motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles etc.) and AIRPLANES.
A pilot myself, I have taken several float trips in Central Idaho and been astonished at the amount of noise SOME back country aircraft produce. I don’t know whether it is the prop, the unmuffled exhaust or the desire of some pilots to fly low in deep canyons, but it is very disturbing to many users. So is gunfire from hunting, but that is seasonal and of brief duration.
So, everyone who flys or intends to fly in the back country should come to the table with other users and work out mutually-acceptable procedures to minimize unreasonable disturbance to others.
Pilots will always be in the minority so some compromise is inevitable. The Sierra Club types have plenty of money and organizational clout.
Brett, that was a well-worded comment. I’d like to talk to you more about it offline if you’re game. Please email me at [email protected]. Thanks.
Civil Air Patrol has built in road to USFS by doing fire patrols, flight time is paid for and a mission. Perhaps aviators could form groups of owners and pilots to do fire patrols or emergency recoveries.