Pilot Shelter Project at KLSK Becomes a Learning Opportunity

The Recreational Aviation Foundation has awarded a grant to build a pilot shelter at Lusk Airport (KLSK) in Wyoming.

But RAF Wyoming Liaison Joe Feiler is taking the project in a different direction than usual.

“While it would be relatively easy to gather a small group of pilots and construct a basic shelter in just a few days, the true value of this project lies in the collaboration and educational opportunities it creates,” he said.

The grant will cover the materials for the 12 x 20-foot ponderosa timber-framed structure, while Feiler has gathered a team of career and technical education teachers from all over Wyoming to collaborate on the structure, which will be built of Wyoming-made materials.

The project begins with Casper College engineering students providing plans. The timbers will be milled at the Devils Tower Wood Products sawmill located in Hulett, Wyoming. The University of Wyoming will host a timber framing workshop, offering graduate credit to career and technical education educators interested in expanding their knowledge of timber framing.

Local pilot volunteers from the Lusk community will work alongside the teachers to build the 12 x 24-foot concrete pad.

The final phase of the project will be the erection of the pilot shelter, completed by SkillsUSA middle school students for a community service project, which will be entered in the 2027 Wyoming State SkillsUSA contest. Gold medalists advance to the national competition.

“It is noteworthy that these students earned a national gold medal in 2025 for a previous Lusk community service project,” Feiler pointed out.

Each student participant will benefit from the practical experience in carpentry and woodworking, construction planning and safety, team-based project execution, and gain the skills aligned with Wyoming’s workforce needs, he added.

“By intentionally integrating education, industry, and community needs, this project becomes more than a pilots’ shelter — it becomes a hands-on learning environment and a showcase of high‑quality construction using locally sourced materials,” Feiler added.

For more information: TheRAF.org