When the Recreational Aviation Foundation introduced its Fly Rocky Top airstrip network in Tennessee, it was touted as the best way for pilots to see the backcountry beauty of the state.
But there’s so much more to the network, according to a new video from the association. That’s because increased use of the airstrips could mean the difference between an airport staying open or getting closed.
“If you think about how airstrips or airports get closed, they get closed because the community no longer sees value in them,” says Jeff Smith, the Rocky Top Team Lead. “So the best defense against having your airport ultimately closed is to make it something that the community truly values. You need to have a place that is vibrant and full of energy. And so one aspect of doing that was to create this hub for backcountry flying.”
Check out the Fly Rocky Top page on the Recreational Aviation Foundation’s website here.
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