Get extra lift from AOPA. Start your free membership trial today! Click here
Advocacy Advocacy Briefs Issue Brief: Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

Issue Brief: Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

On Capitol Hill

Issue Brief

Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

July 2001


In recent years, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has noticed an increase in the number of permanent closures of backcountry airstrips. Many airstrips have been closed without consulting state aviation departments, local and national aviation groups, or the public. AOPA's goal is to implement a national policy governing general aviation issues related to Federal land. After the spate of forest fires in the past two years, the importance of maintaining these backcountry airstrips is more critical than ever.

On Tuesday, April 3, 2001, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Representatives Butch Otter (R-Idaho) and AOPA member James Hansen (R-Utah) reintroduced the Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act (S. 681/H.R. 1363). Both AOPA-backed bills block efforts by federal agencies to restrict or arbitrarily prohibit general aviation's use of backcountry airstrips by requiring approval from state aviation officials before closing landing sites on federal land. Last year Senator Crapo, with the help of Senators Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Slade Gorton (R-Wash.), successfully attached a provision to the Interior Appropriations Conference Report for FY 2001, prohibiting federal funds from being used to close any airstrips on lands administered by the Department of the Interior.

The AOPA-Supported Legislation:

  • Requires a 90-day public comment period on proposed airstrip closures.
  • Requires state aviation departments approve all airstrip closures in their states.
  • Creates a national policy governing general aviation issues related to Federal land, and requires the proposal recognize that the Federal Aviation Administration has sole authority over airspace and aviation.
  • Will not, despite what environmental groups intimate, reopen airstrips that have been closed, nor will it require that existing airstrips be paved.

Co-Sponsors of the Legislation:

S. 681 (introduced by Senator Mike Crapo):

  • Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
  • Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah)
  • Conrad Burns (R-Mont.)
  • Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.)
  • Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho)
  • Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.)
  • James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.)
  • Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska)
  • Gordon Smith (R-Ore.)
  • Ted Stevens (R- Alaska)

H.R. 1363 (introduced by Representatives Butch Otter and James Hansen):

  • Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-Md.)
  • Charlie Bass (R-N.H.)
  • Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa)
  • Dan Burton (R-Ind.)
  • Chris Cannon (R-Utah)
  • John Cooksey (R-La.)
  • Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.)
  • Randy Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.)
  • Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)
  • Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.)
  • Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.)
  • Felix J. Grucci, Jr. (R-N.Y.)
  • Melissa Hart (R-Pa.)
  • Doc Hastings (R-Wash.)
  • Robin Hayes (R-N.C.)
  • Joel Hefley (R-Colo.)
  • Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
  • Tim Holden (D-Pa.)
  • Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
  • Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.)
  • Walter Jones (R-N.C.)
  • Ric Keller (R-Fla.)
  • Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.)
  • Scott McInnis (R-Colo.)
  • John Mica (R-Fla.)
  • George Nethercutt (R-Wash.)
  • Ed Pastor (D-Ariz.)
  • Collin Peterson (D-Minn.)
  • Thomas Petri (R-Wis.)
  • George Radanovich (R-Calif.)
  • Dennis Rehberg (R-Mont.)
  • Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.)
  • Mike Simpson (R-Idaho)
  • Bob Stump (R-Ariz.)
  • John Sweeney (R-N.Y.)
  • Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.)
  • Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.)
  • Greg Walden (R-Ore.)
  • Don Young (R-Alaska)

Background

Many airstrips are closed by federal land management agencies without a public process. We have heard from our members and state aviation officials that they often discover an airstrip has been closed only when they attempt to use it. This action represents a grave danger to pilots who have not been made aware of an airstrip's closure prior to an attempt to land there.

Backcountry airstrips serve an essential purpose in firefighting, disaster relief, search and rescue, forest and ecological management, research, and aerial mapping.

Remote dirt and grass airstrips play an important safety role as emergency landing areas. If a single engine piston aircraft loses its engine, an immediate landing is required. In mountainous terrain, an airstrip could be the difference between life and death for a pilot and passengers.

Backcountry airstrips will never be popular destination spots because the average recreational pilot does not have the training or skills needed to fly into wilderness strips. Those who use remote airstrips are highly experienced backcountry pilots who own aircraft that are properly designed to fly into and out of rough terrain. For this reason, many airstrips likely see, on average, no more than 3-6 landings and takeoffs in one year.

The cost of maintaining backcountry airstrips is minimal. In many states, pilots themselves regularly trim vegetation, remove rocks from the landing site, and fill in potholes. If repairs are needed, local pilots and state aviation officials are more than willing to work with land managers to make the repairs

Senate Action:

On July 12 th, facing the possibility that an AOPA-supported prohibition against the closure of backcountry airstrips on Federal lands would be extended by Congress until October of 2002, an agreement was reached between Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and the Departments of Agriculture and Interior to develop a national policy governing backcountry airstrips on federal land.

For years the prior Administration testified before Congress that there was no need for a national policy on backcountry airstrips. Now the Bush Administration has committed itself to a process that will include periods of public notice, comment and participation by the States. To highlight the importance of the agreement, Senator Crapo and Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on July 12 th on the Senate floor about the necessity of this policy, stating that closing any airstrips in advance of this policy would be a perilous course. Afterward, Senator Crapo proceeded to read letters from the Departments of Agriculture and Interior stating their commitment towards working with the Congress on a comprehensive solution.

Senator Crapo stated that he hopes that Congress ultimately will be able to pass this legislation on a permanent basis. "There is a concern about this because these airstrips provide not only access to the backcountry for recreational use, but they are critical for maintenance and some of the management purposes of the agencies in managing our public lands and fighting forest fires."