RAF Rallies Pilots to Fight Threat to Colorado Airstrips

Bethany Whitfield

Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 12:18 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) is calling on pilots to help save Colorado airstrips from land management plans drafted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that threaten General Aviation's presence.
The issue surfaced when a RAF supporter discovered a draft plan for the Colorado River Valley that omitted any mention of airstrips, and BLM staff admitted they were unaware recreational aviation existed.
The RAF has launched a letter campaign, encouraging pilots across the country to submit comments to ensure GA's inclusion in the planning process.
The deadline for submitting comments on the plan is January 17, 2012.

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The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) is calling on pilots throughout the country to help save Colorado airstrips after the discovery of land management plans that might threaten GA’s continued presence in the area.

The move was prompted by RAF supporter Hap Pool, who recently came across a draft plan notice for the Colorado River Valley released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The plan contained no mention of the airstrips in the area, and when Hap raised the issue to BLM staff, they said they “had no idea that recreational aviation even existed,” according to the RAF.