Pilots know what private airstrips look like on sectional charts, but we might never have seen one up close. That’s because we tend to skip over those magenta circles with Rs in the middle while looking for more familiar, welcoming public airports.
Having to call ahead for permission before landing is enough to keep many pilots away. Picking up the phone can be much like calling air traffic control for people who are shy about talking to the tower. What if the owner or manager of the private strip says we cannot land there? Rejection is hard to take.
