CAA: GA News, "Congress deliberates backcountry strips"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@cwnet.com>]

Friday, March 17, 2000

Congress deliberates backcountry strips
GA News


A bill to keep backcountry airstrips available to general aviation pilots is
working its way through congress. The measure was proposed by Utah
Congressman Jim Hansen, chairman of the House National Parks and Public
Lands subcommittee. Hansen is also a pilot and member of the Aircraft Owners
and Pilots Association. AOPA’s Legislative Affairs staff worked with him to
draft the bill.

Known as the “General Aviation Access Act,” the measure would turn back
efforts by federal agencies to restrict or prohibit GA use of backcountry
airstrips, particularly in the western U.S.

In recent years such restrictions have been proposed for the Hell’s Canyon
National Recreation Area (OR), Desolation Wilderness Area (CA), Glacier
National Park (MT), Grand Canyon National Park (AZ), Rocky Mountain National
Park (CO), and Sedona National Forest (AZ).

Four airstrips have been targeted for closure in the 3,750-square-mile Frank
Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area in central Idaho.

Chairman Hansen’s bill came after congressional testimony by AOPA President
Phil Boyer, who pointed out that such airstrips are necessary for
search-and-rescue, firefighting, and forest management, as well as for
emergencies.

“Aircraft overflights do not leave litter, clog roads or physically damage
wilderness areas,” Boyer told Congress in 1998. “Aviation provides access to
those physically unable to enjoy this often rough terrain from the ground.”

The General Aviation Access Act would severely limit the ability of federal
land managers to close an airstrip. Closures would have to be approved by
the FAA and the appropriate state aviation department. The public would be
given an opportunity to comment on a proposed closure.

The Interior and Agriculture Departments couldn’t force an airstrip to close
by neglecting it, either. The bill requires the airstrips be maintained “in
a manner that is consistent with the resource values of the adjacent areas.”

Joining Hansen in sponsoring the General Aviation Access Act were
Representatives John Duncan (R-Tennessee), Don Young (R-Alabama), Collin
Peterson (D-Minnesota), Elton Gallegly (R-California), Robert Hayes (R-North
Carolina), Joel Hefley (R-Colorado), Barbara Cubin (R-Wyoming) Scott McInnis
(R-Colorado), Helen Chenoweth-Hayes (R-Idaho), William Jenkins
(R-Tennessee), John Shadegg (R-Arizona), Walter Jones (R-North Carolina),
James Gibbons (R-Nevada), George Radanovich (R-California) and Chris Cannon
(R-Utah).

The Resources, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees
will now study the bill.

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