I look at the sectional all the time. I see so many private strips in great locations I would like to visit.

I know many people here frequent private strips.

If it is not owned by someone in your circle of friends, or someone online you know, how do you go about getting permission? What do you say?

I'm in no way an expert or really experienced in this, but I've had good luck this year just calling the number listed on airnav.

"I'm going to be in the area on Saturday and your strip looks like a cool place, mind if I stop in with my 180?"

Most have been very receptive and want to talk about the restored blah blah they have on site and a bunch of other stuff. Only denials I've had were people who hadn't been maintaining the strip lately and thus didn't want someone to land in unknown conditions (a couple of which asked me to buzz their house for fun anyway), and a few guys up who requested that I come see the strip on the ground first by vehicle. The ones who wanted me to see it from the ground were <2000ft long and both above 8000' MSL so that made sense.

-asa

It depends on why the airport is designated private. Some people actually want privacy and don't want strangers showing up at their house. Some just want the liability protection of registered/private status.

Most I have gained access to are via social connection-- a friend of a friend of a friend. Some required getting a phone number from some degree of separation to call and ask permission. The number listed in the FAA directory is a good start, though some don't actually go anywhere.

One I thing I try to never do is just land and hope for the best, or beg forgiveness. That's just not cool.

If you do get an invite, make an effort to connect and visit with the owners if they seem receptive. Some enjoy visitors for that reason, not just to see another airplane.

I wrote a letter to one private strip and asked for permission. The owner called me right up and said I was more than welcome, but I'd have to be listed on the liability insurance policy...$4,000 per year. Ouch!

There are some private strips in the Selway where if you land they'll park a tractor on the runway to keep you from taking off. You have to then hire one of their approved pilots to remove your airplane. You may or may not get a trespassing charge from the sheriff.

The big lesson here is to get permission...just dropping in can have some consequences.

Are there any Midwest pilots here. I haven't been landing at strips in SW Missouri, I used in my youth, because of lack of appropriate insurance on the rental airplane. I always landed and talked. I was never denied nor queried about insurance. Is the adversarial relationship regional, generational, or different laws?

The strips I used on the Navajo reservation were public or just not on the sectional. I don't remember if pipeline strips were restricted or just not on the sectional.

Mountain Doctor wrote:I look at the sectional all the time. I see so many private strips in great locations I would like to visit.

I know many people here frequent private strips.

If it is not owned by someone in your circle of friends, or someone online you know, how do you go about getting permission? What do you say?

I own about 4 registered aerodromes in Canada that are marked PPR on the VNC. They are at my home and some of my places of work. I let my friends and customers use them if.

They ask first.
They are competent pilots.
The have appropriate aircraft.

Unfortunately lawyers have ruined much of the fun things in life. I have many people tell me they will sign any waiver. My reply is I am not worried about you. I fear the lawyer your wife will hire when you kill yourself doing something dumb on my airstrip.


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skywgnyqa wrote:

Mountain Doctor wrote:I look at the sectional all the time. I see so many private strips in great locations I would like to visit.

I know many people here frequent private strips.

If it is not owned by someone in your circle of friends, or someone online you know, how do you go about getting permission? What do you say?

I own about 4 registered aerodromes in Canada that are marked PPR on the VNC. They are at my home and some of my places of work. I let my friends and customers use them if.

They ask first.
They are competent pilots.
The have appropriate aircraft.

Unfortunately lawyers have ruined much of the fun things in life. I have many people tell me they will sign any waiver. My reply is I am not worried about you. I fear the lawyer your wife will hire when you kill yourself doing something dumb on my airstrip.


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I keep my plane at my ranch. I keep 1100 feet of pasture clipped and it is not on the charts. My neighbors do not care but I am sure that if I let people land here with very much frequency there would be some complaints. I have learned that just cus you have a 185 does not mean you can land short.

Tim

How did we get such illogical laws? Or is it that we have no law to go by when even the craziest point of view can force expensive litigation? Did our various founders envision such litigation and fear of same?

A Navajo student once told me, "White people worry too much. " I know; insurance, litigation,and such. Could it be that the best insurance is being poor?

I see your point Tim. Picking up the pieces would be a pain. Many town airports were that short back in the day. Different times I guess.

Zzz wrote:...One I thing I try to never do is just land and hope for the best, or beg forgiveness. That's just not cool. ....

I totally agree.
I've heard some pilots say "well it's an airport, isn't it?" to justify landing without permission or an invitation.
They don't seem the get the concept of private property regarding anyone's property except their own.

I don't like when a total stranger, of unknown skill level, unknown morals, unknown ethics, and uninvited, lands on a Sunday, when I'm having a surprise birthday party for my wife at my private strip. I was under the impression that there is a rule that you MUST get permission from the runway owner to land at a charted private airport. I have a few friends that call every time they want to visit to make sure the runway is serviceable and they aren't visiting at an inconvient time.

It was a tuff decision to have a small fly in last year and invite people from this website, but it worked out well and I could semi investigate the people who said they wanted to attend by how they posted on here. Most people on here seem to have good sense and respect for other peoples property.

Give me a call if you want to land at my place, I can usually tell with in a few minutes of conversation whether or not I want a visit from you. After you talk to me for a few minutes, you might not want to land here, but a phone call is the proper way to do it.

hotrod180 wrote:

Zzz wrote:...One I thing I try to never do is just land and hope for the best, or beg forgiveness. That's just not cool. ....

I totally agree.
I've heard some pilots say "well it's an airport, isn't it?" to justify landing without permission or an invitation.
They don't seem the get the concept of private property regarding anyone's property except their own.

The only time I'd think that way would be an emergency.

I have spent countless hours calling or driving in and asking for permission. It goes a long way. I also offer rides to view their property from above etc. The best way is finding out who may know them then ask

AKT

I never land at a private strip, without a prior invite, that'd just be wrong. But I also don't worry about someone dropping in on mine uninvited, at 400' long it keeps out the riff raff.

I'm not sure where you are from Mountain Doctor. But if you ever find yourself in northern Alberta look me up! We'd love to host you. I've got a turf strip 2500' long at 2000' MSL.
And that goes for anyone looking for a place to land out of town. We are kinda in the middle of nowhere, just a farming community.
We are not far at all off the route from Alaska to the lower states.
Stop in. (Just outside of Grande Prairie)
Tannon


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contactflying wrote:How did we get such illogical laws? Or is it that we have no law to go by when even the craziest point of view can force expensive litigation? Did our various founders envision such litigation and fear of same?

Oregon law since June 2015:
"Oregon became the twenty-seventh state in the nation to provide these protections when Brown signed House Bill 2038 on June 10. The measure, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016, says that an owner of land is not liable for any personal injury, death, or property damage arising from the use of land for purposes of aviation activity, unless the owner intentionally causes the injury, death, or property damage"

Thanks S39pilot. So 27 states have a logical law. But do shister lawyers still convince family members to sue bringing grief to all except the two lawyers involved?

Why have newer pipelines in the United States gotten so crooked? Eminent Domain is the same law but pipeline employees say litigation takes too long and is more expensive than finding a different route. My farmer and I were both sued by a squatter on her land concerning drift. It cost me and my insurance company and even his lawyer who did not continue due to never being paid and seeing there would be no pay at judgement. How many of you have experienced similar illogical legal situations.

I appreciated Cary's discussion of a logical legal outcome in Colorado. I am sure there are many. How would cost savings compared to cost of litigation come out if we compared the first twenty years of this century with the first twenty years of the last? Would giving the aggravated one our rainment as well be more productive for the whole country in the long run? It would sure save legal fees.

Enough rant. Zane, delete this if it is considered political.

I just got my private runway registered this summer. Last summer transport Canada eluded to a regulation change for the spring of 2017 to having possible studies and committees before any new aerodrome could be built. Only exception would be the temporary ag airstrips. I mainly wanted to be grandfathered before this change. No point having a hanger if you weren't allowed to have an airstrip. Not many non-flying neighbors would say yes to an airfield I imagine if actually put on the spot and asked if they agree. To limit liability I stated limited maintenance, soft in spring and prior permission required. Not much else you can do I imagine in such a sue happy society. I also made sure I have my number in the CFS so I can actually be contacted. I have had a few flyovers, but only visitor to actually land was invited.

In an emergency, please land here at anytime. Otherwise call me first, very simple rules.

Calling the owner is the best way to get permission. In 15 or so years I've only had one guy stop in that didn't ask first. The last guy that asked I turned down due to his lack of experience, the airplane he was flying and the number of people he wanted to haul in. I told FAA not to put my strip on the sectional but I also keep it well marked, and I'm under an airway next to Class D airspace so all the locals see it sooner later. I feel good about providing an alternate landing site if someone needs it. But if it's not an emergency, call first.

Been into many. Most are via an invite either from the owner directly or others have been in and can affirm that the owner is friendly to people dropping in. It's a form of networking, and keeping your ear to the ground. Very rewarding as many of the folks that take the time to have a private strip are very interesting people and worth knowing.

The other method has been to fly over a strip and if someone is around, do maybe one circle and see if they wave. If they wave a hand in a friendly gesture...maybe it's ok to land. If they wave a firearm and have non friendly gestures...probably not ok to land. YMMV.