Hopefully I can catch some of you before you leave for Johnson Creek and if not, maybe someone that is online can relay the message while camping at JC.
Just a touch of history that I learned since moving up here to Idaho. Something around 40 years ago, the people that own the white house to the south, also owned the airstrip that eventually became the state owned Johnson Creek airstrip. There were many negotiations involved in the donation of this land to the state for purposes of the wonderful airstrip that is now 3U2. In negotiations of the donation, one of the major requests was that all air operations be conducted north of the airstrip, avoiding their property to the south. The State agreed that this directive would be published in publications such as the A/FD and signage posted at the airstrip, etc. Along with the donation of the airstrip, permission was given to airport users to cross their property to hike to the tub, etc. The avoidance of the property to the south appears to be violated at a more frequent rate these days, more than likely due to the lack of knowledge of the history of 3U2. Landing and taking off in either direction is completely doable in most airplanes performance wise. It is important now more than ever to be good neighbors by landing south and taking off north.
Forty years ago, there was no vision that there could be 50 to 100 airplanes gathering on one weekend, flying out for breakfast every day, fly-outs to all the strips that Idaho is famous for, and generally using airplanes for enjoyment like no where else in the lower 48. Just be aware, that 3U2 or any of the other strips we love to frequent, were not established to be a general aviation facility like an airport servicing a small town, but rather as a place to enjoy the wonderful backcountry as a trailhead or camp ground. Please keep the fragile nature of these strips in mind when using them, and remember, the reason for some of the recommendations, may be for something not related to flying.
I'm not a policeman, or with the FAA or anything else, just a guy that has an airplane and the desire to use it in the Idaho Back Country, and also one that got his ears beat back a few years ago to open my eyes a bit on this very subject. Yes, I understand there have been complaints this year, and while I was there this afternoon, in a span of 15 minutes, two airplanes landed north with calm winds, one directly over the house. Would you please help me spread the word?
Thanks for listening.
Jack Kotaki