As many of you know, we've been fighting to get aviation use added to the Oregon recreational use statutes to protect landowners from liability they might incur as the result of usage of their airstrip or property by aircraft. Our statutes already cover ATV, bicycle, equestrian and many other recreational activities but airstrips owners must enjoy the same protection from aircraft liability if they are to comfortably share their private land and strips with pilots.

This Thursday, February 19th, 2015 at 1:00pm a hearing is being held by the House Rural Communities, Land Use and Water Committee at the state capitol in Salem to get this to legislature as Oregon house bill 2038. We need the testimony of landowners who invite aviation use of their property, in practice or in philosophy.

If you own land that could be used for aviation or you already have an airstrip, please come testify. You need only speak for 2 minutes to show your support of adding aviation to the Oregon recreational statutes.

We appreciate the support of all pilots, but what is needed is landowner testimony. If you know people who are aviation friendly and own land or have an airstrip in Oregon, please pass the word on.

The House Rural Communities, Land Use and Water Committee has scheduled a hearing for HB 2038 for this Thursday, Feb 19 at 1:00pm in Hearing Room F.

From Mary Rosenblum:

People who want to submit written testimony on HB 2038 can submit it to Lindsay Trant, the Committee Assistant for the House Rural Communities Committee. Lindsay’s email is [email protected]. Make sure they write “Testimony for House Bill 2038” in the subject line of the email. If they can put the testimony in letter form on letterhead, scan the form, and attach it as a pdf to the email, that would be best. If not, an email is fine.

Thanks,
Zane

I forwarded this to a couple of friends. It would be nice to see this pass!

CW

I have heard the issues of last year have been fixed. I'm in DC so I will miss it.

OregonMaule wrote:I have heard the issues of last year have been fixed.

Which is what?

Lora lee & I plan to show up and testify, have a couple of friends who have air strips that can't make it so i plan to hand deliver their written testimony to the committee. If you want changes you have to stand up and do something about it !

Little John wrote:Lora lee & I plan to show up and testify, have a couple of friends who have air strips that can't make it so i plan to hand deliver their written testimony to the committee. If you want changes you have to stand up and do something about it !

Good on you, John!

From Mary Rosenblum:

People who want to submit written testimony on HB 2038 can submit it to Lindsay Trant, the Committee Assistant for the House Rural Communities Committee. Lindsay’s email is [email protected]. Make sure they write “Testimony for House Bill 2038” in the subject line of the email. If they can put the testimony in letter form on letterhead, scan the form, and attach it as a pdf to the email, that would be best. If not, an email is fine.

The issues of last year; the only objection was from the trial lawyers association, thought they might miss out on some law suits I guess? This bill #2038 was reworded in an effort to get them to not object to it.

I went and testified before the committee. Everyone who signed up to speak was in favor of the bill. Green Trees airstrip owner Geoff was there, as was OPA president Mary Rosenblum, seaplane guy Wainwright from Lenharts area I think, a couple of QB's, airstrip owners from McMinnville area, good turn out and all spoke in favor of the bill, real positive

Little John wrote:The issues of last year; the only objection was from the trial lawyers association, thought they might miss out on some law suits I guess? This bill #2038 was reworded in an effort to get them to not object to it.

I went and testified before the committee. Everyone who signed up to speak was in favor of the bill. Green Trees airstrip owner Geoff was there, as was OPA president Mary Rosenblum, seaplane guy Wainwright from Lenharts area I think, a couple of QB's, airstrip owners from McMinnville area, good turn out and all spoke in favor of the bill, real positive

Great news. Thanks John.

https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1 ... ent/HB2038 Well it past, House bill 2038. To Oregon mall Zzz; Little John and Clipwagon. The owners of Lands Inn Tom & Carol, would like you to contact them about having a fly in sometime. I went there this last Sunday and the grass strip is in good shape.

nice work gentlemen

So, my read us that you're still not protected from liability if you give permission. Is that right?

Also, I know my umbrella insurance policy excludes almost everything aviation related, but I wonder if it might help in this case.

Finally, did it pass the state Senate, too?

Great news! Thanks everyone!

hpux735 wrote:So, my read us that you're still not protected from liability if you give permission. Is that right?

Also, I know my umbrella insurance policy excludes almost everything aviation related, but I wonder if it might help in this case.

Finally, did it pass the state Senate, too?

From Mary Rosenblum President of the Oregon Pilots association.

Hey folks, our Governor signed HB 2038 into law today. Whazzat? That's our bill to relieve private strip owners from all liability if someone lands on their strip without permission and cracks up. If someone asks permission, you say 'At your own risk', and unless you neglected to tell them about that four foot tall stone wall you built across the runway, you're good.

This is because a TON of pilots emailed, called, and showed up in Salem to say that people do land without permission, we'd LOVE to open our strips to people wanting to land, and we need the bill. THANKS to all of you who did that! Emails, calls, and letters matter. A LOT. More than a paid lobbyist, as a matter of fact.

Great news!

It sounds like the actual relief from liability is still a little ambiguous though, with the whole permission granting.

Great to hear when these things work out!

Based on what the OPA person was quoted as saying, seems like you're good liability wise, as long as you have proof, like a email or something, that the visiting pilots knows it's at his own risk and you don't forget to mention any major hazards.

If it were me I'd want a response email based off a "own risk" email with attached YouTube link to me shooting a approach and landing into my strip, think you'd be covered 100% like that.

With all the regulation we see everyday in the industry, it's cool to read about a story like this!