The event named in the subject line is supposed to occur this weekend, Friday, June 9 - Sunday, June 11, yet no additional details have been posted at the Idaho Aviation website:

https://idahoaviation.com/event/phil-ac ... iley-creek

I'm trying to confirm it's actually happening. I see nothing here on BCP.org, and I've been unable to find any other details online (Facebook, Google search, etc.).

I'm flying in commercial (DFW-Boise) and then driving to the event--and I see flood warnings and such for the area. I need to verify it's still happening and that road travel is possible and that pilots/planes plan to fly in before making that long of a trek.

Any help y'all can provide would be greatly appreciated!

PM Dave Irvin

https://backcountrypilot.org/community/3014-dbi/profile

He's a straight tailer and a RAF guy.

Zzz wrote:PM Dave Irvin

https://backcountrypilot.org/community/3014-dbi/profile

Thank you!!

Strip is open and being used with no issues being reported . Weather not real good there today hence the flood warnings . Idaho road conditions website has webcams all over the place as well as the webcam at Smiley . Have fun !

I was at Thomas Creek Saturday morning. There was a group of planes that may have come over from Smiley. A square tail 172, an early 180, and a couple square tail 182's.

I was coming into Thomas and saw a plane in front of me, I made several radio calls but was unable to get him on the radio so I circled the strip to make sure he was out of the way before I landed.

On the ground I asked him if he had heard me, his response was "No, we are all on a party frequency, our lead guy does all our radio calls". I mentioned that the other planes were on the ground parked with pilots out while he was coming in. I think I was polite, but suggested he monitor 122.9.
I never heard any of them on the radio as I approached Thomas. When they left, the lead plane was probably 6 to 8 miles downstream before the last one took off.

Be careful out there!

This has to be one of the dumbest and unsafe things I’ve heard of. It is ok to have a “party” frequency—as long as—they all still monitor 122.9. This was an accident waiting to happen! Thank you for posting this (almost) incident!

tedwaltman wrote:This has to be one of the dumbest and unsafe things I’ve heard of. It is ok to have a “party” frequency—as long as—they all still monitor 122.9. This was an accident waiting to happen! Thank you for posting this (almost) incident!

Partly agreed.

A big gaggle like this makes for a lot of radio traffic if every single aircraft is making calls. Having the lead guy call "flight of 5" can make it cleaner.

But definitely agreed that it needs to happen on the CTAF/backcountry frequency.

Keep your eyes outside the cockpit and like the old saying goes: If you hear someone announce intentions for the strip, there's definitely traffic. If you hear nothing, there might still be old grumpy NORDO dudes in ultralights.