VT Ranch

FYI, the RAF and APA attended two Kaibab Forest planning meetings over the last few months as well as submitting an exhaustive response to the call for feedback on the proposed Kaibab National Forest Natural Resource Plan. We discussed aviation and made specific recommendations on where it could and should be included in the plan. VT Ranch airstrip and the old Grand Canyon airstrip at Red Butte have been discussed, but the plan is really a document of opportunities, and not for specific sites. In parallel with the planning process, I've been personally working with the holders of the Special Use Permit over the Red Butte site, and have had several conversations with the District Ranger, who is very open to the idea of recreational aviation use of the old Red Butte site, but this will take some time. VT Ranch is another story, and there is a lot of resistance to its use for some negotiable reasons, but we'll keep working it and hope to have access for GA in the North Kaibab one day. This probably goes without saying, but progress we are making with the Forest Service (FS) has been through building friendships and trust with them, not by forcing ourselves on them and threatening to sue them as many of the other organizations they deal with have done. The Forest Service people talk to each other, and when we honor a District Ranger DR, he or she becomes our advocate with other less agreeable DRs. I could tell you story after story of how honoring through acknowledging their concerns and internal challenges and working with them to mitigate issues with aviation has paid off on our efforts. It takes a lot of time and patience and we won't get them all re-opened, but we are way ahead of where we were just a year ago. The RAF managed to get Congress to include a requirement for inventorying FS airstrips in this year's budget and consider which ones might be re-opened. No money was included with this, but the RAF is helping to provide the inventory list so as not to create additional burden on the FS for this activity. Also, the third in command of Forest Aviation attended the RAF Summit for three days in Kalispell this last June. He is a wonderful guy, and an aviator himself; willing to help where he can. This is all very encouraging!

Mark-
Thanks for the great update on the Grand Canyon airstrips! While I don't live in AZ, I fly there often and enjoy hearing about the progress you've made. I support the RAF and APA and urge others to if they are interested in helping the effort to save these airstrips.

Thanks!

-Alec

Hi Alec, We're hoping for some finality on Tuweep in our meeting coming up with the State on September 18th. I'll post an update as we make progress around the Grand Canyon. Thanks very much for the support!

Hi fellow pilots. Just to update you on Tuweep. I've had some very positive discussions with the AZ State Land Department and we have a meeting scheduled for December 4th to start the process of a lease on the Tuweep airstrip. The AZ Pilots Association and the RAF will work together on this and we'll need the pilot community's help. Stay tuned here, or at AZpilots.org for the latest. Please resist landing at Tuweep until we get this done. Violations are not helping us at all!

Hey gang, Just another update: We are having another meeting on Monday the 7th at the AZ State Land Department to hammer out the final details of a lease on the Tuweep airstrip. The State does not want anything to do with managing an airstrip so the APA and RAF will step up to the plate and take on a lease, basically putting us on the line for care of the place. While the APA has some funds for this in the war chest, it will take ongoing financial support to maintain the lease and required liability insurance the state is asking for. I'll be able to share more after Monday!

Thanks Mark!

Tuweep open, how cool would that be,can't wait to actually land there and do some camping.

I appreciate your work on this!

Dale

Such great news. I drove out there last August. Definitely on the list to do by plane.

Anything changed?

Bump. Any new info.

Bump again. Any news?

Hi gang, I apologize for being quiet, I had to back away from this for a few weeks to catch my breath. It's taken a lot of time, and I'll have to admit I am pretty frustrated with the situation. Here's the current status. The AZ Land Department offered us a path to re-open Tuweep that includes four primary requirements:

1. A responsible party with the ability to enter into a Permit for the operation of Tuweep for recreational pilots,

2. The permittee must obtain and maintain liability insurance in the amounts recommended by the state's Risk Management,

3.The permittee must agree to reimburse ASLD for out-of-pocket expenses incurred with the reopening of Tuweep-in particular, the increase in ASLD's annual liability insurance premium, and

4.The permittee paying an annual fee for the use of Tuweep.

The APA would step up to items 1, 2, and 4, 1 and 3 being the same, at an annual cost of around $3,500, but item 4 is the killer at around $7,000. The bottom line is that a $10,000 fee to use one backcountry airstrip when no other recreator pays more than a $15/year recreational permit fee, makes this a precedent we dare not set. The main reason for this expense is because they have chosen to require a lease from us rather than just the recreational permit. By doing this, they have stepped out from under the protection of our RUS, thus creating the additional liability burden and insurance costs. We have had multiple discussions and letters back and forth expressing the inequity of this, but to no avail. Anyone who would like a copy of these letters, please contact me off line. They very clearly establish our position.

Looking forward we are considering a potential purchase of the entire parcel, or a court challenge of the state's position as an abuse of discretion. The second option is potentially expensive, but with a good potential to win since they truly have no rational reason for the position they have taken. The pilot community has never taken this later path before, but we are running out of options on this one.

Sounds similar to my issue at pacific city. F@@king lawyers.

Good luck to both of us!

G'Day

Sue them, win, and set THAT precedent. It might be expensive but would probably pay for itself in the long run with other strips.

amen Zzz.

Small government agencies need an occasional legal spanking to keep them in line. (So do the big ones.) Otherwise they run amok like spoiled children.

The land department contacted me on May 1st to explain that thy could not consider selling the Tuweep parcel as being in the best interest of the trust. They are very short on resources, and are consumed with sales of high value lands near urban areas. Also, I received an e-mail from the NPS today, they have been supportive of us and our hopes for Tuweep, but the e-mail explains that the state has indicated to them that they expect them, and bind them through their lease, to enforce state trespass laws at Tuweep. To be courteous to us, the e-mail asked that I get the word out, in order to avoid any issues. As for a lawsuit, as I have stated, the pilot community has never had to take that path before, so payback is questionable at best, but is always an option, be it the last one, in my opinion. It does not require any particular organization's action, just one pilot injured by the law or rule in question who is willing and able to challenge it once injured by it. I am no attorney, but that is my understanding of it, and I really cannot advise on such.

Hi gang! Well it's a new year, a new legislative session, and the APA and RAF are not giving up on Tuweep!! We actually began conversing with the Speaker of the house, Andy Tobin, weeks before the session, and we are asking for action, not words this session. This session is jam packed with many issues for Arizona. We have gained a strong advocate now in the Majority Leader, David Gowan, who is actually my representative here in southeastern AZ. Our senator, Gail Griffin, and the senator over the district covering Tuweep, Kelli Ward are also supportive. Look these folks up an give them a call to thank the for their support, especially Gowan. He is setting up a new meeting with the land commissioner, which we will also attend, hopefully this next week. The APA sent a letter to the commissioner earlier this week pointing out that AZ. RUS has been upheld once again at the appellate lever, and asking the following:


1) That the Arizona State Land Department grant access to the Tuweep airstrip by GA aircraft and pilots seeking access for the sole purpose of personal, non-commercial recreational access to the Tuweep overlook of the Grand Canyon under the current recreational permit system; the same access so many other classes of Arizona Citizens enjoy not only at Tuweep, but across the entire trust land system. This would simply be the same access that the GA community enjoyed at Tuweep for more than 50 years, and without incident prior to its closing.

2) If necessary, in lieu of the above, we respectfully ask that you grant a Right-of-Way to GA, non-commercial aircraft access to the Tuweep airstrip under the power granted you under Arizona Title 37-461.

With the Majority Leader and Speaker with us, we will get attention, but not necessarily a reversal of the land department's policy. It's better that I not lay out all our cards, but we will not give up until aviators enjoy the same treatment on AZ trust lands that all other classes enjoy. Follow the struggle at www.AZPilots.org

Mark
Thanks so much for your relentless efforts to get Az. backcountry strips reopened, and keeping the ones that are open, open.
Always happy to contribute to the RAF and the APA, and any other group that actively supports backcountry flying.

Without you folks there would be much less out there for us to enjoy. It's a shame that it is such a battle.
Gary

Just got back from a week in D.C. with RAF Pres John Mckenna, all good news for us on the national level, including new language in the last Omnibus bill protecting airstrips and asking the FS to budget for their maintenance! What a pleasure it was returning home to find that our new Governor has heard our cry against the current AZ State Land Commissioner, Vanessa Hickman, and her discrimination against aviation as well as stated desire to close all state trust lands to any access! She'll not be retained as the land commissioner!!

This last year's history on Tuweep: I could right a book! In short last year we got the legislature to include a $10,000 budget item for a "Northern AZ airstrip insurance" for the Land Commissioner. She convinced the governor to veto it! She claims liability is the concern, but it is not, it is simply that they managed to close 42 airstrips on AZ state trust lands from 2004 to 2006 and they'll be darned if they'll let us back in. Vanessa has sat across the table from us (including RAF Pres John McKenna) in front of the House Majority Leader and Senate President and said that if she had her way there would be no one on state trust lands! At least she's honest about that. Sooooo, moving forward, I have placed several FOIA requests and been able to get to some of the truth through researching the department's emails and such. My last request was for emails between them and the state Attorney General, but they claimed attorney/client privilege. I refined my request and they produced over 2500 documents, none of which, except one, had anything to do with my requested information. Ah, but that one document was actually an email from the AG to the land commissioner telling her that Alaska allowed aviation use of state trust lands and that the state was immune under Alaska's Recreational Use Statute. Of course this is the same statute in AZ that we are insisting that the state land department is also immune Anyway, we'll be picking up the battle again as the legislative session opens. This year my rep, last years majority leader, is now the speaker and he has again offered to help. This is really a problem at the administration side of the state government, not the legislative side. Knowing this, my wife Stefanie and I met with several candidates for governor, including Ducey, during their campaigns, and discussed some issues including our beloved Tuweep. Ducey stated in writing that he'd support equal access to trust lands. We were hopeful he'll replace the current land commissioner, and we now know he will! We'll be asking for a meeting with him early this year as the dust settles. Once a new commissioner is named, we'll of course ask for a meeting there right away.

Mark,

Thank you and the RAF for your relentless efforts on Tuweep and the other Airizina strip strips. I have fond memories of landing at Tiweep years ago with my daughter, and hitch hiking to the rim for a picnic lunch. A premier BC strip for sure!

I will look up those legislative contacts, and contact my friend Mark Killian, former speaker of the AZ house in hopes that one more voice can be hear and help.

Thanks again,

Cal

Thanks again to Mark for his tireless efforts on this case. We all need to support the RAF and the APA with funds and work parties where appropriate.
That political bureaucracy would make my head spin right off! I'm glad that we have smart people on the case.
RR