EXPANDING THE MAP = EXPANDING THE RESPONSIBILITY

Utah, Tennessee, Kansas, Indiana, Maryland . . . Forest Service, BLM, private landowners . . . are just a few of the places, agencies, and individuals the RAF is involved with to generate new opportunities on our quest to “Expand the Map.” 

The fun is talking about destinations, maybe sitting around a campfire with a few folks, and thinking of new places to go. Working with partners and new people who might not have worked with us in the past, and seeing a project go from an idea to a place for all to enjoy. It is happening right now, and we are collectively Expanding the Map.

But like our flying, when we expand our capabilities, we take on new responsibilities. Responsibilities we might not have felt at the prior level. From flying a fixed-gear aircraft to one with foldable wheels, we add the responsibility not to forget to put the wheels back down when we get ready to land. Very few incidents have been reported about forgetting to raise the gear when departing, but forgotten gear-down landings litter the reports. 

As we grow and Expand the Map we all need to make sure to do our best to plan for and conduct a successful outcome. We need to be responsible and remember to put the wheels down.

The responsibilities of taking care of one nearby airstrip is not such a big task, sort of like flying a basic airplane. However, as we expand our options, there are levels of complexities that come with the territory. More levers to pull, and buttons to push, more things to remember in order to safely conduct the flight.

So it goes with Expanding the Map. We need to pay all the more attention. Who will our partners be? How do we make sure the place stays in good shape? Who will take care of cutting the grass, cleaning the outhouse, changing the windsock, and maintaining online listings? What is there to do when we arrive, and for sure, how will we pay the bills?

Expanding the Map is exciting, but it will be the little things all along the way that we have to keep our eyes on. “Cockpit Resource Management” if you please. We are so excited to be asking you to get even more involved, because we are going to need you. You have heard it before, but without you, Expanding the Map would not be possible, and frankly, without you, there would be no reason to Expand the Map. 

The RAF is on a roll, and just like the basics of flying, we all need to remember those things needed to make this work – Gas on, switch on, hang on.

 - John McKenna, RAF Chairman

Submitted July 15, 2026