LOUISIANA ADDS LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR AIRFIELD OWNERS

The state of Louisiana has passed HB718, which added recreational aviation to its recreational use statute. Effective August 1, 2026, owners of the nearly 200 private use airports in Louisiana have an added level of liability protection. 


To advocate for this sector of aviation, RAF National RUS Liaisons John Nadeau and Rick McCraw, and AOPA Central Southwest Regional Manager Tom Chandler all monitored progress throughout the legislative process. New RAF Louisiana Liaison Marcel LeBlanc also provided letters to legislators, both as an RAF Liaison and constituent.


The bill language states that an owner or manager of a “nonpublic use airport” has liability protection when others use their airfield for non commercial aviation activities. Louisiana defines a nonpublic use airport as one that is primarily used by the owner with access by others as permitted by the owner.


“It is obvious that providing liability protections for the private use airport owner has the potential to open up a great deal of existing aviation infrastructure. This can happen at absolutely no cost to the state,” Nadeau wrote in his letter to one of the bill’s sponsors. 


Louisiana now joins the list of twenty-eight states that either include aviation language in their RUS or have similar owner liability protections in other state statutes. The RAF continues its advocacy for aviation-specific wording to be included in RUSs, and encourages supporters to get involved. 


For more information about Recreational Use Statutes, click here. 


By Carmine Mowbray

Submitted June 26, 2026

Cover photo by Mathieu Labs

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