WORTH THE READ: CHRIS NUGENT GUEST EDITORIAL

Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Chris Nugent,  Arizona Pilots Association President and RAF Supporter.


I hope some of you have had the opportunity to enjoy the winter flying season in Arizona. The weather is spectacular, which allows us to get out and enjoy some of the backcountry airstrips like Double Circle Ranch, Pleasant Valley, and Grapevine Airstrip. They truly are special places and are the product of a lot of volunteer sweat equity and the partnership between the RAF, Arizona Pilots Association, and the US Forest Service.

 
My home base is a municipal airport in the Phoenix suburbs with hard surface runways and a control tower. It’s certainly not one of the special places we love in the backcountry, but it has a strong general aviation community with a lot of history, and it provides everything I need to keep my airplane safe from the elements and in flying trim. So, you might say I have my feet in two camps – part-time hard surface aviator and part-time backcountry aviator.

 
Even if you are relatively new to flying, you know that general aviation and municipal airports are facing a broad set of challenges. We’ve seen a lot of these challenges before, like residential encroachment and the resulting complaints about aircraft noise and more recently, concerns about lead pollution from aviation fuel. Some are new, like the conflict with municipal airports using ADS-B to collect fees.

 
Unfortunately, all these issues have recently converged at my home airport, and the local municipality that operates the airport has chosen to implement significant operational changes, including charging landing fees for based aircraft. Decisions like these set a broad precedent for general aviation nationwide, and as you might expect, the interactions between the city and local aviation community have been difficult. I could write volumes about how this all unfolded, but they have been written before at other times at different airports in the US.

 
What I will offer is that strong advocacy by the general aviation community as a whole is paramount. This is why national organizations like The RAF and AOPA, and the local and state organizations, like the Arizona Pilots Association, are important in representing the shared interests of the general aviation community. The outcomes are not guaranteed, but as my dad always told me, just showing up is 90% of being successful.


If you’re wondering what “showing up” looks like in practical terms, here are a few thoughts:

  • Join and stay current with a national advocacy group, like The RAF and AOPA, and your local pilot association. Membership numbers and engagement matter to airports and legislators.
  • Make the effort to attend airport advisory board or city council meetings when airport items are on the agenda - calm, factual, and respectful voices make a difference.
  • Volunteer at special events and with local aviation organizations – a little personal effort helps build credibility and community.
  • Support good-neighbor flying: fly noise-abatement procedures and help newer pilots learn local best practices.
  • Tell the airport’s story and what it does to contribute to the community - invite a neighbor to see what happens on the field and why it matters.


Advocacy is a team sport—leveraging these relationships and investing volunteer sweat equity are key to preserving access to the hard surface places we call municipal airports, and by extension, the backcountry.

Although Chris is a relatively new pilot, he has been involved in aviation and aerospace for the past 40 years and recently retired as Vice President of Engineering for an aerospace company that designs and manufactures safety systems for military aircraft and launch vehicles. He currently serves as President of the Arizona Pilots Association and bases his Carbon Cub at Mesa’s Falcon Field.

Submitted April 24, 2026

Posted in Guest Editorial, News

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RAF OUTFITTER SEPTEMBER FEATURED COLLECTION

September 5, 2026
FEATURING: SMARTWOOL SOCKS Whether you’re flying into the backcountry, hitting the trail, or simply going about your day, a comfortable pair of socks can make all the difference. Smartwool Socks are designed for outdoor adventures and everyday wear, offering the comfort, support, and durability you need wherever the day takes you. Made by Smartwool and finished with the RAF logo, they’re a practical way to bring a little backcountry spirit along for the journey. Get your feet backcountry-ready and show your support for the RAF from the ground up!

GET READY FOR THE 2026 PHOTO CONTEST OPENING OCTOBER 1!

September 3, 2026
The tradition continues — RAF 2026 Photo Contest! We’re excited to announce the upcoming RAF 2026 Photo Contest! It’s time to look through your photos and find your favorites. Once again, we’ll include the “RAF Mission” category, recognizing photos that best capture people enjoying recreational aviation, no matter the region. Each winning photographer will receive a package of high-quality greeting cards featuring their photo on the front and photo credit on the back — just in time for the holidays! New this year: We’re especially excited to see your photos from our Expanding The Map airstrips! Submit a photo taken at one of these airstrips, and we’ll send you a small gift from the RAF Outfitter as a thank-you for sharing it with us. Stay tuned for our next announcement, which will include everything you need to know to enter this year’s contest. Eligibility: The contest is open to all RAF supporters, amateur and professional photographers alike, including those aged 18 and under. Our judges are the RAF’s volunteer VPs of Appreciation, who also handwrite the RAF’s thank-you cards each week. They especially enjoy photos featuring airplanes, beautiful scenery, and people experiencing the fun and adventure of recreational aviation. The contest opens October 1, and winners will be announced November 15. Start looking through those camera rolls — we can’t wait to see where recreational aviation has taken you! Submitted September 3, 2026

RAF FEATURED SUPPORTER: ERIC JOHNSON

By Carmine Mowbray • September 3, 2026
When pilot Eric Johnson of Canby, Oregon steps up to help on RAF projects, he says he’s motivated to preserve these opportunities now and for future generations. Eric is a third-generation pilot himself, and he and his wife Elle have three children, all under age five as of this writing. Eric says, “Jett, the oldest, is obsessed with airplanes,” and Grandpa Kevin Johnson treats Jett to donuts at the local FBO on Fridays so they can watch airplanes. Kevin Johnson’s name should be familiar to readers, since he has supported the RAF all over the West. He has designed, delivered, and assembled a number of camping structures and other amenities at RAF-supported airfields, often assisted by Eric, who loves to contribute his precious spare time on these projects, saying, “Our family values tradition and hard work, which is a big part of what the RAF is. That’s how all the work parties are. Everyone shares the same goal and is happy to be there.” Eric earned his private pilot license in 2012 in the same Cessna 172 that his grandfather and Kevin bought in 1976, and that he now co-owns with Kevin. “We hangar it at the home that we live in, that my grandfather built in 1990,” Eric says. Elle is a private pilot as well, and worked for Columbia Helicopters until becoming a stay-at-home mom. Her father is building an RV4, so “Aviation is on both sides of our family,” Eric says. A licensed General Contractor, Eric has transitioned into property management, helping oversee the family’s 277-space manufactured home park and industrial properties in northwestern Oregon. Eric has made flights into OSH for AirVenture. He says, “The biggest adventure of the 16-hour flight is the last five minutes.” Anyone who has also nosed into that swarm of approaching traffic will probably agree. At Airventure he became acquainted with the RAF at a presentation on backcountry flying. “The mission aligns perfectly with my other outdoor hobbies,” he says. Rafting the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon line in the Hells Canyon Wilderness, he’s looked up toward the many airstrips near the river. “The only time I’ve seen Moose Creek airstrip is floating and fishing the Selway,” he added. Now he looks forward to landing, pitching his tent, and maybe helping one of his kids tie a line to fish these rivers, perhaps sparking another lifelong passion in the next generation. Submitted September 3, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray

FEATURED AIRSTRIP: KEG KNOLL, UT

By Carmine Mowbray • August 28, 2026
Some outdoor enthusiasts experience Utah’s Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness from the flat and peaceful water of the Green River as it goosenecks between Navajo Sandstone canyon walls, spires, and side arches. From a vantage high above, this region of stunning geologic and cultural wonders is equally as stunning. Thanks to the diligence of the RAF’s Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig, pilots may now land on a mesa overlooking the vast San Rafael Desert at Keg Knoll airstrip. This public airstrip is truly a gateway to some of Utah's most remarkable canyon country near Horseshoe Canyon and Canyonlands National Parks, offering a quiet alternative to the busy national park trails. Lessig led an effort over the past three years to advocate for the reopening of Keg Knoll airstrip. Various meetings were organized with the BLM to explore whether the airstrip could be reopened as allowed by the Wilderness Act, leading to the BLM's decision to authorize public access earlier this year. Lessig is planning a work party at Keg Knoll this fall with BLM and Utah Back Country Pilots to further improve the airstrip. Keg Knoll Airstrip has outstanding recreational value and offers pilots ready access to a true wilderness experience. Trails take visitors past ancient stories etched in desert varnish and painted on stone. Or to Colonnade Arch – just two miles from the airstrip – much-photographed for its five time-honed windows in the sandstone. Pilots are reminded that this airstrip lies within a Wilderness Area and all wilderness rules apply, including leaving all motorized and mechanized devices at home; no bicycles, drones, power tools, etc. The southwest 700 feet of the original airstrip is closed to aircraft due to sensitive vegetation. Those seeking a remote, dark sky experience should put Keg Knoll on their travel plan. Bring your self-reliance, and leave nothing behind. The RAF is thrilled that this airstrip has opened this year as part of its nationwide Expanding the Map initiative. Find out more about Keg Knoll airstrip in the Airfield Guide and on our dedicated web page . Submitted August 28, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray

RAF AND USFS COLLABORATE ON LOST CREEK, MI IMPROVEMENTS

August 28, 2026
RAF Michigan Liaisons Tanmoy Ganguly and Scott Anttila met with district U.S. Forest Service staff prior to starting work at Lost Creek airstrip, now MI45, (formerly 5Y4) in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in north-central Michigan. “We had a very constructive discussion about what the RAF does, and what we envision for future amenities at Lost Creek airstrip,” Ganguly said. The mid-August work weekend attracted 16 aircraft and 20 volunteers, including new MI Ambassador Ryan Minnick, MI Ambassador Ehsan Hamtaei, and IN Liaison Bill Steinmetz, many of whom enjoyed camping overnight in the forested setting. The crew was joined by nearby residents who donated their time, tools, and machinery to help and provided snacks.