WORTH THE READ: NEIL MORTINE 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 Neil Mortine,  a marketing and relations executive, RAF Supporter, and husband of RAF Ohio Liaison Christine Mortine.

An Aerophobic Speaks Out


My name is Neil, and I suffer from Aerophobia – an extreme, irrational fear of flying. My fear includes take offs, landings, being locked in small spaces, loss of control, pre-flight anticipation, and motion sickness.


I say this with embarrassment, knowing that flying is statistically safer than driving a car or perhaps even walking out your front door. But knowing that doesn't help.


My wife Christine is a recognized and experienced aviator and safety advocate in an industry where less than 10% of pilots are women. She is a CFII, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, and accomplished backcountry pilot. She is an officer in numerous aviation groups.


Christine once skillfully guided her Cessna 185 into a heavily wooded suburban neighborhood following engine failure. Her primary thought was “not to kill anyone else.” Three weeks after her emergency landing, she was flying and teaching again.


None of this eases my fears, but I bravely move forward. It’s exciting locating our house from above, flying between canyon walls and landing in remote backcountry locations. It’s truly beautiful — when I open my eyes. 


I’ve met many incredible people from the Recreational Aviation Foundation who share a passion for its mission. In my career, I’ve served many clients and on numerous boards. Rarely have I seen an organization more focused, or more consistent and precise in its messaging and branding — and more enjoyable to be around — than the RAF.


I enjoy the thoughtful and well-organized spouse events at RAF volunteer gatherings, often being the only male. The restaurants, museums, alpaca farms, skijoring competitions, and microbrewery visits are awesome.


Another group I enjoy is the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of licensed women pilots. Male spouses are referred to as “forty-nine-and-a-halvers,” (yes, half a human being), damaging my already low aviation self-esteem. Regardless, I wear my “Friends of the 99s” hat and lapel pin proudly.


When Christine and I travel together, it’s often assumed I’m the pilot. Based on the lopsided gender percentage difference, I understand the perception. When I explain that Christine is the pilot and I have a career in marketing and communications, interest in me quickly fades and they look desperately for her.


I’m very quiet — almost mute — when flying with Christine. I don’t want to distract her. I limit my witty banter and forego sudden movements. She has warned me not to touch anything. But I’m 6’2” and my arms, feet and legs are touching everything. She once referred to me as “dead weight.” And it didn’t sound positive.


We made a backcountry flight from Boise, ID to Sisters, OR several years ago over beautiful remote and roadless terrain. Ten minutes into the flight, I felt an urge to urinate. This was after no water or coffee consumption for hours to avoid such a situation. I asked how much longer before we landed, and Christine gave me the estimated arrival time and said, “hold it.” The urge accelerated. I asked if she could land the plane for a few minutes, but she pointed to the landscape below and suggested using a clear zip lock bag, “and make it quick.” She added that she would “kill me” if I got “one drop” in her plane. Despite being more nervous than ever, I successfully handled the problem. We landed in Sisters with a strong crosswind, and I had to do the walk of shame across the ramp holding the bag in clear sight of all observers.


In conclusion, I’m doing my best to overcome my flying anxiety, but it’s a work in progress. I’ve received great counsel from RAF members. But some advice is better than others. To overcome my fear of snakes, I was invited on a snake hunt. I had no choice but to report this person to social services. Similarly, I won’t overcome my fear of flying by doing aerobatics. Christine has one of those planes as well.


In the meantime, I’m enjoying being a co-owner of two planes I don’t fly and attending RAF gatherings as a land-loving spouse - and more fully understanding the love my wife has for this incredible community of pilots and supporters.

Neil Mortine is the vice chairman of one of the largest independent marketing and communications agencies in the country. He is a PRWeek Global Public Relations 500 leader and has been honored for his professional and civic leadership by Columbus Business First as one of the “Most Admired CEOs” in Central Ohio. Neil and his wife Christine live in Worthington, Ohio, with their two cats. They are the proud parents of four adult children, and enjoy hiking, biking, traveling and spending as much time as possible with their six grandchildren.

Submitted June 18, 2026

Posted in Guest Editorial, News

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FEATURED AIRSTRIP: TAYLOR FLAT, UT

By Carmine Mowbray • July 31, 2026
Landing and camping at Taylor Flat airstrip puts your tent only a stone’s throw from the wild and scenic Green River, as it carves through spectacular Utah canyons. You can tie down and camp under your wing along the north side of the airstrip, or walk to the river and camp. Just 34 nm northeast of Vernal, you can now land at this high, remote BLM airstrip and enjoy its world-class fly fishing, but be sure to get your license before you arrive. If you packed your kayak or inflatable, there’s a boat ramp just west of the public campground. An easy 1.8-mile walk from the airstrip takes you to the historic 1880 John Jarvie Ranch, an open-air museum with hands-on exhibits showing pioneer ranch life in this remote northeast corner of Utah. This airstrip had lain dormant for thirty years, and is now open for public non-commercial use, thanks to pilots who recognized its special recreational value. The RAF worked through the steps to see that the BLM reopened it. One restoration work weekend brought twenty-five volunteers from both Utah Back Country Pilots (UBCP) and the RAF who hand-picked rocks from the airstrip, painted them, and used them to mark the runway corners and thresholds. UBCP provided a new windsock pole for the new RAF windsock. RAF Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig said, “It was another demonstration of working together toward the same goal.” There are no other amenities, so be prepared with what you need, and as always, please pack everything out. Those using the airstrip are asked to be mindful of the sensitive environmental area, marked with 16-ft X’s, creating a displaced threshold on the east end of the dirt runway. The useable runway length is 2,500 feet, and the field elevation is 5,630. The area east of the runway is hazardous to aircraft operations. In addition to being a sensitive environmental area, it. is cross-crossed with ditches, and is not safe for aircraft use. Taylor Flat is another special recreational destination for pilots to visit as RAF works across the country on Expanding The Map! Find more on Taylor Flat in the Airfield Guide . You may also find user reports here on the UBCP website . Submitted July 31, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray

RAF GRANT ADDS CAMPGROUND AMENITIES AT ESTCOURT STATION

July 30, 2026
RAF Maine Liaison Andy Rowe and former Maine Liaison/now Ambassador Steve Mason have long been advocating for and organizing improvements at several airfields in North Maine, in cooperation with North Maine Woods (NMW). Rowe was awarded an RAF grant for materials to add a shelter, picnic table, and outhouse at Estcourt Airfield (19ME) and organized RAF and NMW volunteers to provide labor.

RAF EXPANDS THE MAP WITH "FLY ROCKY TOP" AIRSTRIP NETWORK

July 29, 2026
The new Fly Rocky Top airstrip network, developed by the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), is now open to backcountry aviation enthusiasts. Located in East Tennessee, Fly Rocky Top is a "basecamp and outpost" concept for regional aviation exploration, adding the Southeast to a growing collection of well-recognized recreational airstrip networks across the country, including Fly Oz in Arkansas and others in the West and Southwest. Fly Rocky Top is the most significant achievement to date of the RAF's Expanding the Map initiative, a nationwide effort focused on opening, improving, and restoring access to airstrips, helping connect aviators to more of the places they love to explore. Named and inspired by local culture, each Fly Rocky Top airstrip has unique features, amenities, and recreational options that embody the mission and spirit of the RAF. The new network is in the heart of a region nationally recognized for its unique topography that includes the Obed Wild and Scenic River, Big South Fork National Recreation Area, Cumberland Plateau, and Great Smoky Mountains… altogether a landscape uniquely suited to backcountry aviation. Rockwood Municipal Airport, RKW, anchors the network with its 2,400-ft manicured turf landing area and is designed with backcountry flyers in mind. Rockwood Aviation, which operates RKW, offers products and services for pilots to engage in tailwheel, backcountry, and recreational flying, including training, service, and support. City of Rockwood Mayor Jason Jolly highlighted the significance of Rockwood Airport to the community and East Tennessee. Mayor Jolly said, "We are a national recreation destination and the progress at Rockwood Airport and the surrounding network of airstrips is just the latest step in our region's growth and development for adventurers and enthusiasts." The Fly Rocky Top network is unique in that the initial collection of airstrips – with more planned – are a combination of both public lands and privately owned property with the common desire to welcome the flying public. Specific new airstrips in the Fly Rocky Top network include Smuggler's Landing, a grass landing area at RKW (with tent camping and a welcoming pavilion planned), McGraw's Backyard (5TN4), Robbin's Farm, and Tellico Plains (85TN). An additional outpost, Sawbriar, will be ready in August 2026. More airstrips are in the process of being added and will appear on the Fly Rocky Top webpage . Plans continue to add amenities to each RAF Fly Rocky Top airstrip, including accessible flush toilets and timber-framed shelters where camping is available. Other attractions include access to world-class upland bird hunting, hiking, some of the nation’s best trout fishing, kayaking/canoeing on the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers, and a 44-mile Water Trail on Beaver Creek. Select airstrips have access to meals and accommodations. RAF Co-founder and Chairman John McKenna highlighted what makes this opening so important. “Fly Rocky Top is not just a new airstrip network; it’s also a group of pilots who are passionate about aviation, stewardship, and the great outdoors,” he said. “Fly Rocky Top will connect Southeast pilots, landowners, and outdoor enthusiasts alike with the shared mission to preserve access to the region's wild beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities.”

VOLUNTEERS FLY IN FOR ANNUAL WORK AT SCHAFER MEADOWS

July 29, 2026
RAF Montana Liaison Scott Newpower organizes the annual Montana Pilots Association and RAF cooperative work party at Schafer Meadows USFS airstrip, and on Saturday, July 18, nearly two dozen volunteers flew in to help. The airstrip lies in the Great Bear Wilderness, so work is limited to hand tools. A special thanks to Montana Aeronautics Aviation Support Officer Stephen Torske and the team at MT Aeronautics for their support.

RAF WORK PARTY AT NORTH FOX INCLUDES NEW KABOB STATION

July 29, 2026
RAF Michigan Liaisons General Grant and Tanmoy Ganguly organized a work party July 11 at North Fox Island, 6Y3, the Lake Michigan island airfield just 24 nm northwest of Charlevoix. This year the work party added a new feature for visitors to enjoy – Tanmoy’s do-it-yourself RAF Kabob Station. The group cleared drainage ditches, cut out stumps, split and stacked firewood, cleaned up several miles of beaches, and trimmed and cleared four miles of trail. Grant thanked the volunteers for what he called, “A full day of work.” They gathered unneeded items and flew them off the island. Tanmoy is known for providing delicious kabobs at work parties, and debuted his RAF Kabob Station for pilots who want to cook up his legendary kabobs while on their own camping adventure. Many volunteers opted to camp for the weekend and enjoyed camaraderie around the campfire. See the Airfield Guide for more on North Fox Island. Please read the airfield Safety Briefing. Below it, you will now find a “Kabob Station” briefing. Submitted July 29, 2026