On Monday, June 20, 2022 at 1:20:29 PM UTC-6,
shaunw...@gmail.com wrote:
Just read this morning that Prescott Soaring has lost their lease. Just a great bunch of people and a wonderful operation.
I hope something turns up for them at a good location.
According to the chapter president, Arizona Land Trust is cancelling special use permits with all aviation related activities on AZ public lands without providing any reasons for the change. I reached out to Recreational Aviation Foundation and they put
me in touch with their liaison in the Arizona Pilots Association. The Arizona Land Trust closed something like 43 air strips on public land in 2005, when the special permitting began. The airport where Turf Soaring was located was permanently closed in
the past two years, and the death of the owner of the special use permit was given as the reason. APA has been fighting access to trust lands as an included public recreational use. Residents buy recreational permits annually. Special permits are
issued for exclusive use. The trust may dispose of lands at public auction. There is substantial growth in the Prescott area, so auction of this land for development is a likely outcome. The chapter had recently purchased two hangars, but fortunately
had not erected them at this site. The RAF/APA rep suggested they demand a specific reason for denial the special purpose permit anyway, just to put some sunlight on the process. He said there are virtually no aviation related special permits active in
Arizona at this time.
Funds raised by the recreational permits and sale of lands support education in Arizona.
Frank Whiteley
SSA Director, Region 9
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