BLM Invites the RAF to Participate in Airstrip Project
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As RAF members already know, our recently signed Memo of Understanding (MOU) ushers in a new era of cooperation with our friends at the BLM, relating to airstrips. As a very positive first activity under the MOU, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Dennis Byrd, explained that with the current national interest in crowdsourced data (or the process of obtaining data from large user groups or stakeholders) and federal agencies, development of policy and procedure have taken a front seat here in his data world. With this, Dennis is pushing an Information Bulletin (IB) out to the states which will explain the relationship the BLM has with RAF, and the intent of the MOU. In this IB he plans to include a "Crowdsourced Data Pilot Project" of which the RAF is an integral part. The BLM uses this “Pilot Project” term for any new concept project they attempt for the first time. In Dennis’s words, “It just makes it extra special that RAF is an aviation group.”
So what is this project? Nothing less than the identification, classification, and health assessment of all airstrips located on BLM lands! This is a big undertaking that will no doubt call on many RAF members to complete. Why is this important to aviators? Dennis explained that by identifying the airstrips we can take further efforts to preserve them, and perhaps most importantly, exclude them from area closures, when they occur. Without knowledge of an airstrip in a closure area, it is automatically closed with the area.
It will take some time, as this is the first such project for the BLM, and a standard data format must be developed for the data collection and input into their system. While they work on this, RAF leadership will be developing a plan for mobilizing its state liaisons and members in becoming the “crowd” that will provide the vast majority of the data to the BLM. Actual visits to each site will be necessary, and this may be a challenge, requiring earthbound methods for those less maintained airstrips. Real GPS coordinates, dimensions, and on the ground conditions will need to be gathered and reported.
Stay tuned, and keep your eyes open for opportunities to be a part of this exciting BLM project!