Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

The Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act (H.R. 4970) establishes strict requirements that federal agencies must follow before closing or restricting aircraft landing strips located on federal lands, such as those managed by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. Under this bill, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture would be prohibited from permanently closing or disabling these strips unless they obtain approval from the state’s aviation department and conduct a formal public notice and comment period.

For citizens, this legislation aims to preserve access to remote areas for recreational pilots, emergency services, and backcountry enthusiasts by preventing federal agencies from unilaterally shutting down rural airstrips. Additionally, the bill requires the federal government to implement a consistent nationwide policy for managing backcountry aviation to ensure that regional land managers follow uniform rules regarding air access.