Call to Action

We need the help of the aviation community.  Exciting legislation has been introduced in both the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives in Olympia.  This legislation is of great importance to private use airfield owners, aviators, and all general aviation in the State of Washington.  These companion bills seek to amend the existing Recreational Use Statute (RUS), a law that provides liability protection for landowners who allow the public to use their land for recreation such as hunting, hiking and snowmobiling without a fee.  These bills would clearly add aviation to the list of other recreational activities presently in the statute. 

The existing statute, RCW 4.24.210 (click to view) does not specifically include all aviation activities, only “paragliding and hang-gliding”.     House Bill 2244 (click to view) and Senate Bill 6090: (click to view) would extend the language to include all aviation activities.

When enacted, the revised statute would not change the status of private use airports.  Pilots would still need permission from the owner/operator of private restricted (R) airports in order to use them.  However, the revised statute would more clearly protect the airport owner from liability as long as no fees are charged, and if permission for use has been granted.   

When polled, Washington private use airport owners stated they would be more willing to allow pilots to use their airports if the statute were amended to include aviation activities.   Access to more airfields will lead to more economic activity in the aviation sector of Washington, and more recreational aviation destinations for flying enthusiasts.

We are asking you to contact your representatives and senators in Olympia.  Ask them to vote for this important legislation.  Please call, email, and write letters to both your senator and representative(s) requesting them to vote for HB 2244 and SB 6090.  

Here’s how to do it:

Go to the Washington “Find your legislator page” (click to view), and type your address information in the provided spaces.  A pop-up listing your senator and representatives will appear.  Click on them to get their address and phone number.  Click through on the email selection and you can compose an email that can be sent to all of your legislators at once.  Written contact, followed by email contact, and then a telephone follow up would be the ideal response.

When you contact your legislators, keep it short and simple; tell them you support the bills. 

Talking points:

·        This legislation will increase general aviation flying within the state as well as increase aircraft visits into Washington from outside the state, thereby increasing State revenues. 

·        If you are an airport owner, manager, operator, or live on a private airport, briefly explain what passage of the legislation would mean to your airport.

·        With no cost to the State, the benefits include increased aviation fuel tax revenue, increased FBO activity and accompanying sales tax revenue and a general increase in airplane activity coming into the state. 

To find out more about Recreational Use Statutes, go to the Recreational Aviation Foundation website at  www.theraf.org  and enter RUS in the search box.

Questions?  Contact Bob Kay at rkay@theraf.org 

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Full URLs:

RCW 4.24.210     http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.24.210    

House Bill 2244   http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2244.pdf

Senate Bill 6090  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6090.pdf)

“Find your legislator page.”    http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/default.aspx

 Thanks for all the support!