Sacramento, Calif. — On June 25, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1072, which amends the California Recreational Use Statute (RUS) to include recreational aviation. Since the RUS now protects landowners from liability arising from recreational use of their property, airstrip owners will likely be more receptive to transient pilots. It is a win for both airport owners and for pilots who now have more recreational opportunities in the state.
SB1072 is the 24th such bill that has passed after the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) spearheaded an effort to amend RUS language in states nationwide. “California is such an important aviation state and with the passage of the RUS this is not only an important day for California but a very big day for aviation,” said RAF President John McKenna. “The RAF is excited about the momentum this creates to meet our goal of having the RUS passed in all states.”
The RAF sponsored the bill, which California Senator Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) introduced. She and her husband are both private pilots and recognize the value of general aviation for their 250-mile commute to the state capitol as well as their recreational activities. RAF state liaison John Kounis worked with Senator Fuller’s office to provide aviation-specific research and background information throughout the legislative process. Representatives from Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the California Pilots Association, and the Association of California Airports also helped rally support for the bill.
The Recreational Aviation Foundation is a public 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed to “preserve, maintain and create public use recreational and backcountry airstrips nationwide,” 1711 W. College, Bozeman, MT 59715, www.theraf.org.
Recreational Aviation Foundation 1711 West College Street Bozeman, MT 59715-4913 United States 406-582-1RAF (406-582-1723) theraf.org
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RAF Mission: “Keeping the legacy of recreational aviation strong by preserving, maintaining and creating public use recreational and backcountry airstrips nationwide”
