Volunteers from the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) have met several times at North Fox Island Airfield (6Y3) in Michigan to help clean up the airfield after an early spring ice storm downed several hundred trees, many along the turf runway.
“We’ve cleared the fire pit area and some tie-down locations,” said RAF Michigan Liaison General Grant.
He added that the taxiways remain closed due to downed trees.
“This means that aircraft will need to back taxi on the runway to find a suitable tie-down location, so additional caution in the pattern is needed to avoid a runway incursion,” he emphasized.
He added there are 10 to 12 tie-down locations considered safe for use along the length of the backcountry runway.
The storm, which caused regional power outages for weeks, ravaged North Fox’s fire pit and primary camping area.
“We still have a lot to do, but the airstrip opened on schedule May 1 with a NOTAM reminding visitors of the obstructed taxiways and compromised tie-down areas,” Grant added.
Pilots interested in flying into the North Fox Island should consult RAF’s Airfield Guide, association officials noted.
For more information: TheRAF.org, Airfield.Guide.TheRAF.org
