The Taylor Flat Airstrip in Daggett County has reopened after a nearly 30 year closure. The backcountry airstrip closed in 1997 after an initial request to refurbish it was denied by the BLM in 1995. In 2023, the RAF (Recreational Aviation Foundation) and Utah Back Country Pilots began collaborating and met with the BLM Vernal Field Office to discuss reopening the airstrip. Daggett County got involved, and RAF Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig navigated the required NEPA process. “Thanks to Wendy taking action as the RAF Liaison, and her professional persistence following through the lengthy public review process, Taylor Flat Airstrip will reopen as another unique backcountry destination,” shares RAF President Bill McGlynn. In May, the RAF and Utah Back Country Pilots hosted a work party to prepare the airstrip – filling ditches, moving rocks, marking the runway, and installing a windsock. Now this month, the Taylor Flat Airstrip is officially reopened for backcountry aviation use with the FAA airport identifier TF9. Learn more at theraf.org.
