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Nat'l Park Service Proposes Destruction of Unique GA Airport
A unique GA airport (Stovepipe Wells) in the middle of historic Death Valley is under attack by some folks at the National Park Service, under the direction of Superintendent Mike Reynolds of the Death Valley National Park, because they want to turn it into a locale for star gazing. Airport supporters are calling for the aviation community to participate in the planning process by submitting their comments by December 23, 2020 to the NPS. (aero-news.net) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Commented. Hopefully others see this and comment as well. I'm almost as far away from that location as you can get and still be within the lower 48, but I reviewed Google and Airnav documentation, and it's literally just a flat spot in the sand with some pavement on it. No lights, no buildings even. It would honestly be MORE work for them to repaint it or rip up the pavement than to just put the night viewing area somewhere nearby. I also raised the concern of medical evacuation, since the next nearest airstrip is over 60nm away, and I didn't see a first-rate hospital in town on the Google Maps shot.
"some pavement on it"
And not very good pavement at that. The FAA's Airport Facility Director says "Rwy 15–33 pavement heaving; extremely rough sfc."
In other words not someplace most of us would want to land at. Too many strikes against it. Poorly maintained runway, in DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, in Kalifornia. Yikes. To its credit however it does seem like a place where one could safely go to social distance one's self from others.
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And not very good pavement at that. The FAA's Airport Facility Director says "Rwy 15–33 pavement heaving; extremely rough sfc."
In other words not someplace most of us would want to land at. Too many strikes against it. Poorly maintained runway, in DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, in Kalifornia. Yikes. To its credit however it does seem like a place where one could safely go to social distance one's self from others.
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Yeah, my recommendation to the Park Service was to turn it into a dirt strip. Then they just have to run a grader over it every couple years. Not enough justification to eliminate the airstrip entirely, though.
Also makes me wonder if their other proposal to pave a different part of the park is really such a good idea...
Also makes me wonder if their other proposal to pave a different part of the park is really such a good idea...
having been to death valley only once in my lifetime as a child,all i remember was miles of hot sand,roads in the middle of nowhere,,and at that time (in the 50's),the park service had "watering stations",miles apart,not for drinking,but for people to fill their car radiators!i was not aware of a general aviation airport there,but its probably historic, and it should stay!there are lots of open spaces ,especially in death valley, to star gaze...
"... i remember was miles of hot sand,roads in the middle of nowhere..."
Hasn't changed much.
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Capt J Buck
Pilot
Hasn't changed much.
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Capt J Buck
Pilot
Destroy the airport and take away jobs from the few people who work there. Wow, great idea. It's probably some idiot who bought a house near there recently and doesn't like the noise and light and wants to stargaze easier from their back yard. I hope that deal falls through.