Central Idaho Airstrip May Be Reopened In Spring

The Wilson Bar Airstrip on the Main Salmon River in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, closed since 1992 for safety reasons, could reopen as early as June 1, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics has announced.

At a meeting in November, the U.S. Forest Service and Division of Aeronautics struck a deal to bring the airstrip up to safety standards for reopening.

Wilson Bar has operated as a landing site since the mid 1930s, said John Maakestad, Aeronautics’ Safety/Information Officer. The safety of the airstrip, which is located on Forest Service land, has been an issue since about 1985.

When the Forest Service issued a closure order in 1992 for Wilson Bar, the aviation community challenged the closure and order and demanded legal verification. The Division of Aeronautics agreed that the site was restrictive but felt the airstrip should be kept open as long as aviators were aware of the potential hazards.

The Forest Service agreed to reopen Wilson Bar contingent upon some basic maintenance and upgrades. Aeronautics will work with the Forest Service to develop a maintenance plan, and once the plan is implemented, the closure order will be lifted. Wilson Bar will remain a Forest Service-managed airstrip.

Wilson Bar is a short landing strip located in a narrow, twisting canyon. To combat the effects of strong, shifting winds in the canyon, Aeronautics will provide a windsock for pilots to gauge their approach and will outline the landing strip with airport boundary markings.