Chickaloon Flats, Alaska, CRIMINAL CITATIONS against pilots

[Draggintail]

Alaskan pilots, especially cub drivers, note that the Feds are on an aggressive campaign to find persons who land by the Chickaloon River or on the Chickaloon Flats to fish or bird hunt, and give them CRIMINAL CITATION. It's a class B misdemeanor. Several persons have been cited, and all thought they were not doing anything wrong. Even persons who landed off-shore where the tides cover the landing areas are being cited... Professional pilots who are convicted stand to lose their security clearances under TSA, which will make them unable to make a living any longer.

If you or anyone you know has been hit, contact the Alaska Airmens Association at 245-1245 for information. If you have info about historical use of the area, pass it on to the Airmens. Some of the folks tangled up in this have reportedly used the area since the 1960s, never knowing they were "illegal."

 

[Draggintail]

FWS EIS on the Refuge and Chickaloon!

excerpt from the Alaska Airmen's Member Info Bulletin 2-3-04

Looks like we will have an opportunity to publicly state our position and opposition to violation procedures at Chickaloon Flats Landing Access: Scoping meeting schedule: 4 - 8 p.m. Feb 10, Cooper Landing Feb 11, Homer Feb 12, Soldotna Feb 17, Seward Feb 18, Anchorage Email comment address: kenai_plan@fws.gov Refuge phone number: 907-262-7021 (See calendar below for each location).

They have a map they send to pilots who request it, but they would be willing to put it on their web site, or do other things that might help to get the word out. USFWS is starting a planning process to review their "master plan" for the refuge. It will be a traditional EIS, multi-year process, however scoping meetings are planned that will take place over the next two weeks. They need input from the aviation community!

Calendar of Events: February 2004

10th Kenai Wildlife Refuge Open House/Public Feedback Opportunity,
Cooper Landing School 4-8pm

11th Kenai Wildlife Refuge Open House/Public Feedback Opportunity,
Homer, Islands & Oceans Visitor Center 4-8 pm

12th Kenai Wildlife Refuge Open House/Public Feedback Opportunity,
Soldotna, Kenai River Center 4-8pm

17th Kenai Wildlife Refuge Open House/Public Feedback Opportunity,
Seward, Seward Sealife Center 4-8pm

18th Kenai Wildlife Refuge Open House/Public Feedback Opportunity,
Anchorage, FWS Center, 1011 E Tudor, 4-8pm