Where Can You Legally Land A Bush Plane?

[@TrentonPalmer]

I know this was a wordy video, to sum it up open public lands (Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service) are legal. However be sure to call and check with the actual district/unit you are looking to land in as some have unique ordinances. Wilderness, as well as any wildlife study zones, are always a no-go aside from designated wilderness strips. Also, if you are doing it commercially (ie. Flying in persons or property for hire) then you will need a permit for those operations. I use OnX Off-road to view land ownership. Fly safe!

[@jccloud9]

Great info, appreciate you passing along what you know.

[@mikespurg8006]

It is unreal today with all the damn permits on everything you do in life. Far cry from 5p years ago.. Soon you will need a permit to make a peanut and jelly sandwich. Damn beaucrats.

[@shaneabrahamson8732]

Talk to Bush Air, Milney Pocock does whatever, whenever he wants. FAA turns a deaf ear to complaints. Local community hates him.

[@BigDoeJ424]

Are the regs the same for heli's?

[@bcd5024]

OnXHunt is great! Good video, glad you revisited the topic.

[@darrenhill1943]

As a public land manager here in Australia, I love your approach Trent and advocacy of responsible use of public land to ensure low impact on the environment that supports continued enjoyment for all users. Well done.

[@iammisha1234]

Are the laws for landing similar here in Austalia?

[@callummclachlan4771]

@@iammisha1234 I'm not sure in regards to land. But for amphibious planes, if motorised boats are allowed in the certain body of water so are planes. Although you also need a boat license. Obviously national parks are out of the question though.

[@tuneinkate]

You work with P-V as their Aerial Ops Coordinator, right? That'd keep you busy, particularly now.

[@martinziebell1479]

Retired Ranger here. Thank you Trent for this vid. I would echo your advice and call and ask. Just call the area district office for the area you're interested in. Ask to speak with the district aviation officer. He/she is usually a pilot or at least knowledgeable. In most cases they'll be eager to share the relevant regs PLUS you may just learn about some really cool places to fly to. And if you're willing to volunteer your time (and aircraft) there are some awesome projects to get involved with.

[@thebenberman]

What kind of projects?

[@deanmiles3505]

You could have several answers for the same issue or questions. You will find 10 people could have different answers for the same thing. It never hurts to ask. Take care, Be safe.

[@DavidMitchell-qx9ne]

Screw that.

[@draiff5955]

Trent thank you so much for speaking about stewardship! I'm a lifelong outdoorsman and I'm a newly minted PPL. Our public lands and the freedoms we enjoy there are one of the best things about this country. We'll get to keep enjoying them as long as we share them and take care of them!

[@tedm.3961]

So well said!

[@jb5-pct]

Spot on!

[@tomwills9058]

This guy deserves so much more subscribers for the quality of his videos, great stuff

[@AlyssaM_InfoSec]

What I really love here is the understanding that while we may have this privilege and freedom, exercising it a way that angers/annoys others can ultimately hurt us. That stewardship concept is something that certain people don't seem to get. They feel so empowered to do whatever they want without concern for other's opinions that they miss the bigger picture. Thank you for sharing that in this video.

[@EXROBOWIDOW]

It's great that you had a good experience speaking with public agency managers who could confirm the appropriate use of public land. I'm simply a motorist and sometime hiker who visited a touristy spot in another state. Federal multiagency pass in hand, we went to a very popular (and overused) location in that area. The entrance kiosk displayed the passes that were applicable, and ours matched one of them. Plus, the local visitor information center people had assured us that our pass was good for that area. All I wanted to do was make a brief "pit stop." As soon as we parked, some dude in a ranger uniform told us our pass was not valid, and we had to leave. I was really ticked off at him, or maybe I should say PO'd at him (says my bladder). He wouldn't listen to me. I suppose if I knew then what I knew now, I would have photographed what was posted on the kiosk, so I'd have legal proof that I was already permitted to use that area. But even so, who wants to fight an out-of-state citation, no matter how unjust it is? I don't have the energy for that sort of thing. I'm never going back to that town. Meanwhile, I appreciate your encouragement to "tread lightly." Overgrazing and other forms of overuse are very damaging to our dry public lands in the West.

[@davidrobins4025]

Trent, you have provided another informative video filled with details to help any back country flyer. Your video / sound quality is excellent and I appreciate it.

[@MissionaryBushPilot]

So true that it is a privilege to be able to use the public lands. I do appreciate that you mentioned that some districts/Sates might have different rules regarding their public lands and to call your local office. Thanks for putting this video together to open the discussion.

[@akstol6468]

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. I totally dig Trent’s videos. I disagree with him fighting his issue trying to land at his buddy’s RC aircraft strip in a neighborhood. That was bad decision making on his part. The regs he talks about in this video actually have nothing to do with FAR’s…the FAA doesn’t enforce any of those regs. That is all BLM and U.S. Forrest Service…not FAA. All that said, I greatly appreciate his take on good stewardship and doing your diligence to make sure you are legal. More importantly having consideration for others and not infringe on their rights to enjoy nature. It’s really all about being a decent human. Keep it up Trent!

[@jb6027]

It may have changed, but when I lived in Arizona it was legal for light aircraft to use rural roads for take offs and landings. Many a rancher had a rural road to use plus another dirt strip on the property for when the winds didn't favor the road. It was also not unusual to see a light aircraft land on an interstate highway frontage road and taxi up to a roadside diner gas station.

[@Joe-v4z8n]

Your videos rock Trent! I lost my medical 2 years ago because of cancer…keep on keeping on 😊

[@GlensHangar]

Here at least - any lake, and all crown land - except in national or provincial parks... But you can call ahead to the parks and ask permission, which in my experience is usually granted for the more remote parks at least. However the rules are convoluted, and I've gotten vastly different answers from people in authority; probably because they don't get asked / don't know the rules themselves.

[@helge000]

Guys listen to Trent as especially you Americans are really blessed with freedom in aviation. For instance in Germany there is no STOL scene for the simple reason that you are not allowed to land off airports at all (well, apart from emergencies).

[@fredjordway5211]

On the BLM land east of Minden and Carson City. exists parcels that is not open BLM land. It is ALLOTED LAND or in our case, referred to as the Pine Nut Allotments. These parcels often belong to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. This goes back to the Dawes Act of 1897 where the US Gov took the Washoe's Land around Lake Tahoe and gave them land in the Pine Nut Mountains. That's a whole other history lesson. But suffice to say, many of the meadows, trails and roads go through private property (Allotted Lands). The Washoe Nation have been generous in allowing everyone to ride their UTV's Quads,dirt bikes, horses, camp , target shoot and other recreation . Refer to the BLM Carson City and Smith Valley map for allotted parcels to avoid a trespass.

[@Verb130]

As a pilot and life-long Jeep owner, your sentiments are the same as the offroad community. "Tread Lightly" isn't just a 4 wheel drive theme, but an organization too. OnX Offroad should sponsor you. I have a subscription for my Jeep use. It is the best.

[@aviationledcaribbean]

Good points Trent 👍 .Sometimes we just need to be reminded that we’re sharing the awesomeness around us with others 😉

[@jimcripps3612]

As a Brit living in Northern Ireland I do not have much interest in where I can land as we are very restricted here. However I do like to see you flying over some Dramatic landscapes. Keep safe up there. Jim in NI UK

[@desertfox3860]

Thanks Trent. That all needed to be said!

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

Trent Thank you very much for another excellent, entertaining, informative video with excellent sound, content and viewable terrain that makes us all want to get a KitFox like yours and fly the adventure like you. Excellent job.

[@district8bridges]

With the drought in SE Oklahoma I kayaked to the sunken island exposed on Lake Hugo. At sunset a plane like yours did a touch and go for my party of one to witness!

[@beavismount]

Nice work going and getting real information instead of just repeating rumors you heard, it gives you a ton of credibility. Making a simple call can get you so much more than searching online.

[@jb5-pct]

Great info, great insight, great direction! As a NorCal resident and lover of all our US public wilderness, you nailed it Trent. Thanks for the reminder to preserve and protect. We are continually blessed with opportunities to explore wild and open territories.

[@p38sheep]

Caltopo is a great website that I use as a helicopter pilot to see who owns land and contact the correct agency for authorization. Sometimes you can get permits to operate in wilderness and other sensitive areas.

[@chrismason93]

Good video brother! A few weeks ago I asked the local warden here in Georgia about landing on national forest and he didn't so NO but wasn't very clear on where it would and wouldn't be an issue so I've got to do a little more research for curiosity!

[@edwardleierzapf4552]

Chris, I also live in Georgia and would like to get into Back County flying. If you hear find out anything please post it!

[@dwhite6213]

pretty hard to land in a pine forest

[@WolfPilot]

Great video Trent! I appreciate the chapter and verse of the law, so when confronted, you have the facts. As always, it's great to see the FreedomFox airborne!

[@polloveloce6521]

hi, im a bushpilot from Italy, and we have a different problems, because the ENAC says, first of all, the pilot have responsibility for the flight and you can land everywere only if you have the permission of the owner, so for the private lands there is no problems, you need just ask, but for the public area (all the state basically) you don't have a number or a website for check if is possible or not... you can try to call the "forestal police" but they dont know, so for any case they say no, but they don't have the guristition for say that. we are like 100people in Italy with bushplane, (VDS class) ultralight, and we take care about the nature and lands, but we want a regolation about that because like this is all about the police officer how find us...

[@ryanedwards7741]

Thanks for being such a great ambassador to off airport. Its So useful to some of us.

[@king-o-vetts9899]

Trent, great info. Whatever happened to the pole camera? It was always my favorite. Those and anything with Haley squeaking.😄❤️

[@grantgarlington7ACDriver]

Great advice and great content… Thanks for sharing that information we wanna do it the right way and stay on the good side of the law and be a good airworthy citizen

[@rakr9334]

I enjoy you channel and really envy your freedom to enjoy you hobby. As a german it's just a dream of 'what could you do with a plane' . The situation here in germany is that starting and landing from registered airfields is mandatory. Landing an SEP in the field will lead to a grounded plane and an investigation of our FAA (the LBA) why you where going down. Oh, your licence can be suspended while the investigation is ongoing. This also applies to water planes (currently 3 water airfields in the whole country) and private helicopters. Our LSA class (M class) is allowed on smaller airfields without a tower, but they have to be registered and permanent, too. There is no bush flying in Germany.

[@awj670]

In Germany we can’t even get airborne without having ATC or airport staff on the radio. Landing outside of an airstrip is forbidden everywhere without any exception. So jealous, I hope I can go flying in the us soon.

[@rakr9334]

This also applies for water planes. Starting and landing is restricted to registered water airfields. Which are exactly 3 in the whole country. Glider pilots can be happy, that at least they are allowed to land in the fields.... You have to have a special permission to land outside (police, ambulance and defense helicopters do have that permission, duh)

[@Samyfox69]

Premium informative video !🛩 Thank you very much Trent !💫 Peace!✌

[@kevinbmarvel]

This was a great and responsible post Trent…great attitude!

[@mickeylessley1684]

You treaded lightly on the subject and it was comforting info to know. For sure not easy to get this info. Professional as usual.

[@asaiyannamedgokublack]

At this point I dont trust the FAA, it feels like they are making up the rules as they go.🤣🤣

[@PrinceAlhorian]

The closest that 99% of the FAA have come to a plane in 6 months are KZbin vids. Jokers are so out of touch with aviation.

[@NorCal_Irregulars]

Sounds like every gov enforcement wfency

[@arrondentinger2086]

Let me introduce you to my "friend" the ATF... 😂😂😂

[@markmcgoveran6811]

I can see why you don't trust the FAA because you're getting all your information second and third hand from other people like yourself who are getting it second and third hand. In most statutes there's a beginning part where they define the terms used in the statute. Try reading the definition of the terms landing strip. That way if you fly over doing inspection pass on something, you will know whether that thing is a landing field or not.

[@markmcgoveran6811]

Get a document get a map. Calling some low-level bureaucrat and asking a question is a very poor way to understand the laws. The FAA isn't making up the rules as they go. The clown you were talking to on the telephone is making up an interpretation of the rules as he goes. Ask any cop anywhere can I ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in America? He will surely say yes. Yet all over America there are places where there's too much pedestrian traffic too many shops too many stores and it's illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. Get out the laws get out the regulations get out the map and look at the documents for yourself.

[@4everskiing]

Well spoken.

[@thomasmitchell6921]

Great Message Trent

[@CCampana64]

looks like some smooth air!!

[@BPJeep]

I wish I could get the UTV or side by side community to embrace your philosophy, if I bring that or helmets up on any forum I get attacked by very rude individuals that don't seem to care about the big picture.

[@JeremySpeer]

That is some smoooooth winter air 🙂Great vid as always.

[@rinyvisser1142]

Thanks Trent, for another great video and your wise words about considering the environment and other people. In my short career as a sports pilot I stumbled on too many pilots who did'nt care a f*ck about these items, while complaining about the anti aviation attitude of the public. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, so just flying around on low altitude can annoy other people.

[@Raypatrick66]

Love all your videos so informative

[@johnrisher3007]

Hey Trent how are you. Thanks for what you do for aviation. I feel your a good straight up guy.

[@jcbaily5559]

I always enjoy your videos so don't apologize so much, you are doing what you feel is right....have a great day and stay safe!!!!

[@philconey11]

One of these days you're going to land the freedom fox on a river bank somewhere in Nevada, Utah, or Idaho and see a Clapped out C172M parked out there, and my weird ass fishing from it.

[@patrickheavirland3599]

Hello from Minnesota! Great episode!

[@oldschoolcfi3833]

In the north east, we don't have a lot of places to go, but at least in New Hampshire, the laws on recreational land use are pretty forgiving.

[@kevinaltizer]

I remember years ago we had a group of fun lovers who would meet at a nice beach area on one of the area lakes for swimming and recreation. We would always clean up any discarded items before leaving the property which was owned by the local power company. We knew to take canned beers instead of bottles, etc. Well, as time went by and more people began coming, of course the problems started. Eventually the power company and some local residents complained enough that the law enforcement banned us from going there. Hopefully the bush pilot community will fare better.

[@Raypatrick66]

I think they will it seems that most of us really care and have to much invested!!!😊

[@Captndarty]

The double edged sword here is in fact a GoPro and KZbin. It has shown every single one of us where to go and how to do it

[@jaceward5295]

Would love to see a video of your Kitfox getting a wash, and how you keep it looking so 🔥 thanks Trent awesome content.

[@mcitservices5234]

So Amazing Trent. We live in far norther California if you ever come in to Fall River Mills Airport I treat you to lunch. Keep up all the great content. Happy Flying and many blessing.

[@462rob]

Once again.... thoughtful, comprehensive coverage of a complex topic that I can say for myself, I have wondered quite a bit about. He's having too much fun to be an instructor, but Trent would be a fantastic one. Even like a backcountry specialist ala Tach Aero. Either way, great content, just long enough and covered most of what you'd need to know...

[@nuvostef]

Good words, Trent. Thank you. 🤙🏼

[@richardparrott7192]

Wordy, but great words! Excellent video Trent!

[@petelemon8984]

great video as always Trent!

[@FallLineJP]

Winter is here! In my last winter we were in shorts and tshirt, and now I’m in a … hoodie 😂💪

[@CowboyCree63]

Several airports have grass strips, such as the airport I'm at, Columbia, CA (O22), perfect for practicing, plus on site maintenance if needed!

[@jannepeltonen2036]

*Erode* indeed! Great point!

[@wes52101]

I actually commented about this a few months back. Thanks for the video clarifying. I live in the Midwest, and we don't have a lot of public land here, so I wasn't sure how it worked.

[@eddieberry8450]

Great video and not too “wordy”. I appreciate your stewardship message.

[@atmm89]

yes some planes have very, very noisy engines, all the best of Christmas holiday

[@trellkennett]

Excellent video! I agree!

[@gaylembond8647]

Thanks for your great videos! Enjoyed seeing you fly at Dead cow. Ken

[@DavidRodriguez-lv6nw]

Good information

[@martypolderman6937]

I'm not a pilot, and never will be! I'm only here to watch the awesome footage, thanks for sharing 👍

[@Cytogreg]

Hey Trent, great video as usual, thanks for the stewardship angle. Hey, what is the other aircraft in your hangar? Some sort of low wing, looks like a very short moment design.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It seems like every KZbinr even outside the off-road niche is promoting OnX. Not sure if they’re sponsoring you, but if not, I’d switch to GAIA as it’s a far superior mapping program/app. I just think OnX should be spending some money on improving their app instead of all their marketing (I do pay for both). Thanks for your video tho!

[@WX4CB]

great info... i'm estremely jealous that you have that huge playground.. down here there isnt any place to play like out there...

[@justinparker7795]

Trent !!!! Please turn the camara forward please, The one over your right shoulder . Please! We know what you look like! we like to see where we'er going Too! Thank you Sr. ! from an ol retired AgPilot. Thanks man, love your work!

[@Sailing71h2o]

Made it, quite enjoyed it. Great info

[@JoshKelson]

Best video yet. I’d emphasize like you said each district is different. Call them. Also it can be hard to identify if BLM land is leased to a third party and would be trespassing. I love that you talked about stewardship, we as pilots need to create respectful relationships with people that are charged with managing the lands.

[@tomcoryell]

That’s a question I had. Can you still land and take off if it is BLM land that is leased by a rancher for grazing of their cattle?

[@bryanspayde8688]

Great. Information. TY

[@anthonygrizzly6924]

Love how you called these things "privileges" and not rights. Shows you have so much respect for the authorities and governing bodies of aviation which helps other pilots earn more privileges to enhance the overall aviation experience. Thank you, Trent! Love your content!

[@taylorgawthrop6534]

Heavier out! 👍

[@kylebrown2732]

Well said

[@DWBurns]

I am a responsible Jeep owner and club member, held many an office in the national organization. Let me tell you about “Stewardship” Long ago we did a forest cleanup, USFS was, so we thought, happy we planned to go as far back as possible and bring out all that we could carry. Short story, on Sunday night I am getting my lawyer out of bed for him to get my club released from jail and to prevent them from towing our rigs. The USFS charged us with EPA violations for dumping tires and car batteries and 15-20 pounds of alkaline batteries. We dumped them next to the dumpster for recycle. We filled the dumpster with trash. I got charged with firearms crimes, I had my duty handgun and patrol rifle in my Jeep, I also had my badge displayed on my belt when we got to town/FS office. This former FS law enforcement officer had it out for Jeeps. Saw this as a way to show the Jeep organization what happens when you legally bring a Jeep into his forest. My lawyer called a state Supreme Court Judge who made some calls one of them was to the head of the area FS Law Enforcement, the BIG BIG BOSS. Head Ranger showed up lights and siren, let us out of cuffs, apologized to us, called his friend the guy who owned the nearest restaurant to open up and feed us. Then he took the dudes gun and made him return to me both of mine. The Chief Ranger had called my chief to explain things and why my weapons were damaged before I even made a report. Be careful dealing with any branch of the .gov, they will be nice to you just so they can do bad things to you. My dude was fired, it took place in 1995, I am not sure what would happen today. If you plan to play on that land have the regs printed out, phone service is sketchy out there and your aircraft have great value. Asset forfeiture is common now that police, including my big department have been defunded. I am happy I retired. Just warning from a guy who was doing the right thing, cleaning up and got done very wrong by the tree cops.

[@travisw9071]

I'm confident that your last thought before kicking the bucket will be.... "you start with one of their award winning templates"

[@Name-ot3xw]

Gonna take a wild guess and say "in the bushes"

[@Cmoredebris]

I landed out in the middle of the Idaho back county. There were only two other aircraft and only one person in sight. I went over and said hello. After some small talk the guy told me that he was doing a study on aircraft noise and how that impacts wild life. So guys, be careful, big gov and environmental groups are watching and would probably love to get rid of us. (By the way, whenever I see elk or deer near a runway, they usually ignore my aircraft when I take off and don't seem to care about the noise.)

[@tuneinkate]

Interesting video, Trent. What about the Indigenous American Reservations? I remember you once saying that you can't land on them, but it'd be interesting to hear if there's any other restrictions for those localities.

[@Mikishots]

Good spiel. It was very informative.

[@jakenelson4424]

Great video Trent! Also I really like that sweatshirt but I don’t see it on your website is it available?

[@dedwin8930]

You shouldask those Rangers if they would like a ride along with you!

[@ericgreenwood3760]

I just wanted to add that make sure you are landing on BLM land and not BIA land. Some people get confused with this for public access.

[@johneufrazio8349]

Trent would you buy Katfox 7ss carbon fiber wing strut fairing ? nice looking !

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Rather than penalize you for your reccy flight, the FAA should hire you for educational PR.

[@tamtam19454]

I honestly though that logo was a snail!

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Great advice. The other is: do not cover for idiots. That one is not nice but it's important, not only they are a risk for themselves, others, and nature but also a regulation risk.

[@bradleyfrei4585]

Is there a prohibition of landing off strip and hunting ? Isn't there prohibitions in most states that prohibit flying meat out with an airplane anywhere other than defined aerodome

[@thomassmith9373]

Good stuff Trent, another great video! How about helping me choose options on a Kitfox S7 STi? This Spring or summer. Lunch is on me! 48°03'13.0"N. 122°48'37.0"W

[@john-martin]

Watching this video while owning only a bicycle. Good information to know. 😂 😂

[@EXROBOWIDOW]

I've been annoyed by mountain bicyclists who act shocked when a car drives up "their" road. They ride like maniacs on a public Forest Road that's been used for generations by loggers, buses going to camps, and sightseers looking for hiking trails and vistas. They start choking when said vehicles stir up a cloud of dust-- which maybe they could have avoided if they had pulled over to the windward side of the road before the car reached them. A trail I used to hike on and ride horses on is so badly worn by tires that it's nothing but rocks. The last time I was on that trail, one of the "bicyclists" was riding a motorized contraption-- strictly forbidden on that trail. I know there are mountain bikers who take the care and maintenance of the trails seriously, but a few bad apples can ruin it for everybody.

[@boatrvme8478]

We own it so I'm going to use it!

[@harrisongould9460]

Your speech triggered me to in future get some clearer regulations with flying my drone. I photograph for a living and the drone adds to this. I am a Part 107 pilot(current) and an SEL Pilot(not current)...so I know a bit about aviation and the FAA. The local towns where I live implemented rules back in 2015 with a flat out 'No Drones Allowed' doctrine. This is land the FAA says, if I follow the rules I can fly. I'm saying, come on, take another look at what has be implemented since your flat out 'NO'. The drone community coupled with the FAA have made flying drones safer. Thanks for listening...you being a professional drone pilot knows all about this 'issue'.

[@HoundDogMech]

Don't POKE the BEAR. Leave well enough alone. Some (OVERZEALOUS) bureaucrat just mite see an opportunity to put a feather in his war bonnet. Trent of all people, you know the FAA (Any Federal Agency) ain't HAPPY till your UNhappy.

[@JEKirby1]

I see in some of your videos you and your associates landing at gas stations serving automobiles. How do you all find auto station at which to land? I do fully realize this can very well vary front state to state and even county to county, but is seems interesting to me. Non-avaitor, just seeking retirement options for hobbies!

[@lvsqcsl]

There is that intro again!

[@tonylatham5915]

Every National Forest has a travel plan specific to that forest. You sure can't land in areas designated (legal) Wilderness unless there's an open airstrip. And you can't land in a Wilderness Study Area on BLM.

[@Gmar69]

Hey Trent, love your videos, although I am a helicopter pilot, hahaha, but how is your issue with the FAA?

[@ChickenLiver911]

The short answer: wherever the FAA isn’t looking.

[@brianwaskow5910]

Need permission to buzz the tower?😜