LANSING, MICH. – The Michigan House of Representatives has passed a bill (House Bill 5178), which if approved by the Senate, would amend the state’s recreational use statute to include aviation. Such an amendment would provide liability protection for private airport owners the same as it currently does landowners for other recreational uses. The bill, which passed by a vote of 62-47 on June 3, 2014, now goes to the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
Liability protection will enable private airport owners to permit others to use their airports for recreational purposes without fear of being sued in the event of an accident. For many, this will encourage more private airport owners to begin having their airports identifed on navigational charts, and will increase the utilization of private airports in more communities throughout the state.
“Working with great groups like the Michigan Private Airstrip Owners Association and the Recreational Aviation Foundation has given the bill the extra push needed to get it passed this session,” said AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager Bryan Budds. “We look forward to passage of the bill when the legislature reconvenes later this year.” (AOPA).