News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa
by Yasmina Platt
Central Southwest Regional Manager
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – Aug/Sept 2016
Some pilots need reasons to fly and I can always find good reasons to! My latest idea was to develop “air trails” for pilots and their passengers to not only enjoy the friendly sky and the wonderful views it provides, but also to land at some neat airports, visit some cool towns, explore the outdoors, try some other aviation and non-aviation activities, eat at some good airport restaurants, stay at unique hotels or camp out under the wing, and learn some history lessons among other things. To date, I have developed two: New Mexico’s Route 66 National Scenic Flyway (over and along the famous byway) and an Ozarks Air Trail, which I will summarize below. Two others are in the works: one around Nebraska and one around Texas.
Rugged beauty, stunning vistas, secluded cabins and B&Bs, unique lodging options, cute towns, camping, sparkling rivers to canoe or kayak, lakes for different water activities, waterfalls, fish-filled lakes and rivers, hiking and biking trails, off-roading trails, horseback riding trails, zip-lining, fly boarding, golfing, museums, awe-inspiring caverns, shopping, interesting history… the Ozarks offer enjoyable and fun year-round adventures and activities to pilots with average to above average skills.
The Ozarks, covering portions of three states (Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma), truly have it all, including great fly-in options! The area provides a stunning backdrop for a long vacation or some weekend getaway fun – your choice! The proposed route (see map) includes activities and airports for pilots and travelers of all ages and interests. It includes nine different stops with two of the stops having multiple airports to choose from. A mixture of community and backcountry airstrips, paved and non-paved runways, and public and private airports was selected to ensure there is something for everybody based on pilot skills and experience and aircraft capabilities. The route was designed in a circular fashion, but you can start/stop the route from any airport and fly it in any order or direction you prefer.
Have additional time and would like to explore other places on your way to/from the Ozarks area? Other nearby locations are also mentioned as good destinations and you can check out the blog titled “friendly airports and helipads in the Central Southwest Region” covering NM, TX, LA, OK, AR, KS, MO, NE and IA for a list of those airports that allow camping and have on-site restaurants, aviation museums, aircraft viewing areas, etc., that you may consider stopping at.
To read the details on the Ozarks Air Trail or any of the other air trails (existing or future), visit http://blog.aopa.org/aopa/category/central-southwest/.
Fly safe, fly often, and enjoy the air trails!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Yasmina Platt has accepted a position with AECOM – an international airport planning and development consulting firm headquartered in Los Angeles and New York. Platt looks forward to staying connected with general aviation, and hopes her path crosses with the many pilots and aviation officials she has met over the past several years while with AOPA. Midwest Flyer Magazine will announce the appointment of Platt’s replacement as the AOPA Central Southwest Regional Manager in a future issue.
