The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association is calling on the US Congress to pass Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act legislation to protect general aviation access to airstrips on federal land and the airspace over it. According to the industry trade association, "the bill ensures that state aviation departments and the US Federal Aviation Administration have an opportunity to determine the necessity of an airstrip before other government agencies are allowed to take action to restrict access or permanently close it". Backcountry airstrips are used as emergency landing areas and points of access for search as well as rescue efforts and fire fighting activities.
Source: Flight International