Aviation group brings seminar to Kalispell

Members of the nonprofit Recreational Aviation Foundation are traveling to Kalispell for an educational seminar at the Hilton Garden Inn today and Friday.

The Bozeman-based group’s mission is to preserve, protect and maintain rural airstrips. It has about 4,000 members around the United States.

About 55 of the group’s state liaisons and a couple dozen of their family members and friends are coming to Kalispell from places as far away as Maine, New York, Florida and New Mexico for the seminar, flying into Kalispell City Airport, Glacier Park International Airport or driving to town.

Featured seminar speakers include Bill Ayer, chairman of the board of directors for Alaska Airlines, and Craig Fuller, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

“We’re happy to have them here and in Kalispell,” said Fred Leistiko, manager of Kalispell City Airport. “We have a lot of recreation backcountry airstrips used extensively and RAF helps maintain those with cleanup and maintenance days.”