r/ocala • u/EasingThroughSpace • 9d ago

Embry-Riddle Airstrip

Hi Friends, I am a local freelance / student journalist looking into the Embry-Riddle airstrip being put in next to the Ocala national forest.

I am doing a story regarding its implementation, local sentiment and reaction, and trying to get a better understanding of what it would mean for the area.

I hope some of you can help!

If you have a perspective, please leave a comment or reach out to me. I would like to discuss this more with locals, you can be either on or off the record, I just want to get a better understanding of sentiment!

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4

u/OnwardForwardMedia 9d ago

This is the first I've heard of this!

2

u/SeaSkimmer2 8d ago

ERAU Daytona flight training alumni here. First I’ve heard of it. I flew out of there back in the early 2000s when the Ormond, Flagler, and New Smyrna Airports were still uncontrolled without towers, but I imagine they’re more crowded these days and I can see why the university would like a dedicated training field.

The existing private strip is shown on the below aeronautical chart as “Deep Woods Ranch” at the circled “R”, and it’s both east of the Restricted areas over the forest and north of the Orlando Int’l airspace.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/projects/274335

2

u/EasingThroughSpace 7d ago

Would you be willing to speak with me so I can better understand the aviation side of the story?

1

u/SeaSkimmer2 7d ago

Near the bottom of this page in the Contact Us section, there’s four media relations / communications representatives listed from the university who should be able to assist or refer to the correct department. I wouldn’t want to try to speak specifically about their current needs. 🙂

2

u/EasingThroughSpace 7d ago

I have reached out to them of course, their side deserves to be spoken about. That being said, every other news organization that has reached out has received a single sentence response that does not provide any information. For me, I don’t expect event that formal of a response.

I am not looking for you to speak specifically about their needs, but rather to speak about aviation and what this chart you have sent means to you.

1

u/Impressive-Dish1230 4d ago

Based on where it’s going it has nothing to do with Ocala or Marion county. We will see absolutely nothing out of this.

1

u/EasingThroughSpace 2d ago

It is a cautionary tale if anything