FAA grounds Quest's volunteer air force

Officials learned three weeks ago that the group of volunteer pilots who fly to areas of trail inaccessible by other means during the race was not conforming to Federal Aviation Administration regulations. With not enough time to comply, the Quest was forced to drop the pilot program.

The loss of the program means the race is unable to use Slaven's Roadhouse as a dog drop. National Park Service personnel are at the roadhouse as usual, keeping it open only as a hospitality stop. That leaves the race with no dog drop on the 159 miles between Circle and Eagle, one of the longest sections of Yukon Quest trail.

Without the volunteer pilots, the only option is to charter commercial flights to the roadhouse, which is impossible on the Quest's limited budget.

"We're working with all parties to make sure the program is viable in the future," Quest executive director Marti Steury said. "We're working to develop a flying program to comply with the regulations, which are both numerous and complicated."

Steury would not go into details about the regulations. Information was not immediately available from the FAA.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race also has struggled with FAA regulations and volunteer pilots in recent years. The rules prohibit private pilots from accepting cost deferments such as fuel, accommodations and food. According to the agency's regulations, allowing private pilots to accept compensation for costs is commercial activity, and commercial aviation is heavily regulated. Across the years, the FAA has offered exemptions to the Iditarod, recently allowing a three-year extension in 2010.

Aside from the change at Slaven's Roadhouse, the absence of volunteer pilots doesn't mean other huge changes, race manager Josh Horst said. Only a handful of race officials will drive the long way around from Circle to Dawson City instead of flying commercially.

"(T)here's a lot of other ways to get a job done," Horst said.

The Quest has people available to fly anywhere on the trail if there is an emergency -- either dog or human -- but the cost of that assistance will be carried by the musher

"I keep my fingers crossed that it will never have to happen," race marshal Hans Oettli said.

The Quest is working with the FAA to resolve the regulation issues. Horst said he is certain the situation will be sorted out.

"That program deserves to continue to work," he said. "I think they're a really fine group of pilots and really dedicated to what they're doing."

Follow the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner coverage of the Yukon Quest at newsminer.com/yukonquest2012.