A small Montana airport can now handle planes flying in bad weather

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes to establish new airspace rules for Stanford/Biggerstaff Field in Stanford, Montana. This change means planes can now use instrument flight rules to land and take off, even when pilots cannot see the runway.

Most small airports in the US only allow planes to fly using visual flight rules, meaning pilots must be able to see the ground. This limits when planes can operate, especially in bad weather. Allowing instrument flight rules means the airport can operate more reliably, which is important for emergency services, agricultural flights, and connecting rural areas.