A small Montana airport can now guide planes in bad weather

The Federal Aviation Administration changed the rules for the airspace around Stanford/Biggerstaff Field in Stanford, Montana. This means planes can now use instruments to land and take off there, even when pilots cannot see the runway.

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