As a one-time victim of
undoubtedly negligent airfield maintenance, I would say this is a difficult area which could be argued both ways.
Nobody got sued in that case but the airfield was "asking for it".
If I had an airfield then I would take a stroll every so often, with a wheelbarrow, and fill in any potholes. I would also get a high power air rifle (needs an FAC but you will get one easily for that) and I would regularly shoot the rabbits. This is what countless thousands of horse-crazy women do around the UK (their husbands pay for it, and don't ask how I know) and this is for a horse which is usually worth far less than anything that flies, but you won't want it to break a leg because, believe it or not, a woman can be even more attached to her horse than a pilot to his plane
Let's face it, you wouldn't have a pothole in your own garden, because one day you will break an ankle in it.
So why do airfields let this go on?
It's because, historically, they have got away with it. The pilot claimed off his own insurance, and his insurer would rarely go after the airfield because claims below six figures are not worth pursuing.
What strip owners should do is buy a wheelbarrow (B&Q sell them for peanuts), a spade (they are currently on a special offer) and fill the holes in. This isn't rocket science. And not expect a pilot of a £20,000-£300,000 plane to claim off his own insurance when he goes down one of their potholes.
Insurance isn't the answer, as any pilot who has gown down more than a few potholes will know, through his premiums. The answer is to do some very basic maintenance.
Just another perspective on the matter
