Florida university’s plan for flight school in national forest is plane crazy

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University plans to develop Deep Woods Ranch within Ocala National Forest into a new pilot training facility, involving paving an existing airstrip and clearing nearly 40 acres of national forest trees. Opponents, including local residents and conservation groups, strongly object due to concerns about increased noise, pollution, damage to wildlife habitat, and the precedent set for using public lands.