Back in the 1950s, Dwight D. Eisenhower was able to get the Interstate Highway System passed, and throughout the interstate highways in America, mile-long stretches of concrete pavement double as emergency landing strips for military aircraft. Many Army posts, especially where division-level units are garrisoned, are near interstate highways.

[link to www.army.mil (secure)]

I guess the military thought it was a good time to reteach this skill.