by Adam White, Alaska Airmen's Association Government Affairs
With all the craziness and upheaval in our lives over the past couple of years, I thought it would be good to list some of the "wins" for General Aviation (GA) in 2021. The Alaska Airmen's Association continues to "protect, promote, and preserve" GA in Alaska. Sometimes, we stand alone in the fight, but others often join us. A united front is essential when we bring an issue to policymakers. Thank you to the other "alphabet groups" for standing with us and fighting the good fight with us!
ADS-B coverage has been an ongoing issue for us in Alaska. One big win was the FAA's announcement that there would be +/-10 new ADS-B ground stations in Alaska in the next couple of years. We can expect to see coverage on the Kenai Peninsula, in the Copper River Valley, Kodiak Island, Yukon Flats, and the Indian Mtn areas.
Another battle that never seems to end is the expansion of airspace issues. This year we can count several wins. The Anchorage Airspace study is in its early stages. We can anticipate several opportunities to comment about our needs and desires for the Anchorage Class C as the Air Force designs a new ILS approach to JBER.
The Missile Defense Agency, Space Force, and the FAA have listened to our concerns and have been very accommodating on the expansion of R-2206 for the new radar. There is a corridor over the Parks Highway, and we will have lights and a radio warning when the restricted area goes hot outside of scheduled times.
After several years of work, we are starting to see new T-routes show up in Alaska. This has been a big goal of the Airmen's Association. While most of you do not fly IFR, we all benefit from the associated infrastructure of a robust IFR system in Alaska. These additional T-Routes are replacing the old "colored routes" tied to the NDB network. My personal goal is to remove obstacles for not flying IFR by having options for single-engine, non-icing GA aircraft. I want it to be easier to fly IFR than to scud-run. We have all lost too many friends.
Speaking of things showing up on charts. Have you noticed that most of the charted passes have altitudes now? Major Win! You can expect to see a new pass in the Brooks Range published in the future too.
Another issue that we have all noticed was the "back matter" in the Alaska Supplement seemed to be disappearing. Alaska Flight Service saw it too, and we are working with them to review the information in the back of the Supplement and do what we can to keep the pertinent data there. The biggest problem has been finding the owner for each dataset and ensuring it stays current.
Flight Service is in the process of modernizing its briefing software. This will be a win for us all. We can expect improved briefings and new capabilities of Alaska Flight Service. The goal is to bring some of the innovations Leidos brought to the L48 here to Alaska while keeping our local knowledge.
Another win for us this year has been several new and experimental weather products. From satellite-based cloud cross-sections to graphical forecasts in areas we had no information before to added weather reporting capabilities of the weather camera system. I have talked about these systems in past reports, but it is impressive to see what advances are coming when you look back over the past year. Another big save this year was keeping the ability to call ASOS & AWOS stations directly.
There are several wins on the money front. There have already been millions in additional Federal money for Alaska aviation, and there could be a lot more depending on what happens in DC. Alaska DOT&PF has hit the pause button for the second year in a row on scheduled rate increases at rural airports. Both Anchorage and Homer have changed their tax code to be more GA-friendly. While insurance rates are climbing faster than a tricked-out Super Cub, we have been able to help many of you keep your rates down by helping you demonstrate a culture of safety.
The FAA released its Alaska Safety Initiative in 2021. The report resulted from many hours of the FAA listening to pilots in Alaska. The big goal now is to help the FAA prioritize the findings and to help the FAA secure funding to implement the recommendations.
I recently accepted an appointment from the Governor to the Aviation Advisory Board. This Board makes recommendations to the DOT Commissioner on aviation issues. While I have been attending these meetings for years and have participated as a member of the public, I now have a seat at the table.
These "wins" for GA in Alaska are a big deal. The most significant win, you being on our team. The Alaska Airmen's Association could not have done it without your membership and input. Keep the feedback coming. We need to know how the regulators and regulations impact your ability to aviate in the Last Frontier!
If you want more information on these topics or have questions, comments, or if you know of new issues, please get in touch with Adam White (adam.white@alaskaairmen.org 907-245-1251, ext. 8). Watch Adam’s monthly live updates on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. As always, when you file your public comments, please copy the Alaska Airmen's Association.
Adam White, Government and Legislative Affairs, Alaska Airmen's Association