FAA weather cams to stay in Alaska

By AOPA ePublishing staff

Web cameras located at airfields and mountain passes in Alaska have been helping pilots make aviation weather assessments for nearly a decade. But the system, which currently provides “augmented” weather information at 82 locations across the state, was set up as a trial program without long-term support. That has changed.

The FAA has made an “investment decision,” which formally establishes the agency’s weather camera program. AOPA and other Alaska aviation organizations have been pushing hard for this technology.

“FAA weather cameras have really helped pilots in Alaska,” said Tom George, AOPA Alaska regional representative. “We are very pleased that the FAA has now formally established the program and the all-critical maintenance support to keep the cameras operating.”

Plans call for 13 more camera locations in 2008 and to eventually grow the program to cover 221 locations. Pilots are invited to provide comments on the FAA’s Web site as to where cameras are needed.

January 23, 2008