Alaska Region

2013 Issues and News

February 21, 2013 — Proposed F-16 squadron relocation raises safety concerns

AOPA identified safety, environmental, and airspace-access issues that should be addressed in an environmental impact study of an Air Force proposal to move its 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. — Read More >>

February 19, 2013 — Decommissioning proposed for Alaska LOC/DME

The FAA has proposed to decommission the Bettles Runway 01 LOC/DME located in Bettles, Alaska. Members are encouraged to submit comments to the FAA on the impact of this proposal on their flight operations. — Read More >>

January 30, 2013 — Direction finder service to end in Alaska

The FAA has announced the decommissioning of direction finder (DF) service in Alaska effective Feb. 15. — Read More >>

January 25, 2013 — Air Force sets meetings on Alaska fighter squadron relocation

The Air Force has scheduled a series of public scoping meetings in February on the environmental impact of a proposal to relocate its 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska. — Read More >>

January 24, 2013 — FAA proposes RNAV route modification in Alaska

The FAA has proposed to modify low-altitude RNAV route T–266 in Alaska by removing two nondirectional beacons (NDBs) from the route description and replacing them with RNAV waypoints. Members are encouraged to submit comments on the proposal by March 8. — Read More >>

January 24, 2013 — GPS tracking to speed Alaska rescues

Help for downed aircraft in Alaska could arrive sooner under a new program that will send distress messages including GPS coordinates from participating pilots' satellite tracking devices directly to flight service stations, where they would be matched with active VFR flight plans. — Read More >>

January 9, 2013 — Floatplane access to Big Lake Airport protected

The Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough in Alaska has rescinded a requirement for $1 million in liability coverage that threatened access by floatplanes to Big Lake Airport. — Read More >>

2012 Issues and News

December 13, 2012 — Alaska borough passes tall structures ordinance

Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Borough has passed an ordinance governing the construction of telecommunications towers and other tall structures, and precluding them from interference with approaches to the region's airports. — Read More >>

September 27, 2012 — Comments sought on airspace change near Merrill Field

AOPA is urging pilots who fly in the busy corridor around Anchorage, Alaska, to weigh in by Oct. 9 on an FAA proposal to establish Class D airspace at Bryant Army Air Field. — Read More >>

September 5, 2012 — It's official: Alaska appreciates general aviation

Nowhere are pilots and their aircraft more vital to the well-being of their communities than in Alaska. — Read More >>

August 29, 2012 — User survey asks feedback on Alaska training strips

You can practice short-field landings on a long, wide runway, but will you have mastered the technique when trying to land in truly tight confines? — Read More >>

August 15, 2012 — FAA proposes closing down DF in Alaska

The FAA has asked for public comment by Sept. 10 on the proposed decommissioning of all direction finder (DF) facilities in Alaska, and 29 associated approaches, citing lack of use and the availability of newer technologies. — Read More >>

August 7, 2012 — Alaska pilots: GPS testing set for August (PDF)

Alaska pilots: GPS testing set for August (PDF) — Read More >>

July 25, 2012 — FAA seeks accelerated field approvals

The FAA is seeking comments on a new informational resource that it hopes will accelerate the often-lengthy process of reviewing and issuing field approvals of aircraft modifications. — Read More >>

June 28, 2012 — Weather cameras add safety in Alaska

The view northeast from Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, isn't a pilot's dream: The air is opaque, and the overcast hides a pair of prominent peaks five and 11 miles away. Fortunately, a pilot planning an arrival wouldn't have to find out the bad news the hard way. A network of aviation cameras is giving Alaska aviators a nearly real-time glimpse of local conditions. — Read More >>

June 28, 2012 — AOPA seeks changes to large military airspace proposal in Alaska

AOPA is urging the Department of Defense to work with the aviation community to solve access and routing problems posed for general aviation by a revised special-use airspace plan for the Joint Alaska Pacific Range Complex. — Read More >>

June 28, 2012 — Draft Environmental Impact Statement in Alaska JPARC (PDF)

— Read More >>

June 21, 2012 — Kenai Peninsula celebrates aviation

When pilots reach out to their local communities, count on an enthusiastic response. That's especially so in Alaska, where aviation plays an important role in everyday life, and where the public turned out June 9 to attend the Kenai Peninsula Air Fair. — Read More >>

June 5, 2012 — Aviation Day draws crowd in Fairbanks

The Fairbanks, Alaska, aviation community rolled out the welcome mat for 2,000 of its neighbors--probably including some future aviation professionals--for an aviation day event at Fairbanks International Airport. — Read More >>

May 31, 2012 — More time granted to comment on military airspace changes

Military commanders have extended the deadline to comment on a sweeping set of proposed changes that would impact general aviation flights in Alaska. — Read More >>

May 24, 2012 — Extension requested to review Alaska military plan

AOPA has requested a 60-day extension of the comment period on proposed changes to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex to address the multiple concerns the proposed actions are raising for communities and the state's aviation industry. — Read More >>

April 23, 2012 — Lake Hood Airstrip to close during construction

Anchorage, Alaska's Lake Hood Airstrip will be closed starting May 7 for a construction project that is expected to be completed June 8. — Read More >>

April 20, 2012 — Alaska pilot survey seeks improved flight safety

AOPA and the Alaska Airmen's Association, working to reduce aircraft collision risk in the Mat Su Valley, have launched an online pilot survey about flight operations in the region located north of Anchorage. — Read More >>

April 5, 2012 — Transportation plan studies Alaska's federal lands

Partnership with the aviation community should help shape a long-range transportation plan being developed for 221 million acres of federally managed lands in Alaska, AOPA said. — Read More >>

April 4, 2012 — Alaska military airspace plan presented to public

The document detailing proposed changes to a vast complex of special-use airspace in Alaska has been released for public inspection, with a series of hearings set for May, and comments solicited by June 7. — Read More >>

March 14, 2012 — Alaska borough repeals aircraft tax

Aircraft owners in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough of Alaska will save $75 to $125 a year on registration fees now that the Borough Assembly has voted to repeal a registration tax. — Read More >>

March 13, 2012 — Small success for safety

Even in Alaska's wide open spaces, a badly placed cell tower can create problems for aviators. AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteer Dave Earl's efforts in Talkeetna, Alaska, show that even when the law won't require safety, you can educate local decision makers to do the right thing. — Read More >>

February 29, 2012 — Borough to vote on aircraft registration tax repeal

Acting on a recommendation from its aviation advisory board, the Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, Borough Assembly plans to vote March 6 to eliminate its aircraft registration tax. — Read More >>

January 19, 2012 — Aviation role sought for winter carnival

There's no place like Alaska for celebrating winter recreation in the great outdoors - and aviation supporters have opened discussions with officials about a future role for aircraft in a popular annual event known for all kinds of fun from dog sledding to log sawing. — Read More >>

January 11, 2012 — FAA makes good on airway restorations

The FAA, in keeping with assurances it made to the pilot community, has announced that the two remaining airways made unusable by the relocation of the Anchorage, Alaska, VOR will be restored to availability for navigation Feb. 9 when other changes associated with the navaid's move take effect. — Read More >>

2011 Issues and News

• December 14, 2011 - Airways to be restored in Alaska Feb. 9
• October 26, 2011 - Juneau sectional safety enhancements noted
• August 12, 2011 - Wx data critical for Alaska (pdf)
• August 4, 2011 - No takers for Northway, Alaska, FBO
• July 27, 2011 - Russian delegation sees GA in action
• July 6, 2011 - Northway, Alaska, FBO goes on the block
• June 29, 2011 - NWS lists Alaska weather stations for upgrade, closure
• June 16, 2011 - Alaska training program simulates off-field operations
• June 10, 2011 - GPS testing prompts Anchorage, Alaska, flight advisory
• June 10, 2011 - GPS testing prompts Kodiak, Alaska, flight advisory
• June 10, 2011 - GPS testing prompts Fairbanks, Alaska, flight advisory
• June 9, 2011 - Plan to shut down Alaska NDB, TWEB opposed
• May 25, 2011 - Proposed special-use airspace opposed for unmanned ops
• April 29, 2011 - Alaska airway revisions to take effect June 30
• March 21, 2011 - Satellite fix restores WAAS coverage to northwestern Alaska
• March 15, 2011 - Alaska weather stations offer critical safety info
• March 10, 2011 - FAA proposes revising airways using Anchorage VOR
• February 14, 2011 - EPA meets with Alaska operators on avgas issue
• January 27, 2011 - Pilots urged to comment on proposed Alaska SUA changes
• January 12, 2011 - WAAS satellite transmitting again, in test mode
• January 6, 2011 - User input sought on Alaska weather station closings