Regional Affairs
Talkeetna Airport slated for upgrade
Talkeetna Airport, a popular base for aerial tours of Denali National Park and Preserve and Mount McKinley, could be getting a facelift. AOPA is supporting a state plan to create more lease lots and transient parking, improve fencing, develop a pedestrian walkway, and remove trees.
AOPA Vice President of Airports and State Advocacy Greg Pecoraro, who recently visited the airport with AOPA Alaska Regional Representative Tom George, encouraged the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to “place a high priority on compatible land-use planning around the airport to adequately provide for the health, welfare, and safety of its citizens both on the ground and in the air.”
The airport is a vital economic asset to the state, and the proposed improvements would not only increase its value in the aviation industry but also in the local community. A new walkway will reduce foot traffic on the taxiway, making it easier for transient pilots and visitors to walk to and from town.
AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Erika Bennett has been working with Talkeetna residents and airport officials to help the proposed upgrades proceed with minimal impact on the community.
June 18, 2009
