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  • October 06, 2023 7:09 AM | Will Day (Administrator)

    On Wednesday, October 4th, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Senator Sullivan addressed Mike Whitaker, President Biden's nominee to be the Administrator of the FAA.


    During the hearing, Mr. Whitaker committed to work hard to improve Alaska's critical aviation infrastructure if he is confirmed as the Administrator.

    Mr. Whitaker's Committments:

    1. Continue the work with the FAA's Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (FAASI).
    2. Fix regulations that make repairing weather observation equipment in Alaska difficult.
    3. Visit Alaska early in his tenure to meet with air carriers and the aviation community to learn about the industry's biggest challenges first-hand.
    4. Address budget issues on weather reporting infrastructure issues.
    5. Consider retracting, amending, or suspending the FAA's guidance memo about A-RNP approaches.


  • December 23, 2022 10:37 AM | Will Day (Administrator)

    Aeronautical Study No. 2022-AAL-274-OE

    Prior Study No. 2014-AAL-42-OE

    The Federal Aviation Administration has conducted an aeronautical study under the provisions of 49 U.S.C., Section 44718 and if applicable Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 77, concerning:

    Structure: Monopole US-AK-5088 Haglebarger

    Location: Fairbanks, AK Latitude: 64-54-11.58N NAD 83 Longitude: 147-35-34.05W

    Heights: 1034 feet site elevation (SE) 124 feet above ground level (AGL) 1158 feet above mean sea level (AMSL)

    This aeronautical study revealed that the structure would have no substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of the navigable airspace by aircraft or on the operation of air navigation facilities.


    View the full study here:

    letter_564396744.pdf

  • December 23, 2022 10:32 AM | Will Day (Administrator)

    Aeronautical Study No. 2022-AAL-301-OE:

    The Federal Aviation Administration has conducted an aeronautical study under the provisions of 49 U.S.C., Section 44718 and if applicable Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 77, concerning:

    Structure: Antenna Tower Cape Lisburne Tower

    Location: Point Hope, AK Latitude: 68-52-07.55N NAD 83 Longitude: 166-08-42.67W

    Heights: 1519 feet site elevation (SE) 100 feet above ground level (AGL) 1619 feet above mean sea level (AMSL)

    This aeronautical study revealed that the structure would have no substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of the navigable airspace by aircraft or on the operation of air navigation facilities.


    View the full study here:

    letter_565523991.pdf

  • December 15, 2022 9:26 AM | Will Day (Administrator)

    The FAA has released the following notice stating that pilots "who were tested by and received [Instrument Ratings and Flight Instructor Instrument] certificates or ratings from Mr. [Donald R.] Lee during the cited period [July 2018 through May 2022] will be reexamined by an FAA inspector".

    Notice:

    FAA - Reexamination of Airmen Tested by Donald R. Lee.pdf

  • December 05, 2022 2:48 PM | Will Day (Administrator)

    Exciting News!!!

    The Annual Air Carriers Association Convention is back for 2023.

    Expect a predominately in-person event with virtual components.

    Save the Date: March 1st - March 3rd, 2023

    The convention will take place at the Alaska Aviation Museum in Anchorage, Alaska. More info here.


  • December 05, 2022 10:41 AM | Will Day (Administrator)

    The following article is quoted from www.ntsb.gov:


    11/29/2022

    ​WASHINGTON (Nov. 29, 2022) — The National Transportation Safety Board is calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to issue special regulations to address flight safety hazards specific to air tour operations in Ketchikan, Alaska.

    ​In a report issued Tuesday, the NTSB said that seven air tour airplane crashes in and around Ketchikan since 2007, killing 31 people and seriously injuring 13 others, highlighted the need for a more robust approach to reduce the risks to air tour passengers and the pilots flying them.

    “There have been too many air tour tragedies in Ketchikan, a place with unique — but well understood — safety hazards that endanger the lives of pilots and passengers alike,” said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. “Unless the FAA acts swiftly, experience tells us to expect even more heartbreak and preventable loss of life.” 

    The NTSB is asking FAA to issue special federal aviation regulations specific to Ketchikan to require more conservative flight visibility minimums and enhanced weather training for air tour pilots flying there. 

    ​These recommendations stem from a review of fatal air tour crashes in Ketchikan from 2007 to the most recent in August 2021, in which the pilot and all five passengers died. In reviewing these crashes, the NTSB reevaluated the effectiveness of 13 safety recommendations it issued to the FAA between 2008 to 2017 aimed at improving air tour safety in the Ketchikan area.

    The NTSB said that FAA’s response to many of its recommendations involved voluntary operator actions that are no longer in effect or that had proven ineffective at mitigating the “overlapping hazards” presented by a rapidly changing weather environment and mountainous terrain. Both are often factors in fatal air tour crashes in Ketchikan.

    The report noted that a more effective way to further safety has occurred when FAA issued specific special federal aviation regulations. An example of this success was when the FAA issued special federal aviation regulations in response to a string of fatal accidents involving air tour aircraft in other geographic areas with distinct operational hazards, including the Grand Canyon and Hawaii. Those regulations included establishing minimum flight altitudes, enhanced equipment safety requirements and airspace limitations for certain geographic areas. The FAA stated that those regulations have been effective in decreasing the fatality rate for air tour accidents.

    “Special federal aviation regulations have effectively reduced air-tour accidents in other areas, saving untold lives. We need the same safety leadership now — before there’s yet another tragedy in Ketchikan,” Homendy said.

    The complete 20-page aviation investigation report​ is available on the NTSB website. 


The Alaska Air Carriers Association Inc. is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. Anchorage, AK 99508

CONTACT US


Call/text: +1 (907) 277-0071
Email: aaca@alaskaaircarriers.org

P.O. Box 141535

Anchorage, AK 99514

www.alaskaaircarriers.org

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