WHAT is the Alaska Airmen’s Association?

The Alaska Airmen’s Association is the largest state general aviation group in Alaska. It is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization whose sole purpose is to promote and preserve aviation in our Great State. Established in 1951 as an Alaskan Corporation it is led by a volunteer Board of Directors, 10 are elected by the membership and 4 appointed Regional Directors. We currently have 2500 members.

WHO are the Airmen?

Membership includes all pilots, student through ATP, mechanics, airline employees, aviation enthusiasts and any individual or business that has an interest in flying. Membership is open to everyone, including non-Alaska residents. Our members reside in 5 countries, 46 states, and represent members in 50 Alaskan cities and villages.

WHY should you join?

The Airmen maintain an active liaison with agencies and departments of the United States, the State of Alaska and local governments that are charged with the responsibility of regulating general aviation. Everyday we are addressing important issues such as the closure of airstrips, airspace, state leasing regulations, weather, aircraft taxing, etc. Volunteers sit on numerous committees statewide representing you and the interests of general aviation. You also receive a substantial member benefit package when you join. The quarterly newsletter keeps you up-to-date on Association activities such as pilot safety meetings, poker runs, swap meets, banquets, and special events. Membership discounts are available around the state on fuel (up to .25 cents per gallon), aviation parts, survival equipment, labor and much more. Use your Airmen’s membership card to save!

WHERE are we?

We are headquartered at 4200 Floatplane Drive on Lake Hood, this location may be better known as the old Jim Air office across from the old Ketchum Hangar on the first commercial finger.  Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm.

In April of 2005 we opened a new Northern Office in Fairbanks, 3788 S. University Avenue, East Ramp, Fairbanks Intl. Airport. This is the MAC Managing, LLC  hangar, between CAP and the Tower on the first floor. New office hours are Monday-Wednesday 9:00-1:00.  Stop by and visit!

WHEN? JOIN TODAY!

ALASKA AIRMEN’S ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

• POWERFUL ADVOCACY FOR ALASKAN AVIATORS
• MEMBER DISCOUNTS ON FUEL, HARDWARE, MAINTENANCE AND MORE
• EXCLUSIVE MEMBER EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
• NETWORK ACCESS TO THE LARGEST IN-STATE AVIATION GROUP
• RECEIVE THE TRANSPONDER, ALASKA’S LEADING AVIATION PUBLICATION
• FREE CLASSIFIED ADS IN TRANSPONDER AND ON THE WEB
• PILOT SAFETY MEETINGS
• THE GREAT ALASKA AVIATION GATHERING (ALASKA STATE AVIATION TRADE SHOW AND CONFERENCE)
• EXCLUSIVE MEMBER-ONLY ACCESS AND PRIVILEGES (COMING SUMMER OF 2011!)

The following discounts are available to current Alaska Airmen Members.  Your membership card is required to receive the benefits below.

ANCHORAGE

3D AVIONICS – 10% discount on avionics, installation and electrical repairs. (907)227-5302
ACE HANGARS AND FUELS - .15cent discount/gal, 10% hotel discount, courtesy car available. Pilot friendly telephone, internet, hotel and lounge available. (907)222-3000
AIH (AK Industrial Hardware) – Contractor discounts on selected items. 907-276-7201 (Anchorage) or 907-283-3531 (Eagle River)
AIRFRAMES ALASKA -$20 off a set of lifetime Piper or Taylorcraft wing struts.  $20 off price of brake booster.  http://www.airframesalaska.com (907) 688-0530 info@airframesalaska.com PAB
ALASKA USA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION - Membership privileges.  (907)563-4567
BARNEYS SPORT CHALET 10% Discount on all non-sale items.  (907) 561-5242 http://www.barneyssports.com
EAGLE ENTERPRISES – 10% discount on all merchandise.  (907)562-2331
DIAMOND PARKING – Lowest discount rate of $7.00 per day, $10.00 covered parking.  Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Free shuttle service offered to both terminals at TSAIA!
GREAT CIRCLE FLIGHT SERVICES, LLC – $.14 cents per gal discount on fuel purchased at our rack price, per uplift volume category. Open 24 hours per day, all credit cards accepted. 6121 South Airpark Place, #2, PH: (907)-245-1232; MOB: (907)529-0715, http://www.greatcircleflight.com
INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SERVICE – $.10 cents per gal discount on in-to-plane deliveries. (907)243-0756
RM AIRCRAFT SERVICES – $25 discount to current card carrying members on Prop & Wt Balance (1per member). (907)688-2301

FAIRBANKS

ACE HANGARS AND FUELS – .15cent discount /gal along with generous discount on all other services. (907)222-3000
AIRCOM AVIONICS – 10% discount on all transponder checks and pitot static tests. (907)474-0100
ARCTIC AVIATION – 5% discount on maintenance. (907)479-8100
AIH (Alaska Industrial Hardware) – Contractor discounts on selected items. (907)452-4788
ALASKA AEROFUEL-.15 cents off pump price of 100LL at FAI intl Airport and Chena Marina. Located in front of the Airmen’s Northern Office, you must set up an account to receive discount. Call 907-474-0062
PALMER/MAT-SU VALLEY

ABOVE ALASKA AVIATION is offering to the AAA members 10% off all tail-wheel endorsements. Talkeetna, AK.  (907)355-4808
ACE HANGARS AND FUELS-.15cent discount/gal along with generous discount on all other services.  907-222-3000
AERO WOLF LAKE HANGAR LEASING – 10% discount on float & wheel plane spaces.  (907)-745-2344
AIH(Alaska Industrial Hardware) – Contractor discounts on selected items. (907)376-5274
GLACIER AIRCRAFT PARTS – Located on the south end of the Palmer airstrip. 10% discount on everyday supplies for small aircraft.(800)478-7100 or (907)745-7100

KENAI

AIH (Alaska Industrial Hardware) – Contractor discounts on selected items. (907)283-3531
SORENSON AVIATION – 15% discount on banner towing, aerial advertising, flightseeing and aerial survey. (907)235-6420

SOUTHEAST

AIH (Alaska Industrial Hardware) – Juneau – Contractor discounts on selected items. 9141 Glacier Hwy. (907)790-3300

OUTSIDE

SPECIALTY AIRCRAFT COMPANY – receive a 5% discount on your next order.  (800)500-6786 or fax (541)548-5336
DOWNTOWN HOTEL_DAWSON CITY, YUKON, CANADA – $89.00 (Canadian) per room, free airport shuttle service. (867)993-5346 or candicks@yknet.ca or http://www.downtownhotel.ca/

2011 ALASKA AIRMEN’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS and OFFICERS

	REX GRAY, PRESIDENT   Rex says, “In the spring of 1975, I ferried a Piper J-3 Club from San Diego to Fairbanks.  Almost everything I owned was stuffed into the J-3—just in case I wanted to stay.  I’m still here 34 years later and with no intention of going anywhere else.  I started flight instructing in Fairbanks at Philips Field and then went to the local air taxis during the Pipeline boom.  Most of my flying has been and still is in Alaska—both for pleasure and professionally.  Still a CFI and I currently fly for Alaska Airlines.  I have lived in Palmer for the last 28 years.  Over the years I have owned a variety of general aviation aircraft—currently own a Cessna 180.  Favorite airplane: the one I’m flying.  Favorite destination: Denali, Aleutians, Arctic, Southeast, ok—the whole state.
	TERRY CARTEE – VICE PRESIDENT  A lifelong Alaskan, Terry has been involved with Aviation since the 1960’s where he was employed with the Alaska Air National Guard as a mechanic. He obtained his private pilot certificate in the early 70’s and acquired all ratings through ATP including rotocraft and seaplane ratings. In 1976 he engineered and successfully certified the only known 200hp 1956 Supercub. His aviation career covers employment with Ketchum, ERA and the Army Guard before retiring in Dec of 2005. He is currently with BP working on the North Slope as an Electrician.
	WOLFGANG JUNGE- SECRETARY – Wolfgang moved to Alaska in 1984 from Corvallis Oregon.  He received his BA in civil engineering from UAA and became a licensed civil engineer in 1994 when he was hired by State of Alaska DOT&PF and today works as a design project manager in aviation at Anchorage International and many other airports around the state.  He is active in the US Army Reserves and is the commander of the Alaska USAR Theatre Support Group for Alaska.  His wife, Elaine, is also a pilot and they own a 1950 Aeronca Sedan.  He believes there is no better therapy than flying on a beautiful day in and around Alaska
	CHRIS PHILLIPS – TREASURER  Chris has been around aviation his entire life. His dad flew Sunderland flying boats in Coastal Command in WWII and flew the Berlin Airlift in 1949.  He started flying when he was 14. He came to Alaska in 1980 and 5 years later owned a Cessna 170B.  Not being well suited to floats, he traded up to a C180 a few years later.  Chris holds SEL, SES, Glider and Commercial ratings and certificates, is a life member of the Airmen’s since the 80s and was a board member in the late 90s.  Now retired, his most recent job was President & CEO of a major oil and gas company in Indonesia.  Interests include Air Safety, preserving the Alaskan flying lifestyle (this is the last and best place in the world to fly) and raising money to make the Airmen’s a vibrant organization that leads the way in Alaska and US aviation.
	Lambert De Gavere – Lambert grew up in Switzerland where he learned to fly in winch-launched gliders and eventually learned to fly the airplanes so that he could be the tow pilot.  This inspired him to attend a flight school in theUnited Statesto obtain all of his professional pilot license and rating.  The rest is history.  A helicopter rating presented great opportunities.  For the past 25 years he has flown for ERA Helicopters and also serves as their FAR 135 check airmen.  He also still likes to fly airplanes and owns a C185 based at Lake Hood Seaplane Base, flying it to remote locations aroundAlaska.  Lambert has logged 28,000 hours in 150 different type of aircraft.
	RUSS DUNLAP came to Alaska in 1994 with Alaska Airlines where he is currently employed as a pilot.  Originally from Oregon, he soloed on his 16th birthday and received his wings shortly thereafter.  He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon in general studies pursuing his dream of flying at Everygreen Airport.  He enjoys flying his Cessna 180 as a volunteer for the Iditarod Air Force and for hunting and fishing.  Russ is one of the lucky few that “lives with his airplane” at one of Alaska’s airparks located in Palmer .  He actively participated in the three year Mat-Su Valley Aviation System Plan study that was recently completed.
	Brenda Abitz, Dallas, Texas – Brenda has recently returned to Texas after 15 years in Alaska.  Prior to her time in Alaska she spent 6 years in the Air Force Reserves as an aero medical specialist and worked for Southwest Airlines as an operations agent.  She had moved to Alaska to pursue her aviation career.  From 1999 through 2008, she was co-owner of a Part 135 air service on Lake Hood managing a business operating floats, wheels and skis VFR and IFR.   She flew commercially and managed employees, operations, maintenance and customers for the business.  Brenda’s most recent position was as manager of marketing with ERA Helicopters, LLC.  Brenda now works for Bombardier Flexjet in Dallas.  She is a Customer Account Manager for their corporate jet clients.  Brenda will remain on the board of the Alaska Airmen representing over 25% of our members that reside ‘outside” of Alaska.
	George Murphy – George obtained his private and commercially certificates after moving to Alaska permanently in 1965.  He worked as a construction engineer for the Alaska Division of Aviation and then later with Alaska Department of Transportation.  Most of his work was in rural Alaska, locating, designing, and constructing bush airports.  His aviation career didn’t stop after retirement.  He started Alaska Bush Expeditions, a 135 operator charter services flying photographers, fishermen, hunters and rafters to all areas of Alaska. Since 1981he has been an active volunteer for the Iditarod Air Force.  He is most interested in youth aviation outreach, working with UAA and their aviation program to encourage students to pursue aviation as a career.
	DIANA MORONEY has lived in Alaska for 32 years. She began flying commercially in 1995, and since then has logged 10,000 hours. While not flying for work, she enjoys flying her C185, which she shares with her husband Bruce. They love flying all over Alaska and also make yearly trips outside with the plane. Currently Diana flies as Captain in an ATR-72 for Empire Airlines. Diana is also known for her love of dog-mushing and her involvement with the Iditarod AirForce.
	Mike Watson Mike first came to Alaska in 1978 when his father moved the family from Denver, Colorado to Talkeetna, Alaska. The son of a helicopter pilot, Mike grew up with aviation. He soloed on his 16th birthday and began flying commercially at 19.  Full-time pilot work was hard to come by, so Mike worked as a logger in southeast Alaska.  Mike returned to Anchorage and obtained his CFI/II/MEI and went to work flying charter and flight instructing for Joe Wilbur at Merrill Field. Mike has worked for ERA Aviation America West Airlines out of Arizona, and is now a pilot fro Conoco Phillips Alaska. He is a graduate of Embry-Riddle with a bachelor in Aviation Science.
	ADAM WHITE, PAST PRESIDENT  Adam grew up in Georgia, where his first real job as a kid was washing and refueling airplanes at the local airport, within a short time he was a mechanic’s apprentice and flying whenever he could. Adam came to Alaska in 1995 after earning a BS in Aviation Technology from LeTourneau University where he also earned his pilot and mechanic certificates. He holds CFII, Multi, and Seaplane ratings. Living in Nenana with his wife and three daughters, he is an Itinerant Pastor flying his Maule M7 throughout the Interior visiting homesteads, fishcamps and Villages. Adam is actively involved in the aviation community of Fairbanks and the Interior, he looks forward to increasing the Northern Region’s presence in the Alaska Airmen’s Association.

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Josh Overturf  -  Josh was born into aviation, making his first successful flight a week after birth from Fairbanks to Galena where his parents had moved from the northwest to take teaching jobs.  Growing up in rural Alaska meant flight after flight into the back country with friends and family, and his affinity for flight in the last frontier kept growing.  After taking his initial discovery flight in college, Josh knew where his attentions would be focused for the immediate future.  Upon returning to Alaska from his studies in Montana and Austria, he immediately began working on his private pilot’s license and purchased his first aircraft, a Cessna 150 taildragger.  These days Josh can be found winging his way around Alaska in his Piper Supercub in a constant search for the abundant beauty in Alaska that can only be accessed by wings.

Grant Funk – Western Region Director   Grant has lived in western Alaska for 19 years. Thirteen of those years have been in Hooper Bay. Grant has been a Pastor and/or in youth ministries for over 25 years. He is a flight instructor and founder of AvSTEM Inc. which specializes in teaching aviation to middle and high school students in rural Alaska. He is also the founder of Warriors On Wheels (WOW), taking Western Alaskan youth and young adults on month long summer trips. Married to Lenna they have 6 children (5 of which still live in various places in western Alaska) and 8 grandchildren.

Greg T. Culbert – Northern Region Director   Greg was raised in northern Iowa where education was important and flying was a constant in his family.  He attended the University of Northern Iowa for his Bachelors in teaching and completed his Masters in administration at Drake University.  He also completed the post graduate program in administration at the University of Alaska – Anchorage.  He serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Galena City School District and resides in Fairbanks. Galena offers a high school aviation program, training the next generation of Alaskan pilots with a Cessna 172, 150 and Frasca 142 simulator.  Greg has been a pilot for over 31 years and earned his float rating in Moose Pass, Alaska.  He is working on his instrument rating, as time permits, while raising two young children.

Tracy, his wife, is currently finishing up on her private license.  His 9 year old son claims to be next in line.