Advocacy at Work

By Adam White, Alaska Airmen’s Association Government Affairs

We continue to work with Federal, State, and local officials on behalf of our members, ensuring Alaska Aviation remains accessible and a viable means of transportation and recreation. The following issues are limited examples of how we work towards those goals. 

GA Survey 

The annual FAA General Aviation Survey is out. Every aircraft registered in Alaska has been sent a postcard with details on how to participate. Please do not ignore this survey! This annual survey is vital for the FAA to know the equipage of the GA fleet and the number of hours flown. This data also helps the Alaska Airmen’s Association decide how to advocate for many issues. For example, should we advocate keeping NDBs when there is data to show that the fleet has very few working ADF receivers and very few NDB approaches are flown in actual conditions? This data also helps when talking with the FAA about a GPS resiliency plan. 

GPS Jamming 

We have already had one military exercise this year where the GPS signal was jammed; we can expect several more. Please check NOTAMs, and if you do encounter a loss of GPS signal, we would like to know. The Alaska Airmen’s Association is compiling data on locations and times our members were impacted by the testing. For a long time, we have known that the FAA has exaggerated the size of the potential areas affected by the jamming. While it is prudent for the FAA to have an “abundance of caution,” we fear that it desensitizes pilots to the hazard, which could result in an accident or incident. Help us collect the information and data we need to convince the FAA to represent the hazard of GPS jamming accurately. 

Anchorage Airspace Update 

We can expect to see a proposal from the FAA before the end of this year for what the Anchorage Airspace changes will look like. Class C airspace will expand to accommodate the new ILS to JBER. The Alaska Airmen’s Association has asked that SVFR and ADS-B out requirements be considered in the redesign. The FAA is working hard to accommodate the needs of all airspace users, from Cubs to 747s to C-17s and 5th-generation fighters. When the opportunity for public comments gets closer, look for information on how you can participate. 

FAA Reauthorization 

Congress still needs to pass a long-term FAA Reauthorization Bill. While the FAA continues to operate under continuing resolutions, this has had detrimental effects, primarily in grant funding. As we know, the construction season in Alaska is short, and projects can’t withstand many setbacks before they are delayed for another year. The FAA grant funding is about 50% funded for this year, causing some airport projects in Alaska and nationwide to be put on hold. May 10th is the next date to watch; that is when the current continuing resolution for the FAA expires. 

GAAG 

On Sunday, May 5th, at the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering, Adam will give a rundown on the issues the Airmen have been working on. Come here how things are going and ask you questions. Historically, this has been a great chance to talk face to face and help us hone our position on the issues we face as an Association. Adam will also lead a panel discussion later that same day on 100LL and how Alaska has more significant hurdles to overcome than the rest of the US. 

If you want more information on these topics or have questions or comments, contact Adam White (adam.white@alaskaairmen.org 907-245-1251). Watch Adam’s monthly live updates on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Please copy the Alaska Airmen’s Association when you file your public comments.