Advocacy With Adam 

Adam White, Alaska Airmen’s Association Government Affairs 

Advocacy With Adam 

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. 

DOGE 

The FAA and National Weather Service employees who were let go as part of the DOGE initiative to eliminate probationary positions should be back at work soon. However, many were reinstated and placed on administrative leave. In the meantime, I’ve heard rumors that many of those affected by this situation in Alaska are seeking employment elsewhere. They have little assurance of stability, while their bills continue to pile up every month. 

I am hearing from more and more people who took advantage of the “fork in the road” offer for early retirement, particularly Mike O’Hare, the Alaskan Region FAA Administrator. The issue is that these individuals create a significant gap in the FAA and NWS’s knowledge base. Time will tell whether this was a good idea or not. 

I was recently quoted in a news story about the cuts, saying, “Even if you are really excited that this is all happening, if you were being honest, you would admit that we should probably be cautious about how we handle these situations and not start amputating limbs just to fix a cut on the finger.” Time will tell if we cut too far or not enough. 

FAA Funding 

A new continuing resolution has passed, meaning the FAA is locked into a funding level from the previous budget cycle. This may affect projects across the state. Several provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Bill have not yet received funding, including the $25 million allocated each year for five years for safety improvements in Alaska. This funding aims to install more weather stations, weather cameras, and ADS-B ground stations throughout the state. Some planning and preliminary work on this project are hindered until funding is secured. 

EAGLE Executive Committee in AK 

This group is tasked with leading the FAA and industry efforts to move away from 100LL. They attended the Alaska Air Carriers Convention and conducted several sessions to gain a better understanding of the issues we face in Alaska. They were able to leave Anchorage to visit Bethel and St. Marys, which had a significant impact on them, providing a clearer view of our concerns regarding fuel transition in Alaska. 

Aviation Advisory Board 

This board advises and makes recommendations to the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, as well as the Deputy Commissioner of Aviation, concerning public policy related to the department’s aviation functions. Adam White has served on this board for four years and was recently reappointed by the Governor for another three-year term. 

GAAG Session 

Plan to attend Adam’s session on Saturday at the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering in Palmer, located at the State Fairgrounds. He will offer an update on the Anchorage airspace redesign and the shift from 100LL to unleaded fuel. 

If you would like more information on these topics or have any questions or comments, please contact Adam White at (adam.white@alaskaairmen.org 907-245-1251). Additionally, please copy the Alaska Airmen’s Association when submitting your public comments. 

Be sure to catch “Advocacy With Adam” on the third Tuesday of every month at 6pm on our YouTube channel for more thorough and timely updates on what the Airmen’s Association is doing to “Protect, Preserve, and Promote General Aviation in Alaska.”