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.
ATAPS
The Anchorage Class C redesign is moving forward. The FAA wants to stick to an aggressive timeline to complete the project by January 2027, but a formal and rigid process must be followed. We are still several months away from being able to offer public input. January 15th will be the start of the Ad-Hoc Committee phase of the project. The Alaska Airmen’s Association will be a key stakeholder in reviewing the proposals and offering feedback to the FAA in the Ad-Hoc meetings. After that process, the FAA will review the Ad-Hoc Committee’s recommendations and may modify the airspace design. Then, the FAA will begin the public outreach component and hold informational meetings to gather comments on the project. Look for announcements from the FAA and the Airmen on dates, locations, and times for these meetings. It will be imperative that you participate in this public process, even if you are based outside the South Central region of the state. Please let us know your concerns so we can formulate our position, but you will also need to officially file your comments with the FAA to give them an accurate picture of the impacts of the redesign.
Class E
If the FAA gets its wish, the large areas of Class G airspace above 1200’ AGL in Alaska might disappear. There are several areas of this airspace: one over the Wrangle Mountains, one south and east of McGrath, another east of Ft. Yukon, and another over the western Brooks Range. With most IFR traffic now able to go GPS direct, Anchorage Center would like to control these areas to make it easier to issue clearances below FL180.
However, the FAA is very risk-averse and doesn’t like to issue IFR clearances in uncontrolled airspace or in areas where they do not have communication and surveillance, so most of the lower altitudes of these areas will still be unavailable for IFR operations. Since most of our membership operates VFR, we would now have to maintain 3 miles visibility, 500’, 1000’, and 2000’ cloud separation and no longer be able to fly in 1-mile visibility and remain clear of the clouds above 1200’ AGL in vast areas where we have traditionally had this flexibility. This proposal will be a net loss of safety for us. Look for more information in the future as this is a developing issue.
Space-based VHF Radios
SkyKraft is an Australian-based company that is looking to launch a constellation of satellites to provide VHF radio and ADS-B tracking in low-density airspace around the globe (places like Alaska). SkyKraft is familiar with large spaces with low density of aviation infrastructure. If SkyKraft can achieve its goals, it will provide complete VHF radio coverage for Alaska down to the surface. This game changer could allow pilots to talk to Flight Service or Anchorage Center from anywhere and at any altitude. They plan to have limited service by 2026 and a complete constellation within five years. The FAA would have to agree to be a SkyKraft customer so Alaska pilots can take advantage of the service. For more information on SkyKraft visit: www.skykraft.com.au/
PANC Tower ROD
The 1166-page Record of Decision (ROD) for the new Anchorage International Control Tower was released several weeks ago. The FAA finds that their proposal to build a +300’ Control Tower off the end of the West water lane of Lake Hood has no significant impact on safety. The Alaska Airmen’s Association and many others voiced our concern about the safety hazard to Lake Hood operations, but this did not influence the FAA’s decision. Construction on the new control tower is expected to start soon.
EAGLE Update
The 100LL fuel replacement issue is gaining momentum. Three alternative fuels are now available in California, increasing the pressure from environmental groups to ban 100LL, which would affect Alaska. Our 100LL comes from refineries in California, and if they cannot blend it there, we will need to get it from Texas, which will add to the transportation cost.
The Eliminate Aviation Gas Lead Emissions Initiative (EAGLE) now recommends that engine and airframe manufacturers approve the fuels in addition to the FAA processes. This has caused a lot of confusion, conspiracy theories, and doubt about approvals’ validity and integrity. For more information, visit: https://flyeagle.org/updates
True North
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations agency that helps 193 countries cooperate and share their skies for mutual benefit. ICAO is encouraging its membership countries to switch from magnetic north-based navigation to true north. With the total integration of GPS into Flight Management Systems and Electronic Flight Bags (ForeFlight, Gamin Pilot), switching to a true north model makes sense from an ATC perspective. Runway numbers and legacy navaids are all based on magnetic north, and the FAA spends a lot of money every year updating systems, repainting runway numbers, and adjusting VOR transmitters. Canada has already made this change north of the 60th Parallel in some regions to help ICAO gather information. ICAO plans to have this study done in three years. The FAA is floating the concept around to key stakeholders to see what needs to be considered to make the shift. The Alaska Airmen’s Association is part of the conversation, and we ask for your opinion on this proposal.
If you want more information on these topics or have questions or comments, contact Adam White (adam.white@alaskaairmen.org 907-245-1251). Don’t miss “Advocacy with Adam” on our YouTube channel on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 pm. Please copy the Alaska Airmen’s Association when you file your public comments.
