Advocacy With Adam, Q4 Overview
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 just a few examples of how we work towards those goals.
Anchorage Class C Redesign
The FAA hosted two virtual public meetings to discuss the Anchorage Class C revisions on September 23rd and 24th. The deadline for public comment is October 24th. This is the time for the public to weigh in on the proposal and offer suggestions on the design. This issue has been addressed in several recent Advocacy With Adam YouTube updates, and we will continue to discuss it on social media as we approach the deadline. For more information, visit:
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/community_engagement/ataaps
Other changes to the Anchorage airspace will need to occur when the Class C changes go into effect. The Class D airspaces in the Anchorage Bowl will also change to align with the Class C, and the VFR procedures will need to be amended to interface with the new airspace. Look for a few changes to the VFR Procedures to go into effect before the Class C redesign goes live in 2027.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight for Drone Operations Rule
The FAA’s proposed rule for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for drones is available for public comment until October 6th. Our biggest concerns focus on right-of-way rules for drones and a potential backdoor ADS-B mandate. Drone will have the right-of-way over manned aircraft below 500’ AGL. It is troubling that the FAA is saying in this proposed rule that “Electronic Conspicuity” (EC) devices might be a solution for right-of-way rules. EC is a low-power, portable, and anonymous ADS-B type technology that is in use in other parts of the world. This technology has not been approved by the FAA and has been vehemently opposed by the FAA up to now. The FAA’s rationale up till now has been that they want everyone to be equipped with ADS-B out and not use an EC solution. Our comment letter will focus on this issue and a few other problems with the proposal with respect to Alaska aviation.
DOT Title 17 Review
The Governor has issued an Administrative Order to reduce state bureaucracy by 25% by 2027. Alaska DOT is asking for input on sections of the State Administrative Code and Statutes that should be reviewed pertaining to aviation. We are building a list of areas to focus on. Do you have any areas you would like to see addressed? Send your ideas to adam.white@alasakaairmen.org
YouTube Updates
Be sure to catch “Advocacy With Adam” on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 pm on YouTube for more thorough and timely updates on what the Airmen’s Association is doing to “Protect, Preserve, and Promote General Aviation in Alaska.” Go to the Advocacy Playlist on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/2r3xb5bu
If you would like more information on these topics or have any questions or comments, please get in touch with Adam White at adam.white@alaskaairmen.org or 907-245-1251. Additionally, please copy the Alaska Airmen’s Association when submitting your public comments.