Notes from the Safety Committee 

Note from the editor: The Alaska Airmen Association recently reconvened our Safety Committee, meeting monthly, to set goals and suggest initiatives to increase safety in aviation in Alaska.  The Committee is made up of Board members, staff members, NextGen members and members of the public who are tasked with brainstorming how we can best use…

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President’s Report

Greetings Airmen Association Members,Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe 2023 is already here but what a great year 2022 was for the AlaskaAirmen’s Association. As I reflect on the year, we were fortunate to accomplish the goals we set out toachieve. Some of the goals achieved included increasing our scholarships, raising awareness throughadvocacy, continuing…

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Letter from the Director 

This time of year, its hard to resist the urge to look back and review.  When I think of 2022 for our aviation community, I can’t help but think of WEATHER.  It felt like a monsoon summer and then, not to be outdone, a record-breaking start to winter!  This last snow and windstorm marked the…

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NextGen Spotlight

Recently, members of our NextGen Aviation Club expressed an interest in more purely social events where they could network, make friends with similar interests, and build a community! We loved the idea so before the holidays, we hosted our first NextGen movie and aviation trivia night. We received great feedback, and it was definitely a…

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Behind the Scenes of the Alaska Airmen Scholarship Program by Dennis Bedford (former Board Member) and Nick Kellar (current Board Member) 

Starting in 2016 we began to explore how to properly manage an effective scholarship program. That year we awarded 4 scholarships totaling $11,000. By setting clear guiding principles and partnering with the community, we have grown the program each year. Last year being our biggest with 67 awarded scholarships totaling $102,000.   Plenty has been written…

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A Big Concern in the Aviation Community and How Fairbanks International is Making a Difference.

If you haven’t heard of PFAS before, it stands for polyfluoroalkylsubstances. These substances are widely used chemicals that breakdown very slowly over time. They are mainly used to create productsthat are resistant to stains and grease, so you can find them in lots ofaverage household items. Cleaners, clothes, food packaging, andeven cosmetics are good examples.…

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WELCOME TO 2023 AND A NEW YEAR WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES! By John M. Dahlen

Happy New Year! (US & Canada), З Новим роком! (Ukrainian); С Новым Годом! (Russian); あけまして おめでとう ございます! (Japanese); Bonne année! (French); Frohes neues Jahr! (German);Gelukkig nieuwjaar! (Belgian); 新年快乐! (Mandarin). No matter where you live, or how and whenyou say it, it’s time to preserve the best of our 2022 memories, haul the rest of 2022…

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Why Do You Fly? by Bernie Willis

Last time we talked, it was confirmed that we fly a lot and significantly morethan our friends around the world. I wonder why that is… Let’s consider someoptions and see if I get it right. My first idea is that we fly because we want to get somewhere the roaddoesn’t go. I’d been in Alaska…

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137 Pilots Affected by FAA Reexamination Notice 

Recently the FAA discovered a deficiency in several instrument check-rides that took place during a four-year period in Alaska. Our members, the public, and the media reached out to the Alaska Airmen’s Association, seeking information and clarity. Below is a brief overview of the issue, actions taken by the FAA, and the position of the…

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Member Milestones 2023 Q1

Have you gained a new rating or certificate? Purchased your first airplane orflown your 5000th hour? Shout out a friend that has landed in a challenging newplace or welded their first tube on a new project. Or maybe you want tocommiserate after shelling out for your first annual inspection. Whatevermilestone you have achieved, help us…

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