Alaska Airports Association

AkAA membership! It’s time to renew your membership for 2012. Please check your email for an invoice, visit www.akairports.org to pay on line, remit the attached application or call Jane at 907.495.6708 with questions. The cost to join is $25/year for general and associate individual memberships. A completed membership application and a check for $25 can also be mailed to AkAA, PO Box 344, Willow, AK 99688. Your membership fee may be tax deductible, so consider payment before December 31, 2011.

AkAA Education Survey. The Alaska Airports Association plans to provide four (4) workshops during 2012 and your comments would be helpful to determine if the proposed topics meet your needs for continuing education. The master list entitled Course Descriptions is attached and provides a brief description for the courses. To take the survey, please use the following link:

Compatible Land Use Planning – Off Airports, involves not only airport management staff but the community, local government planners and elected officials. Compatible land use planning addresses wildlife, noise, tall structures - including towers, development adjacent the airport, and more. Aviation is an important economic contributor and effective Compatible Land Use Planning helps to protect the benefits of aviation in our communities. To learn more, join Mr. Stephen Quilty and the Alaska Airports Association on February 13-17. Brochures on the course objectives and enrollment information will be distributed soon.

AkAA Charter Amendments. The Alaska Airports Association is growing and amendments to the Association Charter are being drafted for a general membership vote. These amendments will make day to day operation more efficient.The proposed changes will:

As part of the Alaska Aviation System Plan, the economic contribution of 12 Alaska Airports was recently published. Airports studied included Talkeetna, Wasilla Municipal Airport, Deadhorse, Iliamna, Eek, Bethel, Hooper Bay, Kotzebue, Kodiak, Haines, Fairbanks International Airport and Juneau International Airport. The report states that aviation is a critical component of Alaska communities’ economies and while some airports rely on aviation to supply their community with food and cargo, others also flourish with tourism, industry support activity, and as a base for general aviation and air taxi service. To learn more, visit http://www.alaskaasp.com/Documents.aspx.

Gravel Runway Marking Project. Matt Freeman, FAA Alaskan Region Airports Division Project Manager recently attended the FAA Recurrent Engineering meeting to present and discuss nonstandard markings for gravel runways.

At the beginning of the flying season, Headquarters showed support of a Gravel Runway Marking Project project by issuing a Modification to Standard for two airports in Alaska (Fairbanks International and Palmer Municipal) to allow white paint markings to be applied on the gravel runway. This project is intended to promote pilots to practice off field landing techniques. Survey results from users were collected at the end of the season and
portions of the feedback were shared at Recurrent Engineering in Palm Coast, Florida where engineers from all nine regions met to hear from Headquarters Engineering to learn about recent national policy, and review changes to design advisory circulars.

The Gravel Runway Marking Project received favorable review from Headquarters. The Alaska FAA Airports Divisions hopes additional airports will participate and be one of the six airports to mark their gravel runway to support pilot training in 2012. If favorable results are found after a second season where up to six runways will be marked, Airport Division staff will prepare an Engineering Brief for Headquarters approval. This will allow marking gravel runways without a modification to standards for gravel runways.

Marking and maintaining the gravel runway markings was all done by volunteers. Many organizations, airport owners, and individuals deserve credit for the success of this program. Airport Managers interested in learning more about this program may contact Matt at Matthew.Freeman@faa.gov.

Susan Watson, 49 years old of Anchorage, passed away peacefully on Dec. 18, 2011 after a battle with colon cancer at Alaska Regional Hospital surrounded by her family and friends. Susan moved to Alaska in 1999 where she worked as a Leasing Officer, at Lake Hood Operations. She proudly served the pilots at Lake Hood with competence, courtesy and a true appreciation for pilots needs. She was fondly referred to as "The Queen of Lake Hood."

Susan was extremely organized and always doing for others, especially the 1,000 Lake Hood pilots. She loved them and they in turn loved her. Approximately seven weeks ago Susan was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, which quickly spread to her entire body. Susan was a genuine asset to the Lake Hood Operation and we will all miss her. To Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=susan-watson&pid=155130659#storylink=cpy

The Alaska Airports Association 2012 Proposed Workshop Schedule and Topics are:

Monthly Newsletter
Reciprocal Memberships with:
- Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation,
- Alaska Air Carriers Association,
- Alaska Airmen's Association, and
- American Association of Airport Executives, Northwest Chapter.
Member of the Aviation System Plan- APEB and M&O work groups.
Relevant in state airport education opportunities!

The North Slope Borough, Alaska Flightline Logistics, LLC, Colville Logistics, LLC, DOWL HKM, Kenai Municipal Airport, Wasilla Municipal Airport, and the Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation.

For more information on becoming an AkAA sponsor, please visit www.akairports.org