Avionics Funding Bills Pending In Legislature
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin unveiled Saturday details of a new
aviation safety initiative.
With seven times the licensed pilots of any other state, Alaska
also has the highest accident rate nationwide. Bad weather and
harsh terrain contribute significantly to that statistic, according
to the State of Alaska website.
The administration's plan is a multi-departmental effort that
includes a bill that will establish a new loan program in the
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development. Under
this program, low interest loans will be available for the purchase
and installation of advanced satellite-based aircraft avionics.
Governor Palin's plan to improve aviation safety is a critical
component of the Federal Aviation Administration's plan to invest
over $400 million dollars in the installation, operation and
maintenance of the ground stations as part of its "Capstone"
aviation safety program.
ANN recently reported on the
FAA's request for the State of Alaska to provide $34 million to
outfit 4,000 aircraft with Automatic Dependent Surveillance -
Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics over the next five years.
Pilots flying such equipped aircraft
will be able to view their exact position, groundspeed, position
relative to altitude and terrain, course, destination, and position
relative to other such equipped aircraft.
Real-time weather condition information will also be available,
providing invaluable assistance in avoiding weather-related
accidents.
"In addition to reducing aircraft accidents, such equipped aircraft
will offer safer access to rural communities," Governor Palin said.
"This new technology will also increase the safety and
effectiveness of medical evacuations and search-and-rescue
operations."
Creating new digital maps of the entire state is another safety
effort. These maps, used by the new avionics, will feature accurate
height and depth data of physical terrain that will be incorporated
into the FAA's terrain models.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is also working
with The Medallion Foundation to provide updated map data in flight
simulators. This allows pilots to receive very accurate and
realistic training for flying in Alaska's rugged environment.
House Bill 340 and Senate Bill 249 are pending in the Alaska
Legislature to establish the avionics loan program.