Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan recently highlighted the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) decision to allocate $25 million for the enhancement of aviation safety in Alaska. This funding results from a provision in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, authored by Sullivan, aimed at supporting the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (DYAASI) from fiscal years 2025 to 2028. The investment will enhance satellite usage to improve airport communication and weather reporting across the state.

Sen. Sullivan discussed the necessity for improved safety, citing Alaska's aviation accident rate being 2.35 times the national average. He also acknowledged the support of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in prioritizing aviation safety in the region.

In his discussion with Alaska’s News Source, Sullivan emphasized the importance of this initiative and collaboration with the administration. He stated, "We launched this initiative last year in the FAA reauthorization bill — I was able to get this $25 million provision authorized to bring a lot more infrastructure. But it’s just a down payment."

Secretary Duffy's involvement played a significant role, according to Sullivan, especially after a particular incident prompted Duffy to reach out for further actions to be taken. Sullivan underscored that this investment is only the beginning and more efforts are needed.

The FAA's financial commitment follows a 2020 report by the National Transportation Safety Board that highlighted the frequency of aviation incidents in Alaska, which is significantly higher than the national average.

Sullivan expressed optimism about the future of aviation in Alaska, anticipating enhanced weather reporting and infrastructure at airports resulting from the new funding.

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