Safety
House FAA Bill To Boost Alaska Aviation Safety
The House version of the FAA reauthorization places a spotlight on weather-reporting equipment and ADS-B in Alaska.
U.S. Capitol Building (Photo: Bill Carey)
© Bill Carey

The comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill aims to bolster aviation safety in Alaska with provisions addressing weather and ADS-B coverage in the state. If passed into law, these provisions could see the state finally receiving the increase in certified weather-reporting equipment that pilots and commercial operators have been requesting for years.

Section 510 of the House bill addresses recommendations made in the 2021 FAA Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (FAASI) concerning the installation of automated weather observation systems (AWOS) at airports throughout Alaska. It requires that the FAA will install—“to the greatest extent practicable”—AWOS equipment at applicable airports by Dec. 31, 2030. Airports with existing instrument approaches will receive priority selection.