Senator Dan Sullivan and Alaska’s congressional delegation celebrated a new $25 million annual investment in strengthening aviation safety. The funding comes through the FAA, which will allocate $25 million annually from 2025 to 2028 under the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative.
Sullivan said this funding is only a starting point and emphasized the urgent need for expanded aviation infrastructure across rural Alaska. He credited close collaboration with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who quickly responded after the deadly Bering Air crash in February.
After the crash, Duffy contacted Sullivan to ask what more the federal government could do to prevent similar tragedies. According to Sullivan, Duffy followed up multiple times, expressing strong interest in backing the aviation safety initiative with real funding.
The 2020 NTSB report served as a driving force behind the initiative. It revealed that Alaska’s accident rate is over twice the national average, and the fatal accident rate in Alaska is 1.34 times higher than in the rest of the United States.
Sullivan explained that many Alaska airports lack weather systems and reliable communication, and the satellite support airports in the Lower 48 already enjoy. He said senators from both parties understood his point that Alaska deserves the same aviation safety as every other state.
The FAA investment will boost satellite access and increase the number of weather-equipped airports across Alaska from four to sixteen. The upgrades will include new technology that delivers real-time weather information through satellite links, improving safety for pilots and passengers.
Sullivan did not confirm whether these measures could have prevented the Bering Air crash but said the investigation is ongoing. He expects communication gaps and weather reporting challenges to feature in the NTSB’s final report.
As the funding begins, Sullivan believes Alaska will see meaningful safety improvements statewide. He said the financing marks a turning point toward safer skies across the state’s vast and rugged terrain.
This news article was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
