New Alaska Video Describes Challenges of Building Rural Airports

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) Division of Statewide Aviation released the second video, in a two‐part series, illustrating the vital lifeline aviation provides for 82% of Alaskan communities.

Filmed at airport locations across the state, Alaska’s Aviation Lifeline Counting the Costs features interviews with airport construction and management staff who describe the fiscal and logistical challenges of building airports in the rugged, remote parts of the state.

“This video demonstrates the importance of aviation as a lifeline to remote Alaska, and explains why rural airports are challenging and expensive to build and maintain,” said Deputy Commissioner Steve Hatter. “We desire for people to better understand the work we do and some of the unique project and fiscal challenges we face in accomplishing our mission to deliver safe and efficient aviation infrastructure.”

The new video “Alaska’s Aviation Lifeline: Counting the Costs” can be viewed at this link:

YouTube at: youtube.com/watch?v=2g5MKkJjpjg

The first video “Alaska Aviation Lifeline Story” can be viewed at this link:

YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDGw09IuApE  

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 255 airports, 11 ferries serving 35 communities, 5,619 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.