Examines Alaska's current aviation environment and air transportation activities. Identifies the associated risk factors and safety deficiencies. Recommends practical measures for managing the risks to safe flight operations given the reality of Alaska's aviation environment and the potential of new technologies. Contents: Alaska's aviation operations and accidents; factors affecting the safety of takeoffs and landings in Alaska; factors affecting the safety of VFR operations in Alaska; enhancing the low altitude IFR system to fulfill Alaska's air transport. requirements; and special aviation operations in Alaska.

Aeronautical Decision-Making and Aviation Safety in the Alaskan Operational Setting introduces the reader to the real-life experiences of aviators who fly in remote settings such as Alaska in the United States. It covers the challenges related to limited aviation infrastructure and support that affect human factors like aeronautical decision-making and its impact on aviation safety. Through a unique blend of meticulous case study analysis and semi-structured interviews with Alaskan pilots, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of the proverbial challenges of flying in Alaska. It uncovers the human factors elements specific to this environment, shedding light on the factors that influence a pilot’s decision-making, which may contribute to the high rate of accidents in Alaska and other remote regions. The content is supported by historical and socioeconomic perspectives on remote-setting aviation operations. Global perspectives are discussed with narratives from one author’s experiences flying to remote airstrips in Africa. The book concludes with practical recommendations to improve decision-making and aviation safety in these remote settings, making it a must-read for aviation professionals. This insightful research is not just for academic consumption. It is a practical guide for aviation professionals, including pilots, dispatch teams, air traffic controllers, and aviation support personnel. It offers valuable insights into the human factors involved in flying in Alaska, which can be directly applied in other aviation resource-constrained geographical regions, making it an indispensable resource for those in the field.

"Aviation in Alaska is a way of life and an absolute necessity for much of the state. The FAA has teamed with the flying community to develop a document to improve aviation safety in Alaska. A plan for managing current, planned and new approaches are discussed."--Cover