Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/20/2004 01:37 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 20, 2004
1:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jim Holm, Chair
Representative Beverly Masek
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Dan Ogg
Representative Nick Stepovich
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Mary Kapsner
Representative Albert Kookesh
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14
Requesting the Federal Aviation Administration to fully staff
and maintain flight service stations in Alaska.
- MOVED SJR 14 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 14
SHORT TITLE: FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) OLSON
03/24/03 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/24/03 (S) TRA, CRA
04/10/03 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
04/10/03 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
04/11/03 (S) TRA RPT 3DP
04/11/03 (S) DP: COWDERY, WAGONER, OLSON
04/23/03 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
04/23/03 (S) Moved Out of Committee
04/23/03 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
04/24/03 (S) CRA RPT 4DP
04/24/03 (S) DP: WAGONER, LINCOLN, ELTON, TAYLOR
03/19/04 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/19/04 (S) VERSION: SJR 14
03/22/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/22/04 (H) TRA, CRA
04/20/04 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
HAVEN HARRIS, Staff
to Senator Donald Olson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 14 on behalf of the sponsor,
Senator Olson.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 04-14, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR JIM HOLM called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:37 p.m. Representatives Holm,
Masek, Stepovich, Kohring, and Ogg were present at the call to
order.
SJR 14-FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS
CHAIR HOLM announced that the only order of business would be
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14, Requesting the Federal Aviation
Administration to fully staff and maintain flight service
stations in Alaska.
Number 0034
HAVEN HARRIS, Staff to Senator Donald Olson, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SJR 14 on behalf of the sponsor, Senator
Olson. He paraphrased from the following written sponsor
statement [original punctuation provided]:
SJR 14 is a resolution requesting the Federal Aviation
Administration to fully staff and maintain its flight
service stations in Alaska.
Alaska is a vast state that relies on air
transportation for much of its commerce and
connectivity. A substantial portion of the State of
Alaska does not have the road infrastructure to
facilitate the transport of freight and the movement
of people. Furthermore, coastal and river communities
in Western, Central, and Northern Alaska lose their
marine transportation alternative during the 5 to 8
months of winter ice conditions. These communities
then are solely dependent on air transportation for
travel, goods and emergency services for a substantial
part of the year.
Furthermore, there is a large number of Alaskans that
own and fly airplanes. Indeed, Alaska has the highest
percentage of general aviation users per capita in the
United States. General aviation users depend on FAA
flight service stations to inform them of runway
closures and conflicting runway traffic.
FAA flight service stations are essential for the
continued safety and dependability of Alaska's vital
air transportation network. Both commercial and
private pilots are totally reliant on the expertise
and competence of FAA's flight service personnel. The
state of Alaska has over 180 airports that depend on
flight service stations for weather updates, runway
conditions, and assistance with safe air travel.
I respectfully urge your support for this resolution,
helping to ensure the safety of air travel in Alaska.
Number 0179
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK inquired as to why SJR 14 was introduced.
She asked if the FAA is planning on closing some of the flight
service stations in Alaska.
MR. HARRIS noted that over the years a few flight service
stations have been closed. An individual, Phil Brown (ph),
affiliated with the FAA fight service stations contacted Senator
Olson and informed him that there is the potential for cuts.
Number 0256
CHAIR HOLM related his understanding that there are discussions
regarding combining some airports. Therefore, he inquired as to
how [the flight service stations] would enter into that
dialogue.
MR. HARRIS clarified that flight service stations aren't at
every airport, rather they are centrally organized. For
example, much of western Alaska is coordinated through a flight
service station in Kenai. Mr. Harris related that the concern
isn't necessarily the maintenance of each runway, but rather
merely maintaining the services. One of the great services
these flight service stations provide is the ability for pilots
to call in and find out runway conditions. In further response
to Chair Holm, Mr. Harris explained that a flight service
station isn't necessarily a runway or airport landing, but
rather a building staffed with individuals who track the
conditions of all the runways.
Number 0415
REPRESENTATIVE STEPOVICH asked if the flight service stations
have satellite correspondence to track weather.
MR. HARRIS answered that he believes the flight service stations
would have the same access as anyone would through the Internet.
He explained that when there is construction on a runway, the
construction company has to file daily plans and announcements
with the flight service station regarding construction and
runway damage.
Number 0498
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING moved to report SJR 14 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SJR 14 was reported from the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:45
p.m.
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