Alaska Airlines purchased the 19-acre property for $85.75 million, which includes a 600,000-square-foot (55,700-square-meter) facility that Boeing purposefully built to house an aviation training facility.听

The new facility, which is part of the 173-acre Longacres campus, will act as a centralized training hub for pilots, cabin crew members and more. 

Alaska already houses nine full-motion flight simulators in the facility, with plans to add a tenth in the next few years. 

An additional $100 million investment will be used to renovate the new space that will include a mock aircraft for in-flight simulations, classrooms, an auditorium, a production studio and significant office space.听聽聽

Customer service agents and other employee groups will also share the facility. 

鈥淥ur remarkable operations team members will, for the first time in our history, all come together and train under one roof,鈥� Constance von Muehlen, COO at Alaska Airlines, said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to build on Alaska Airlines鈥� culture of safety, performance and care in this purposefully designed space worthy of our frontline team精东影业 contributions to every guest and every flight.鈥澛�

While pilots already train on the campus using the existing simulators, other employee groups will begin moving into the facility following renovations towards the end of 2025.   

The Alaska Airlines corporate headquarters will remain at Seattle鈥揟acoma International Airport (SEA). 

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to invest in our Puget Sound home,鈥� Shane Jones, Senior Vice President of fleet, revenue products and real estate at Alaska Airlines said. 鈥淭he growth opportunity this purchase provides us cannot be overstated, and it really feels like a perfect match.鈥�  

Jones added: 鈥淗aving access to a facility that was purpose built for aviation training that we then get to customize was an opportunity we couldn鈥檛 pass up. As Longacres continues to be built out, our employees will have access to amenities that will truly make this a world class training experience.鈥�   

Alaska purchased the new facility from .听

Boeing signals progress on 737 MAX 7 and 10 certification, more delays possible

• Aviation Safety

byIan Molyneaux

2024-05-30

After 12 months of negotiations between Alaska Airlines and the (AMFA), nearly 90% of represented employees voted on the proposed deal.

Maintenance technicians, maintenance controllers and other employees who support aircraft maintenance all voted, with 55% supporting the five-year contract.

鈥淭he expertise, professionalism and dedication of our aircraft technicians is unmatched,鈥� Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci, said. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to have them working under a new contract just four months after their previous contract was amendable. This contract reflects the critical contributions of our technicians, improves their quality of life, and reinforces Alaska精东影业 foundation for long-term success.鈥�

Effective from the previous contract精东影业 amendable date, namely October 17, 2023, the new contract will see a 鈥渢op-of-scale rate of $65.85, which includes a two-license premium increase to $8.00, $.60 longevity and maximum longevity increase to $1.50 for 25+ years of service鈥�.

The agreement will also introduce quality of life improvements to schedules, in order to 鈥渞educe life disruptions and incorporates seniority for shift times to recognize length of service鈥�.

There will also be increases in retirement contributions and caps to health care costs.

鈥淭his agreement not only includes justifiable increases in pay, benefits, and quality of life, it gives our members a framework for fulfilling their careers with Alaska Airlines,鈥� said Bret Oestreich, AMFA National President.

He added: 鈥淭hanks to our negotiating committee, we were able to secure protections in headcount and work rules, as well as job security for work performed by our members for decades.鈥�

Since 2022, Alaska Airlines has ratified seven contracts across six represented groups.

Boeing CEO unable to tell NTSB exactly who reinstalled door plug on Alaska 737-9

• Aviation Safety

byIan Molyneaux

2024-03-14

The Alaska Airlines 737-9 MAX聽took off from Portland International Airport (PDX) on January 5, 2024, just after 5pm local time but on reaching an altitude of just over 16,000 feet a window and its surrounding panel broke away from the aircraft. 聽

It is understood that the section of the aircraft that separated from the fuselage was a plugged door (positioned between the wing and the rear cabin exit) that can be activated as an emergency exit during manufacturing if required by an airline.  

As the Alaska Airlines 737-9 MAX seating configuration does not meet the passenger number threshold that requires additional emergency exits the door was 鈥榩lugged鈥�.听

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon on January 5, after an issue with pressurization. A panel of the fuselage, including the panel精东影业 window, popped off shortly after takeoff.

[馃摴 vy.covers]

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973)

To those passengers onboard the Alaska Airlines 737-9, the door would have appeared as simply a window but from the outside of the plane the optional emergency exit is visible. 

Video shared on social media of the incident on Flight AS1282 showed a large section of the fuselage missing and oxygen masks activated due to the loss of pressure in the cabin.  

The seat directly next to the plugged door was reportedly empty at the time of the blowout but part of the cushioning was clearly damaged by the drop in pressure within the cabin.  

There were reports that passengers鈥� mobile phones, and even a child精东影业 t-shirt, were sucked out of the cabin following the blowout.  

The pilot subsequently initiated an emergency landing and returned聽safely back to PDX with all 171 passengers and six crew unharmed. 聽

How Alaska Airlines, Boeing and the aviation authorities responded聽

Following the incident Alaska Airlines released a statement confirming that all 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft would be temporarily grounded and would only return to service after 鈥渃ompletion of full maintenance and safety inspections鈥�.  

The airline said it expected inspections to be completed in the next few days and that it was working with Boeing to understand what happened.  

The CEO of Alaska Airlines, Ben Minicucci said: 鈥淢y heart goes out to those who were on this flight. I am so sorry for what you experienced. I am so grateful for the response of our pilots and flight attendants.鈥澛�

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a B-737, made a successful emergency landing after an incident over Oregon (US). All 117 aboard were unharmed. Jet experienced a rapid decompression after losing a fuselage panel, on the left of the cabin. Updates when possible

— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters)

Boeing also released a short comment confirming it was aware of the incident and was 鈥渨orking to gather more information鈥�. 

The (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed that investigations into the incident had begun. 聽

鈥淎laska Airlines Flight 1282 returned safely to @flyPDX around 5 p.m. local time on Friday, Jan. 5, after the crew reported a pressurization issue. The aircraft was traveling to @flyONT in California. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate,鈥� the FAA wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.  

On January 6, 2024, the NTSB said it had launched a 鈥楪o Team鈥� to investigate the event and specialist staff will arrive in Portland later in the day. NTSB Chair, Jenny Homendy, will also attend.听

Passengers due to arrive at Ontario International Airport (ONT) were put on a replacement flight and reached their destination around six hours late.  

The aircraft, registered as N704AL, was聽delivered by Boeing to Alaska Airlines in October 2023 and entered service on November 11, 2023. 聽

Boeing calls for new 737 MAX safety checks as loose bolt is found by airline

• Aircraft
• Aviation Safety

byIan Molyneaux

2023-12-29

On November 15, 2023, at the Army Aviation Operating Facility in Bethel, an Alaska Army National Guard’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was getting ready to participate in the Operation Santa Claus initiative, which has brought holiday cheer to children and families in remote villages across the state since 1956 by delivering toys and school supplies. 

However, an urgent call for assistance came to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The call reported a critically ill patient who needed immediate evacuation from Napaskiak, 9 kilometers (6 miles) south of Bethel across the Kuskokwim River.  

With no viable boat or snowmobile transportation options due to river ice and insufficient snow, the only feasible solution was evacuation by helicopter. However, adverse weather and icy runway conditions made it impossible for civilian air ambulances to land. 

Festive mission takes a critical turn 

The Operation Santa Claus pilots adjusted their plans, prioritizing the medical evacuation. Paramedics and medical equipment were loaded on the helicopter along with the gifts.  

鈥淥ur UH-60L is able to transport up to 13 passengers with a full assortment of seats,鈥� explained one of the pilots, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Colton Bell, in a subsequent press release. 鈥淚n this case we didn鈥檛 need all of them so we took out the extra seats to make room for the presents, medical equipment and paramedics.鈥� 

After a brief stop in Napaskiak to deliver the paramedics and stabilize the patient, the crew then flew to Tuluksak, 60 kilometers (37 miles) northeast, to fulfill their original Operation Santa Claus mission by delivering volunteers and gifts.  

They returned promptly to Napaskiak to pick up both paramedics and patient, flying them back to Bethel. The patient was transported by road ambulance to a local hospital where they were reportedly in stable condition.听

In another example of a swift transition from routine operation to a real-life rescue mission, on July 10, 2023, a French Air and Space Force A400M military transport aircraft training near Guam, western Pacific Ocean, carried out a joint search and rescue operation after receiving a call from a distressed fishing vessel.听

Canadian, French, US aircraft conduct joint rescue mission in the Pacific Ocean

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-07-13

The legal dispute at the heart of this rebranding effort involves BNSF Railway, which brought forth a lawsuit to protect the trademark of one of its predecessors, Northern Pacific Railway. This historical railway merged with other lines in 1970 to eventually become BNSF, and the lawsuit raised concerns over the shared name between the railway and the airline.

“This transition represents the right strategic move for our business and underscores our commitment to our customers and the communities we serve,” Rob McKinney, the CEO of New Pacific, commented on the rebranding decision, stated. “We value our employees, and this change will help us forge a stronger path forward.”

New Pacific Airlines said the rebranding will not disrupt its operations.

The Anchorage-based air carrier began operations on July 14, 2023. In late August 2023, the company denied reports that it would stop selling tickets and announced its fall 2023 schedule.

Originally envisioned as an airline designed to operate flights between the United States and Asia, with a layover in Anchorage, the all-Boeing 757 airline was compelled to revise its plans due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Northern Pacific Airways defies reports, announces fall schedule

• Airlines

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-08-24

Russian planes were operating in international airspace near Alaska at the same time as US troops held large-scale military exercises in the state. 

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) statement released on May 14, 2023, specified that the incident was 鈥渞outine鈥� as such Russian activity in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) occurs regularly.   

鈥淪ince 2007 NORAD has seen a yearly average of approximately six to seven intercepts of Russian military aircraft in the ADIZ,鈥� the release added. 鈥淭hese numbers have varied each year from as high as 15 to as low as zero.鈥� 

The Russian warplanes were escorted by the USAF F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, supported by KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 AWACS, as they passed through the international airspace. 

The interception occurred while Alaska精东影业 biggest military operation of the year, Exercise Northern Edge 23 is ongoing, involving five warships and over 150 aircraft. The exercise led by the US Indo-Pacific Command also includes service members from the UK and Australia. 

Nevertheless, the interaction is not seen as a threat. Addressing the concerns in a press briefing on May 15, 2023, Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Patrick Ryder confirmed that the US 鈥渞esponded appropriately鈥� and that the flight 鈥減robably won鈥檛 be the last.鈥� 

Though the Russian flight is not considered out of the ordinary, NORAD stated it is ready to respond if necessary. 

鈥淲e remain ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America and Arctic sovereignty.鈥� 

NORAD is a bi-national organization in charge of defending the airspaces of the United States of America and Canada. USAF fighters had previously intercepted two Russian warplanes near the ADIZ in April 2023 and on consecutive days in February 2023.听

Intentional or not? USAF accuses Russian fighter of bringing down Reaper drone

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-03-15

In an attempt to launch zero-emission flights for small communities in Alaska, Ravn Alaska placed an order for 30 of ZeroAvia精东影业 ZA2000 powertrains. According to , the modular powertrains are designed to power turboprop planes with up to 90 seats and with up to 7,000 shaft horsepower. They should help the airline to reconvert its existing De Havilland Dash-8 turboprops into a zero-emission aircraft fleet starting from 2026.鈥� 

The manufacturer estimates that the ZA2000 is capable of operating fligths traveling up to 500 nautical miles, meaning that Ravn Alaska should be able to fly on its most popular routes with zero emissions in the next four years. 

ZeroAvia says has boosted safety culture after report into 2021 crash

• Aviation Safety

byVictoria Bryan

2022-07-08

鈥淎laska represents the challenge facing the aviation industry writ large – air travel provides the vital connectivity that Alaskans so desperately need, but at the same time, the impacts of climate change on the breathtaking landscape are starkly visible,鈥� ZeroAvia chief executive Val Miftakhov said.鈥� 

鈥淲ith its ample renewable energy supply and network of airfields, the state is the perfect place for some of the world精东影业 earliest hydrogen-electric, zero-emission routes,鈥� the CEO added. 

The鈥痟ydrogen-electric aircraft manufacturer is also focused on the development of another鈥�600kW powertrain, which will be capable of powering planes with up to 19 seats in 2024. 

The carrier精东影业 chief executive Rob McKinney explained that Ravn Alaska’s commitment to ZeroAvia鈥榮 powertrains represents the company精东影业 goal to become one of the first airlines to bring hydrogen-electric propulsion to Alaskan skies as soon as the Federal Aviation Administration certifiies the associated technologies for the US market. 

One of the last airmail pilots in America shares his story

• Aviation in North America

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-04-15

As Alaskan cities have limited highway access, owing to large expanses of wilderness that separate many Alaskan communities from the state精东影业 road system, Alaska operates one of the largest aviation infrastructures in the US.

The Alaskan wilderness, coupled with adverse weather conditions, has created significant transportation challenges. As a result, the aviation industry has become the most suitable solution for essential travel, such as transporting supplies, food, mail, and people to hard-to-reach areas across the state.  

While Alaska remains a complex environment for aviation, it is also an inspiring place for local aviation professionals, says Gedas Vegys Van Cleave, a pilot who has spent nearly a decade flying across the some of the most remote regions in North America. 

鈥淔lying in Alaska is sometimes a real adventure!鈥� Gedas says.  

A pilot精东影业 dream fulfilled and an aviation adventure 

Gedas began his career in aviation in 2013, when he moved from Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region of Europe, to California in the U.S.  

He says: 鈥淚 was only 14 when I moved to California where my mother [had] been living for a while. After finishing high school, I took business law studies, which I used to combine with my job at the local airport and this was my first step into the aviation industry.鈥� 

Although his studies went well, business law was not his true vocation. At the age of 18, Gedas received a surprising gift of a recreational flight, and it was at that moment he realized that he wanted to take control of an aircraft.  

“What’s meant to be will always find a way,鈥� he says. 

To achieve his dream, Gedas moved to Arizona and enrolled in pilot school. By the time he had completed the training course, Gedas became friends with someone who used to live in Alaska. Quite unexpectedly, this new acquaintance at pilot school became a good friend.  

Gedas says: 鈥淢y friend Jeff encouraged me to move from California to Alaska to further develop my career in aviation. At the time, Jeff had just started flying for Alaska Central Express, which is based in Anchorage. I couldn鈥檛 let this chance go, so I offered my candidacy to the airline.鈥� 

And so began Gedas精东影业 aviation adventure in a state known for its varied and rugged landscape, temperamental weather conditions, and long daylight hours.  

The specifics of flying in Alaska 

The experienced pilot and captain of a Beechcraft BE1900C twin-engine turboprop admits that Alaskan aviation represents some of the most difficult flying conditions in the U.S, if not the world. Owing to the natural world in Alaska, flying to a remote location, which is not necessarily accessible by any other means, requires a specific aircraft configuration and advanced piloting skills.  

Occasionally, flying in Alaska poses a risk, as pilots must navigate harsh weather conditions and mountainous terrain.  

However, flying during the summer season is less challenging. Gedas says that Alaskan pilots sometimes follow visual flight rules (VFR), under which it is not necessary for the flight crew to communicate with ATC. VFR is mostly applied in summer when weather conditions are generally good, and visibility is clear enough for a pilot to see where the plane is flying. 

鈥淚 enjoy flying following VFR because it gives you full control of the flight. This type of flying we rarely do is very free, every decision you make regarding maneuvering is behind you. But we usually fly under instrument flight rules [IFR, ed.-], when you control and navigate the plane by reference to its gauges.鈥� Gedas explains. 

鈥淔lying in Alaska is unique. Every flight you find a new place and new things to admire, the landscape is changing. One of my beloved places to fly is the southern part of Alaska, for example, in Ketchikan or Sitka. These places are surrounded by little islands and mountains,鈥� he continues.  

But when the winter season arrives, flying across the state becomes far more complicated.  

While much of Alaska is mountainous and dead-end box canyons are common, the correct entrance to mountain passes can be deceptive. As many Alaskan airport runways are gravel, the airspace surrounding major population centers can sometimes contain special restrictions and requirements.  

Additionally, as icy weather conditions are encountered by pilots all year round, the aircraft flown by Gedas is notable for its technical specifications. The plane is adapted to routinely land on dirt, grass, and gravel as well as paved and slushy runways.  

Gedas explains: 鈥淲eather conditions in Alaska, especially during the winter, are difficult and constantly changing. Our planes are [some] of the most suitable to fly in such conditions. Because of its technical specifications, it is easier to maneuver and stop a Beechcraft plane on a slushy runway than it would be if we flew a Boeing 737.鈥� 

An inimitable experience for a pilot  

The beginnings of aviation in the United States are tied to the history of airmail pilots. Today, with most mail being transported through commercial flights, only a handful of these pilots still exist, in areas where their work is crucial to stay connected with the rest of the continent.  

History hour: How air mail shaped US aviation as we know it

• Aviation History

byClement Charpentreau

2022-03-23

Gedas typically flies to less populated locations in Alaska where the airline provides airmail, cargo, small package and food transportation services as well as operates passenger flights.  

So, what is the main difference between a pilot in Alaska and one working for a larger commercial airline elsewhere in North America? 

Gedas says that Alaskan pilots have to perform additional duties before and after each flight. 

He says: 鈥淥ne of our duties is to off-load cargo goods we transport and to load a new set of freight for a return flight by ourselves once we land at our destination. Pilots of larger cargo carriers typically don鈥檛 do that when they land at larger airports in the U.S. Sometimes, we load up to 25,000 pounds of freight a day. 

鈥淎nd, of course, pilots who land at a more remote place are responsible for plane refueling. As we fly small aircraft, there aren鈥檛 any cabin crew members on board. So, we are also responsible for giving a safety briefing for our travelers once we perform passenger services.鈥�  

The very real possibility that a plane could collide with wild animals, such as bears and moose, while landing is also something that pilots operating in other regions in the US are not likely to encounter.  

Gedas says: 鈥淚f I remember correctly, it was 2020 when a Boeing 737 [belonging to] another Alaskan airline hit a bear on a runway while landing in Yakutat. Sometimes we notice bears or moose walking closely to runways, so we must always remain highly focused on our duties keeping in mind [that] wild animals [are] an additional hazard.鈥� 

鈥淏ut flying in Alaska is something you cannot find in other places of North America,鈥� he adds. 鈥淚t精东影业 an inimitable experience for a pilot.鈥�  

The Peninsula Aviation Service flight, PenAir3296, overran the end of runway 13 at Unalaska Airport (DUT) on October 17, 2019. It crashed through the airport perimeter fence, crossed a road and came to rest on rocks on the shoreline of Dutch Harbor.

The aircraft was carrying three crew and 39 passengers. One passenger sustained fatal injuries and another passenger was seriously injured. Eight passengers sustained minor injuries, mostly during the evacuation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on November 2, 2021. 

The accident occurred on the aircraft精东影业 second approach to runway 13. The crew carried out a go-around on the first attempt and then entered the traffic pattern for a second attempt. Despite being told shortly before landing that the wind was coming from 300 degrees at 24 knots, which would have meant a significant tailwind, the crew continued for a landing. 

Landing into a headwind is the preferred option because a tailwind increases the distance required to stop.

NTSB investigators said they calculated the aircraft experienced a 15 knot tailwind upon landing, which was above the manufacturer精东影业 limit, and meant the plane landed with a higher groundspeed than normal.

ZERO BRAKING ACTION

Upon landing, the captain said the braking action was normal at first but then reduced to zero.

Investigators found that sensors for the anti-skid system had been incorrectly wired during maintenance work on the left main landing gear. As a result, one tire skidded and burst and brake pressure was released on two of the remaining three wheels. That meant a loss of effective braking, preventing the crew from stopping the plane on the runway. 

Other factors contributed to the crash, investigators said, including the crew精东影业 decision to land with a tailwind. They also highlighted that the design of the wires involved did not sufficiently consider or protect against human error during maintenance. 

In addition, investigators said the Federal Aviation Administration failed to recognise that the runway safety area, which the accident plane also overran, did not meet the recommended safety criteria for an aircraft like the Saab 2000. 

鈥淓ven though the airplane, the pilot, the weather and federal oversight all had a role in this tragedy, it was entirely preventable,鈥� NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a press release. 鈥淭he brake system should have been designed to protect against human error during maintenance, the pilot shouldn鈥檛 have landed on a runway with such a strong tailwind and federal regulators should have considered the runway safety area dimensions when authorizing the airline to fly the Saab 2000 into that airport.鈥�

The final report will be released in a few weeks, the NTSB said.