viation travel in Alaska is essential for businesses that need to move employees from one location to another for work. While larger aircraft typically operate between cities and smaller regional hubs, smaller aircraft are frequently used for the shorter, more remote routes. As of December 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) counted 396 public-use airports in Alaska. Of those airports, 284 are land-based, with four heliports and 108 seaplane bases. Due to the vast size and limited road infrastructure, Alaska has the highest number of airports per capita in the United States.

But they are not all made alike. Today, the state operates more than seventy runways, many of which are in remote areas. Most of these are gravel airstrips roughly 3,300 feet long. Some are tucked into valleys, others sit on mountainsides, and several require long approaches over water. Given these conditions, ensuring the safety of company personnel is critical. This requires that companies assess their unique aviation exposures and develop plans that enable employees to complete each flight safely and successfully.

The FAA’s Code of Federal Regulations defines various types of air travel. Part 121 outlines regulations for scheduled air carriers, such as Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, and UPS, and represents the highest safety standard in commercial aviation. Part 135 governs commuter and on-demand (charter) operations. It applies to aircraft with fewer than thirty passenger seats or a maximum payload capacity of 7,500 pounds.

In Alaska, there are a substantial number of small aviation companies that operate under Part 135, often using single-engine aircraft and a single pilot. These flights frequently take place in remote areas, where weather reporting is limited or nonexistent at both the departure and arrival locations and along the route.

Over the past decade, non-scheduled Part 135 flights have accounted for the majority of fatal crashes among both scheduled and non-scheduled Part 135 operations in Alaska and across the United States. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, these flights “had a fatal crash rate that was 75 times higher than Part 121 flights.” In Alaska specifically, the National Transportation Safety Board reports that “the accident rate is 2.35 times higher than the rest of the United States, and the fatal accident rate is 1.34 times higher.”

Addressing these staggering statistics requires more than awareness; it demands a proactive safety approach. For organizations with traveling employees, stacking the odds in their favor requires implementing a strategy built on three critical components: a formalized travel safety plan, comprehensive employee training, and strong decision-making skills.

Aviation safety programs begin with a formalized, written set of policies and procedures that guide both employers and employees in making sound decisions when flying. These written policies should clearly outline which air carriers are approved for use by location, how frequently employees may travel, passenger limits per flight, travel procedures, and the specific training employees must complete. To assist in developing these plans, the Circle of Safety Handbook, which was created by the FAA for Alaska travel, offers practical guidance. The handbook is available online through the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities website.

A key part of employee training should include the use of a pre-travel aviation safety checklist. This checklist should include seasonal gear requirements, best practices for selecting a seat, awareness of how passengers and cargo are loaded, and guidance on asking informed questions. For example, if the day’s flight will include inclement weather, employees should feel empowered to ask the pilot, “Will this flight be conducted under visual or instrument flight rules?” Asking this simple question can help the employee assess potential weather-related risks.

Statistics show that poor weather and low visibility contribute significantly to many fatal Part 135 aircraft crashes in Alaska. Because of this, the most critical element of any air travel policy should be a clearly supported right for employees to decline a flight if they perceive the risk to be too high. All employees should receive training on these policies during onboarding and prior to their first flight.

In addition to written materials, formal hands-on training in aviation safety, risk management, and emergency procedures remains the most effective way to ensure employees are prepared to make safe, informed decisions in the field.

Learn to Return, also known as LTR Training Systems, is an Anchorage-based company that provides comprehensive aviation safety programs, including a two-day Aviation Land and Water Survival Course, which is widely considered the industry standard for Alaska workers who travel by air. Recognized by the FAA, the program certifies participants for a two-year period for both land-based and over-water flight operations. This extensive, hands-on program thoroughly prepares participants to survive aviation accidents, with training scenarios relevant to both Alaska and around the United States.

Participants engage in land and water crash simulations, which includes practicing crash positions, identifying reference points, escaping seatbelts quickly, extracting others from wreckage, and administering first aid. The course also includes “dunker” training in a local pool, led by certified instructors, to simulate an underwater aircraft escape. These are all crucial elements for survival, and the best way to plan for a positive outcome.

Upon course completion, participants receive Alaska Continuing Medical Education credits and certification cards. The curriculum also covers common aviation hazards, crash causation, incident statistics, and essential survival techniques. LTR also developed the HIS/HER principle for emergency decision making: Hazard, Injuries, Shelter/Heat, Energy, Rescue. These six survival priorities are reinforced in training and even printed on matchbooks, which serve as a practical reminder for field use.

The LTR Aviation Land and Water Survival Course is one of a kind, not just in Alaska but across the United States. LTR has distilled the key concepts of aviation crash survival into clear, memorable components that are reinforced through hands-on drills. Each year, LTR trains between 250 and 300 workers, including employees from major Alaska corporations, federal and state agencies, and air medical transport services. Class sizes are kept small, with a limit of twenty participants, to ensure individualized instruction. The program also includes youth training, which starts at age 14.

LTR’s training facility is dedicated solely to safety training and is equipped with multiple aircraft crash simulators that are designed to replicate a range of real-life scenarios. Participants are provided with all necessary clothing, personal protective equipment, and training gear. This immersive experience, delivered by highly qualified instructors, ensures that participants leave with practical skills and confidence that they could one day save their life and the lives of others. As their staff often reminds participants, “This training session is your easiest survival situation, and the only practice you will get.”

In Alaska, remote flying comes with real risks, and preparation is key. While aircraft mishaps are not everyday occurrences, the risks are high enough to warrant a conservative approach. Combining sound policies, comprehensive employee training, and individual empowerment to make informed decisions is essential.

As the team at LTR often reminds their participants, “The hardest day of your life is still coming.” If that day comes in the form of an aviation emergency, the difference between survival and tragedy may come down to the planning, training, and empowerment put into place beforehand.

If you need help formulating a company aviation safety plan, reach out to your commercial insurance broker or Loss Control Consultant who can help you through the process.