ommercial aviation is the safest way to travel—or so airlines have been saying since at least the ‘60s. But the industry has changed a lot since the advent of the Jet Age: it’s gotten orders of magnitude safer. By the late ‘90s, commercial carriers had less than one fatality per 2 billion miles flown, and rates continued to improve. From 2009 through 2024, there were zero fatal crashes of commercial passenger jets.

Aviation is a key mode of transportation in Alaska, especially for 82 percent of communities not connected to the state’s main road system. Flight operations in Alaska require strict adherence to federal safety regulations to ensure that passengers and cargo reach their destinations. Moreover, air carriers go beyond Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations by developing additional safety policies and using advanced technologies to reduce risks for everyone involved.

Aviation safety is a mix of top-down regulation and company culture. Will Day, executive director of the Alaska Air Carriers Association (AACA), explains that the FAA establishes federal standards for aircraft maintenance, pilot training, flight operations, cargo handling, and safety management systems to ensure consistency and accountability nationwide. The FAA uses a risk-based regulatory framework derived from data analysis and industry input. The analysis is both proactive and reactive. The proactive portion considers what could happen and establishes regulations to mitigate potential hazards, while the reactive analysis looks at what has happened and establishes corrective regulations to prevent it from happening again. Inspectors ensure air carriers comply with FAA regulations.

Day adds that air carriers in Alaska also continuously analyze their daily operations to make further improvements. “Most operators go beyond just complying with regulations and establishing safety cultures across the industry because it’s mutually beneficial for all,” says Day.

A significant aspect of air safety is the FAA-accepted safety management system (SMS) through which carriers vet existing policies and proposed policy changes. There are four key components of the SMS: safety assurance, safety risk management, safety policy, and safety promotion. SMS is an aviation standard worldwide. The FAA formally adopted SMS in 2010 and, in 2015, required Part 121 operators (domestic, flag, and supplemental) to implement the system. In 2024, the FAA expanded the requirements to Part 135 operators, which include charter airlines, commuter airlines, air tour operators, and certain aircraft manufacturers, who must also develop an SMS within one to three years, depending on the operation.

“This system enables us to proactively identify and mitigate risk, continuously improve procedures, and empower employees at every level to take an active role in safety,” says Matthew Stone, director of operations for Everts Air, which provides both passenger and cargo services to Alaska.

Tony Dimeglio, managing director of global cargo operations at Alaska Airlines, says his company assigns safety leaders to support each of the four SMS components, ensuring a focus on everything they do. In addition to using SMS, Alaska Airlines regularly meets internally and with regulatory groups, conducts multiple layers of auditing, and solicits feedback from customers and employees. Dimeglio says the company’s dedication to risk mitigation is reflected in its five core values: own safety, do the right thing, be kind-hearted, deliver performance, and be remarkable.

“Much has changed over the last ninety-four years since Alaska Airlines was founded,” says Dimeglio. “But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to the communities we serve and our desire to deliver genuine, caring service to our guests and customers.”

Compliance with regulations and policies is the baseline for safety for both Everts Air and Alaska Airlines, which acknowledge Alaska air carriers face additional challenges, including remote locations, rapidly changing weather, and limited infrastructure. To overcome these challenges, all air carriers in the state require a heightened level of planning, training, and operational discipline, aided by advanced equipment. Likewise, collaboration with the FAA’s regional branch allows air carriers to tailor certain federal requirements to Alaska’s unique environment.

For instance, anyone working toward a commercial license must first obtain a private pilot certificate, which requires night training. Since most training occurs in the summer when it doesn’t get dark in Alaska, an exemption allows a private pilot to become certified as long as they complete nighttime training within a year. Likewise, Alaska’s unique terrain has led to an instrument exemption allowing pilots to set the altitude alarm to 500 feet instead of 1,000 feet.

From a regulatory standpoint, Day says core requirements remain the same whether the flight carries passengers, cargo, or both. However, cargo has additional considerations, including loading procedures, cabin configuration, and cargo types, such as hazardous materials. In those cases, specific federal regulations govern how materials are packaged, handled, documented, and loaded to ensure the safety of everyone aboard.

“Cargo safety in Alaska is just as critical as passenger safety because, a lot of the time, air carriers deliver things across the state that are critical to life, such as fuel, medication, and mail,” says Day.

Dimeglio says cargo safety begins when a customer creates a booking, the moment when air carriers collect key information about weight and dimensions, piece count, required delivery time, and any special handling or restricted-item indicators. That information is validated against operational constraints, such as aircraft type or station capabilities. Alaska Airlines accepts cargo only if it can be handled safely and in compliance with the booked service level.

Once a booking is approved, Alaska Airlines uses proper staging to ensure loaders have the right freight, in the right configuration, at the right time. Employees complete additional operational checklists and compliance safeguards to help ensure that regulatory and company standards are met before departure. Post-flight, teams confirm each shipment’s receipt and condition, support pickup, and report any discrepancies.

“Our culture of owning safety and reporting exists at all levels and at every point in the process, empowering our employees to highlight any concerns and file safety reports as needed, so that we can take corrective action,” says Dimeglio.

Other safety measures are taken throughout the flight process. Stone says each Everts Air flight begins with detailed weather analysis, route assessment, aircraft status checks, and a formal risk evaluation to identify and mitigate potential hazards. During flight, crews maintain continuous oversight through their operational control system, which monitors flights in real time, allowing employees to track progress, respond to changing conditions, and support pilot decision-making. Finally, after each flight, procedures include aircraft inspections, documentation, and crew feedback as needed. Stone says this continuous feedback loop allows Everts Air to refine procedures and maintain the highest safety standards.

“Our teams are thoroughly trained in these requirements, and we have strict procedures in place to ensure full compliance,” says Stone. “This allows us to safely and efficiently carry both passengers and cargo while meeting all applicable safety standards.”

Passengers and shipping clients also have roles in helping air carriers meet safety standards. Stone says passengers can increase their own safety by dressing appropriately for the Alaska environment, such as wearing layers, warm clothing, and sturdy footwear. In the unlikely event of a diversion or off-airport landing, being prepared for the environment can make a significant difference. Likewise, passengers should comply with all baggage regulations, particularly regarding restricted or hazardous items such as lithium batteries and flammable materials.

Day also emphasizes the importance of listening to the safety briefing each time passengers fly. “I know it’s tempting to put in your AirPods and tune it out, but in case something did happen, there’s a lot of research about those who survive simply because they’re prepared,” says Day.

Shippers, too, can ensure the safety of cargo by learning what materials can and cannot travel by air and by accurately declaring their contents. Hazardous or dangerous goods should be properly packaged and labeled in accordance with federal regulations. Proper documentation, secure packaging, and clear labeling not only protect the cargo itself but also help crews handle and transport it safely, reducing risks during flight and delivery.

Equipment is a major component of any airline operation and plays a critical role in safety across both passenger and cargo operations. Everts Air operates an all-turbine fleet, as turbine engines are proven to be more reliable and better suited to Alaska’s demanding environment than piston-powered aircraft. Previously, the fleet included piston-powered aircraft; however, Everts Air retired its last piston-powered aircraft in 2018 as part of its commitment to safety. Stone says the transition from piston-powered to turbine-powered aircraft was industry-wide, as air carriers recognized the performance and reliability advantages of turbine engines.

Since then, Everts Air has continued to invest in modern aircraft, including the recent procurement of a Cessna 408 SkyCourier, a twin-engine utility plane designed for FedEx Express with safety, reliability, and versatility in mind, particularly for remote operations.

“Modern aircraft design has also advanced, and our addition of factory-new Cessna SkyCourier aircraft reflects the latest safety and engineering standards tailored for rugged environments,” says Stone.

Everts Air’s fleet is also equipped with advanced avionics, including synthetic vision systems (cockpit display technologies that use 3D terrain, obstacle, and aeronautical databases, combined with GPS and inertial data, to create a clear computer-generated visual representation of the outside world) and modern weather radar, which provide pilots with enhanced situational awareness and better decision-making tools in challenging conditions. Connectivity is another key component. All Everts Air aircraft are equipped with satellite phones and use a commercial flight tracking system with satellite-based text communication, ensuring continuous communication and real-time monitoring even in the most remote areas. Stone says communication and tracking capabilities have improved dramatically. With satellite phones and real-time tracking systems, crews can maintain constant communication and operational visibility, even beyond traditional radar coverage.

“Together, these advancements allow us to operate more safely, make better-informed decisions, and continually improve the level of service we provide,” says Stone.

Dimeglio says the Alaska Airlines ground support equipment team keeps a robust program for acquiring the right equipment, maintaining it properly, and following a responsible schedule for retirement and replacement. The team also assists with policies on proper usage, according to the manufacturer. Through the SMS process, Alaska Air Cargo ensures that equipment meets requirements and the air carrier’s own standards, and that crews have the right equipment to do each job as part of their safety operations. For example, Alaska Airlines buys and maintains equipment specifically suited to harsh conditions.

“Equipment has evolved significantly over the years, and those advancements have played an important role in improving cargo safety across the industry,” says Dimeglio. “Cargo loaders are capable of servicing larger wide-body aircraft. Belt loaders can help safely move heavy cargo into bulk compartments and reduce the risk of employee injury.”

He adds that tools like the Required Navigation Performance protocol, a type of performance-based navigation that allows aircraft to fly specific paths with high precision, including onboard navigation monitoring and alerting, have allowed Alaska Airlines to access remote communities with increasing safety and reliability. The company also invested in new air cargo container loaders at all Alaska Airlines-operated cargo stations in the state to reliably load and unload containers from freighter aircraft.

“Air cargo is subject to regulations and oversight to help ensure a safe and secure operation, as well as our own additional safety measures,” says Dimeglio. “Combined with fast delivery times and more efficient access to remote communities, air cargo is a compelling option for shippers around the world.”

Day says commercial aviation in the United States has layers of redundancy, oversight, training, and maintenance in place to create a measurably safe form of transportation. For instance, in addition to pre- and post-flight inspections, a commercial aircraft is required to undergo a 100-hour inspection, during which it is pulled into the hangar and thoroughly inspected to ensure everything is functioning properly.

The biggest contribution to airline safety in Alaska, as he sees it, is the dedication by AACA, its members, and other air carriers to bettering air travel.

“We have this unique perspective as the air carrier association, where we interact with every air carrier in the state and help them ensure they are continuously learning and improving,” says Day.