You light up my life (and help me land safely): runway lighting in Alaska is a critical element.

• Author: Anderson, Tom
• Position: TRANSPORTATION

Ever wonder what it would be like to land an airplane in the dark? You could envision such a scenario on a computer simulation or in a movie, but for all intents and purposes, a pilot requires some level of illumination to safely land a plane.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The reality is that one of the most critical elements to flight is the landing.

To land, pilots must have some modicum of visual measure of proximity to the ground and length of the field upon which to set the tires down and then brake before going past the other end. The larger the plane, the more complex the logistics and infrastructure are for this consideration.

Add to the mix of landing variables some boisterous weather, intermittent and seasonal daylight or complete darkness, remote and treacherous terrain, and varied surface areas and now the calculus must be even more precise for a safe and efficient landing.

Toss all of these factors into your flight plan and destination, and there's a good chance you're in the one state that juggles such obstacles on a daily basis: Alaska.

Landing Strips and Lights

Most people know Alaska is a huge state. Certainly anyone who flies intrastate understands the dimensions of travel and the importance to land the plane, especially in remote locations when fuel is coveted and alternative landing strips are few and far between.

The sheer number of airports in the state is actually incredible in proportion to the number of people that work and live here, and that means a massive amount of lighting is necessary for the collection of landing fields.

Official landing strips are airstrips registered by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and in the 5010 Airport Master Record. Alaska has 395 public-use airports comprised of 278 land-based, 4 heliports, and 113 seaplane bases. Approximately 749 recorded landing areas, including private, public, and military, exist across the state.

Of course, bush pilots and those recreationally flying often land their planes on the thousands of Alaska lakes, water systems, sand bars, and dry surfaces absent a constructed landing strip. By the numbers, the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) owns and operates 242 airports.

Troy LaRue is a second-generation DOTPF airport manager. In his 20th year with the Department, he's been at his current position as division operations manager for the Division of Statewide Aviation (SWA) for more than two years.

Working with LaRue is SWA's Rural Aviation System Planner Rebecca Rauf. Rauf oversees aviation planning and future forecasting, including the Airport Master Record program, which means she manages the contractors who inspect all public airports, many of which are lighted.

SWA oversees the system planning property management of Alaska airports and the Spending Plan, which includes safety and security. Safety officers work with the FAA to meet grant assurances and comply with regulations. Landing strip lighting is integral to nighttime operations, so SWA coordinates internally with Maintenance and Operations (M&O) to ensure runway lights across the state remain operable throughout the year.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

LaRue delineates that Anchorage International and Fairbanks International Airports are the only two airports with the "international" status in the state. Ketchikan Airport is an exception because it's owned by the state but operated by the...