Palmer to host Great Alaska Aviation Gathering

PALMER — The Alaska Airmen’s Association will hold their 25th Great Alaska Aviation Gathering in Palmer for the first time ever this weekend at the Bud Woods Memorial Airport in Palmer.

The event is traditionally held in the Fed Ex hanger at the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage but is being held in Palmer this year with 150 aviation exhibitors from around the world preparing to participate.

“We were blown away to get that level of participation at a new venue and with everything going on in the world so we’re really excited that it’s going to be a great turnout,” said Airmen’s Association Executive Director Abby Austin. “The advantage of being in Palmer, it’s not an international airport. There’s less restrictions so we have more physical space where we can pack in more airplanes and more youth activities and then we can actually have moving aircraft during the event which usually is not something that’s possible at the international airport.”

Austin and Airmen’s Association Board President Stephen Ratcliff presented at a Palmer City Council meeting in April promoting the event. The Great Alaska Aviation Gathering is in its 24th year and has always been held in Anchorage. The Alaska Airmen’s Association began in 1951 with a mission to protect general aviation in Alaska and has over 2,000 members currently. Austin also told the council that the Airmen’s Association provided 59,000 in scholarships last year, and will feature a variety of activities for youth.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Sen. Dan Sullivan will be in attendance during the course of the two day event that is free to the public.

“We’re hoping that this is something we can continue to have up here,” said Ratcliff.

The event has traditionally brought tens of thousands of visitors and an Anchorage Chamber of Commerce estimate put the economic impact of the event at $3 million in past years. Austin and Ratcliff presented to the Palmer City Council last week.

The Great Alaska Aviation Gathering will not only be held outside of Anchorage for the first time in its 25th year, but will also feature active aviation displays from the Department of Forestry and skydivers. Another new event this year

“It’s just going to be really engaging for young people and that’s anywhere from a 5-year-old all the way up to a person who is planning a career, there is going to be something there for them to explore and all avenues of aviation too. That’s another thing that’s important, everybody thinks it’s all about the pilots but there’s a ton of great careers that will have representatives there whether it’s maintenance or air traffic control or manufacturing, aviation needs welders and machinists and there’s just a ton of career opportunities that I’m excited to share with young people,” said Austin.

Austin found her desire to fly in Alaska by watching Northern Exposure during her childhood in Texas. Austin has participated in the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering over the last decade as an exhibitor, but became the Executive Director of the Alaska Airmen’s Association six months ago. Austin is excited for all the opportunities for growth in aviation business, education, and for local aviators to do some shopping in Palmer over the weekend.

“Any dollars that you spend with the Airmen so that’s at our membership booth or any of these specific events that we are hosting go straight to promoting general aviation in Alaska. We’re 100 percent nonprofit, we put this event on to serve the community,” said Austin.

Austin said that free discovery flights in small airplanes will be available to anyone under the age of 18. Youth will also be able to get hands on experience drilling holes, pressing rivets, piloting drones and riding in simulators. While the gathering at the Palmer Airport provides new opportunities for active displays, Austin said that the Airmen’s Association would eventually like to return to the Fed Ex hanger in Anchorage on a regular basis, but also expressed interest in continuing to hold events in Palmer. Austin noted to the Palmer council that the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce estimated a $3 million impact on their economy from the event. Austin is hopeful that with 150 exhibitors, the gathering in Palmer over the weekend can have at least half of that impact.

Among those in attendance for the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering over the weekend will be Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Senator Dan Sullivan.

“We get a lot of people in one place where they can have discussions that are not often in the same room together where they can have discussions about political issues and legislative issues facing aviators,” said Austin. “Not enough people realize how critical it is to the economy and then just the infrastructure of the state, so we’re always having to advocate to maintain access to areas of the state and to kind of restrictive fees for use of airports, things like that are always an issue. It’s not an industry that’s understood very well by people outside of it.”

The event is free to the public and the 150 exhibitors will provide a mix of career opportunities, aviation shopping, outreach and advocacy for general aviation. Helicopter rides will also be available and aviators will compete in a ‘show and shine’ event similar to a car show for airplanes. Also taking place for the first time, the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering will feature a fly market and swap meet for Alaskans to try and sell their used aviation equipment.

“I feel like Alaskan’s love their junk,” said Austin. “I think some people might come just for that.”