Sky'€™s the limit for area aviation

The Mat-Su Borough has lofty plans for the area’s aviation, and it should.

As the fastest-growing area of Alaska, much consideration, debate and funding has been allocated to study and improve the Mat-Su Valley’s transportation system. Improvements to the Parks, Glenn and Palmer-Wasilla highways, along with extensions of future main thoroughfares like Bogard Road, have been in the spotlight of preparing for future transportation needs. With this past week’s release of a Borough aviation study, it’s comforting to know our local officials also have their tray tables up and seats in their upright and locked positions.

Per capita, the Mat-Su Borough soars above the rest of the United States. We have more airstrips, private planes and aircraft per capita than anywhere in the nation. Aviation is a way of life for many longtime residents and newcomers. At a time when smaller communities like Willow debate the noise of float planes as residential development becomes more dense, the Borough understands we need to keep aviation a lifeblood of the Valley.

A panel charged by the Borough to examine the state of local aviation is recommending projects to create and expand bases for float planes and a new airport north of Wasilla above the Trapper Creek area. The study says its goal is to “determine how best to encourage growth in aviation and promote aviation safety and compatible development.”

That’s a good start. It’s through promotion and that “compatible development” where the Borough can reap serious benefits. Aviation is an important foundation of the local economy and could play an even larger role. Aside from the obvious tourism benefits, developing functional, modern and flexible aviation could also be a catalyst for attracting more aviation-related industry and technology development to the Mat-Su Valley. With accessible airstrips, aviation companies can be lured to the Final Frontier as a friendly place to develop and test their new technology.

Many smaller communities in the Lower 48 have used this approach to spark economic development that brings real industry with high-paying jobs. We recognize the difficulties location plays in recruiting, and Alaska won’t be a good fit for everyone. But it could for some.

This plan also helps maintain the aviation lifestyle as the area’s population continues to swell. There are a pair of upcoming meetings for the public to learn more about the panel’s proposal and hear what those in the aviation industry think — 6:30 p.m. both on Oct. 18 at Cottonwood Creek Elementary School in Wasilla and Oct. 22 at Sunshine Fire Station 11-2 near Talkeetna.

Attend and participate. We’re on stand-by, but there’s still much work to do before takeoff.