Celebrate Alaska Aviation!

The first weekend in May every year, Alaskans gather to celebrate aviation and plan for the upcoming flying season by attending the largest free aviation event in the nation!

Welcome to the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering!

Each year, the Alaska Airmen’s Association hosts Alaska’s largest aviation event, bringing together aviation enthusiasts, industry leaders, and pilots from across the country. This premier gathering celebrates Alaska’s vital aviation presence and the unique role aviation plays in the state. Whether you're a seasoned aviator, an aspiring pilot, or simply captivated by flight, the event offers an exciting lineup of exhibits, aircraft displays, educational seminars, and networking opportunities.

Join us for a weekend of innovation, exploration, and inspiration as we showcase the best of aviation in Alaska and beyond!

Schedule of Events:

9:00am: Fairgrounds and Airport Open to Public (Welcome!)
Show and Shine Aircraft Arrive (Plaza)

10:00am: Show and Shine Public Voting at 10:00-14:00 (Plaza)
Learn to Fly - What You Need to Know to Get Started

11:00am: The Alaskan Aviation Insurance Market

12:00pm: Top Advocacy Issues Facing Alaska

1:00pm: Aopa Pilot Town Hall Presentation

2:00pm: Alaska Airmen Association Scholarship-Award Presentations (Plaza)
NWS Alaska Aviation Weather Websites For Pilots and Non-Pilots (2:00 - 2:20)
Surviving The Unexpected - The Human Factors Of A Midair Collision (2:30 - 3:30)

3:00pm: Show and Shine Awards (Purple Lawn)

4:00 to 5:00pm: Water Bombing , STOL Demo, & Skydiving

Seminars Schedule:

ALL Seminars held in Hoskins Hall

10:00 to 10:50am: Learn to Fly - What You Need to Know to Get Started
Wella Jay, Land and Sea Aviation / Aras Sirvelis, Alaska Airmen’s Association / Marcel Dionne, MD, FAA Alaska Regional Flight Surgeon

This panel of aviation experts will present federal regulatory and medical requirements for those interested in learning to fly, provide information on scholarship options to help students get started flying for fun or career, and offer advice based on their observations and personal experiences.

11:00 to 11:50am: The Alaskan Aviation Insurance Market
Jennifer Moninski, Alaska Program Manager, BWI Aviation Insurance

BWI is a local Alaska aviation insurance agency located at the Lake Hood Airport in Anchorage, and partners with the Alaska Airmen’s Association. Ms. Moninski’s presentation will focus on the Alaska aviation insurance market and the new coverage options available for pilots and CFIs. The presentation will also provide an opportunity for feedback from insured pilots and an opportunity for a Q&A.

12:00 to 12:50pm: Top Advocacy Issues Facing Alaska
Adam White, Government Affairs Advocate, Alaska Airmen’s Association / Jim McClay, Director, Airspace, Air Traffic, and Security, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

Adam and Jim will brief on the Anchorage Terminal Area Airspace and Procedures Study and the major changes planned for the Anchorage Class C airspace, progress on the replacement of 100LL, and other hot topics that affect General Aviation in Alaska.

1:00 to 1:50pm: AOPA Pilot Town Hall
Darren Pleasance, President, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

AOPA will provide an update on current trends and issues facing general aviation in Alaska and across the country, including AOPA’s ongoing search for an unleaded fuel for all, affordable insurance, and support for aviation infrastructure in Alaska.

2:00 to 2:20pm: NWS Alaska Aviation Weather Websites for Pilots and Non-pilots
David Kochevar, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service Alaska Aviation Weather Unit and Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center / Prince Dalal, Meteorologist, National Weather Service Alaska Aviation Weather Unit and Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center           

Over the last few years, the National Weather Service has created a number of new or upgraded aviation weather websites which are approved for use in Alaska. This briefing will include a summary of these new tools you might not yet be aware of, and instruction on their use from Alaska Aviation Weather Unit Meteorologists.

2:30 to 3:30pm: Surviving the Unexpected - The Human Factors of a Midair Collision
Amy L. Hoover, PhD, CFII, AGI, Professor, Central Washington University             

Amy Hoover shares her personal story of surviving a mid-air collision over a remote mountainous area. She discusses how attitude, training, and practice helped her make critical decisions, manage risk, land successfully, and facilitate her own rescue. Hoover relates the events to her own research and experience as well as practices taken from civilian and military training programs. She shares strategies to help pilots and other survivors navigate the aftermath of traumatic events, including personal practices related to physical and mental well-being, self-care, and more.

Locations:

Alaska State Fairgrounds - 2075 Glenn Hwy, Palmer, AK 99645
Palmer Municipal Airport - 901 S Airport Rd, Palmer, AK 99645