Enstrom Participates in Great Alaska Aviation Gathering
The Alaska Airmen’s Association hosted an amazing gathering of aviators the weekend of May 4-5, known as the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering. Enstrom’s Senior Technical Fellow Bayard DuPont, who spends part of his year transporting heli-fishermen across the Alaskan wilderness, acted as Enstrom’s official representative.
The free gathering, held at the state fairgrounds, typically attracts up to 20,000 attendees. This year, there were plenty of activities for guests, including 150 aviation vendors, youth activities, food trucks, aircraft displays, and a career fair.
Dupont said, “It was a great show! We had decent weather for flying in, and everyone I talked to was fascinated by the booth and the F-28F.”
He said he also had discussions with buyers and sellers about used aircraft, as well as a conversation with a group looking into becoming an Alaskan-based service center.
There are more than 250 public and private runways in the Matanuska Borough alone and more than 10,000 aircraft owners in the state of Alaska, so it is safe to say Alaska is filled with aviation enthusiasts.
Even so, Great Alaska’s Executive Director Abby Austin said that Alaska is facing a shortage of professional pilots, mechanics, dispatchers, and more. She said that the goal of gatherings like this is to help young people fall in love with aviation and learn about what opportunities are available to them.
About Enstrom Helicopter
From Rudy Enstrom’s early designs in 1943 to initial testing in a Michigan Quarry in 1957 to aircraft operating on six continents, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has maintained a reputation for safety, value and performance. Based in Menominee, Michigan and proudly made in the United States, Enstrom has a rich history for design innovation. The goal is to provide helicopters to the customer’s exact specification and deliver support and maintenance worldwide.