Aircraft Section
The Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section supports statewide aviation operations for the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Based at Lake Hood Airport in Anchorage, the section serves as the primary hub for aircraft maintenance, training, and logistical support.
Alaska’s size and geography present unique challenges. More than 80 percent of communities are not connected to the road system. In many areas, aircraft are the only practical way to respond to emergencies, conduct patrols, and carry out critical law enforcement missions. The Aircraft Section ensures Troopers have safe, reliable aircraft to operate effectively across the state.
The section maintains a fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft used for a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, wildlife enforcement, prisoner transport, and remote patrol operations. These aircraft allow Troopers to access some of the most isolated and challenging environments in Alaska.
What the Aircraft Section Does
- Maintaining and servicing the department’s fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft
- Performing routine inspections, scheduled maintenance, and emergency repairs
- Conducting aircraft engine and airframe overhauls, including support for legacy aircraft
- Providing logistical support for statewide aviation operations
- Supporting Trooper missions, including patrol, search and rescue, and wildlife enforcement
Pilot Training and Standards
The Aircraft Section provides annual training and proficiency evaluations for departmental pilots in accordance with federal aviation regulations. Many Troopers assigned to remote areas are also certified pilots, allowing them to conduct patrol and enforcement operations in regions where aircraft are essential.
Supporting Public Safety Across Alaska
From remote villages to vast stretches of wilderness and coastline, aviation plays a critical role in public safety across Alaska. The Aircraft Section ensures that Troopers have the tools, training, and aircraft needed to safely and effectively carry out their mission, whether responding to an emergency, supporting a search and rescue effort, or conducting enforcement operations far from the road system.