Alaska Governor Palin Signs Aviation, Promotional Check

Bills: Capstone Safety & Consumer Protection

April 9, 2008, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today signed two bills into law that will increase aviation safety and protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices.

Senate Bill 249, sponsored by Governor Palin, provides Alaskan airplane owners the opportunity to use a new low-interest loan program to purchase state-of-the-art avionics equipment for their aircraft.

A seaplane at Lake Hood, Alaska: Photo by Tom (CC)

Pilots flying aircraft equipped with the avionics can view their exact position, position relative to altitude and terrain or other equipped aircraft, groundspeed, and course and destination on a single display screen in the cockpit as well as receive weather information. The loan program is offered through the Department of Community, Commerce and Economic Development.

SB 249 is a critical component of the FAA’s plan to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the installation, operation, and maintenance of the ground stations as part of its “Capstone” aviation safety program. Aircraft equipped with the avionics can receive signals from the FAA’s ground-based satellite receivers and transmitters.

“This legislation is a crucial step to improving aviation safety,” Governor Palin said. “Studies have shown very significant improvements in aviation safety in the areas around Bethel and Southeast where the FAA has built ground stations and planes have been outfitted with the new equipment. We are hoping for similar results over a much larger area of Alaska.”

Alaska has the highest number of pilots per capita of any state – about one in 78 Alaskans is a pilot. Alaska also has the highest aviation accident rates in the nation, three to four times higher than the national average for commercial aviation.

House Bill 182, sponsored by Representative Bob Lynn, amends the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act by making the offering of a promotional check, through the mail or by other means, a deceptive practice in violation of the Consumer Protection Act.

“This bill protects unsuspecting consumers from being duped into an unintended contract by cashing an unexpected but deceptive check for a small amount with large consequences,” Representative Lynn said. “Business ethics is just as important as any other kind of ethics.”

Source: Alaska Governor

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •