But there's more work to be done.

Because when it comes to aviation safety in Alaska, vigilance and communication are constant needs, said an FAA official.

The FAA Alaskan region accident summary for 2003 reflects positive progress overall.

For the year, there were 23 air carrier (commercial) accidents, compared with 39 in 2002. The five-year average for 1999-2003 is 32.4 accidents. There were four fatal air carrier accidents for 2003, the same as 2002. The five-year average for fatal events is 4.6.

There were 10 air carrier fatalities for 2003, up from eight in 2002. The five-year average is 14.8 fatalities.

There were a total of 119 aircraft accidents in Alaska in 2003, a 10-year low, according to Joette Storm, community relations manager for the FAA in Alaska. That 119 figure is down from 136 in 2002. The five-year average for Alaska is 133.4 accidents.

A fatality is the death of a single person in an accident. A fatal is an accident that resulted in fatalities.

There also were five public use events in 2002 not included in the data. A public use event in this case means an accident involving a government aircraft.

Overall, the figures show a 14 percent decrease in Alaska aircraft accidents.

"These are wonderful numbers," Storm said. "That is a huge drop for Alaska.

"We are very happy with these numbers, but the part we are concerned about is the number of fatalities.

"This is a significant improvement in aviation safety," Storm said. "However, the industry and Alaskans cannot be complacent. Safety is an everyday thing."

The goal, she said, is to reduce the number of accidents to 104 by 2008.

Storm outlined a number of reasons for the improved statistics.

"It's a combination of things," Storm said. "There are many reasons for accidents, and there are many solutions."

Over the last 20 years, the FAA has invested more than a billion dollars in airport infrastructure in Alaska, she said.

In addition, safety programs like Capstone, the Circle of Safety and the Medallion Foundation have been launched.

"The state has put money in and industry has stepped up to the plate and founded the Medallion program," Storm said.

"There are many things that have happened in the last decade to push us forward on this. Industry and government are working side by side to make aviation safer in this state. It's very exciting, but there's much more to do."

The Circle of Safety is an FAA awareness program started in 2002 that seeks to get customers, those with the purchasing power, to play a role in air safety.

"It addressed all aviation and it targets consumers to get them involved and thinking," Storm said.

Duncan said the data is positive.

"We're encouraged by the numbers," Duncan said. "We have a goal in Alaska to reduce the accidents in GA (general aviation) and part 135 (air taxis and commuters) by 20 percent by 2008. We think the numbers represent a continuing cultural change in the aviation community in Alaska - a change in the way they deal with risk, a change in the way they view the importance of safety."

The figures are improved, Duncan said, because of wide-sweeping efforts.

"I think clearly we're doing better," he said. "We've done improvements in airports and navigation systems, weather cameras, the Capstone project, the Medallion Foundation. All of those things have helped improve safety in Alaska by helping to improve the infrastructure and facilitate that change in the culture of the aviation community."

On the technical front, programs such as Capstone are using global positioning to increase safety.

"There's lots of stuff going on - tools, gee-whiz technology and people stuff," Storm said. "It takes all of this."

Last November, the FAA's national master plan included a special emphasis on Alaska, notably a five-year goal of reducing the accident rate in Alaska by 20 percent.

To reach that goal will take work in three pivotal areas - engineering, enforcement and education, Storm said.

"The human factor is a huge part of it," she said.

Richard Harding is senior vice president for Alaska commercial carrier PenAir. He is also president of the Medallion Foundation, a voluntary program that promotes safety among management and pilots.

"There's been a lot of changes in Alaska aviation safety," said Harding, an Alaskan since 1970.

Harding noted five key areas for increasing safety: technology, airway infrastructure, rural airport improvements, economic incentives and company culture, or attitude.

Company culture involves "changing the attitude of how things are done in Alaska," Harding said.

Aviation culture and attitude in Alaska was established to some degree, Harding said, by the early aviation pioneers in the state.

"I think people today are raising the bar," Harding said.

He said Alaska aviation needs to get away from the bush pilot syndrome, insisting on professionalism and high safety standards.

"For everybody it's a win," Harding said.

Over the years Harding has witnessed big advances in Alaska aviation.

"We've come from the oldest and worst technology in the United States to the cutting edge," he said. "We have stuff here that they don't have in the Lower 48 yet."

A major challenge remains for rural Alaska, however, where there is a lack of GPS (global positioning system) approaches, Harding said.

The FAA accident report also includes general aviation statistics.

There were 94 general aviation accidents in 2003, down from 97 in 2002. The five-year average for 1999-2003 is 101 accidents. There were six fatal GA accidents for the year, down from 10 in 2002. The five-year average for fatal events is 7.2. There were 19 GA fatalities for the year, up from 14 in 2002. The five-year average is 13.2 fatalities.

In general aviation, Storm said passengers need to communicate, be respectful of Alaska's dicey and intense weather, and not pressure pilots. Hunters, for example, need to accept that it's O.K. to delay a flight, or leave gear or moose meat behind to avoid overloading the plane.