Mike Cirillo took over the Alaska region's top spot last fall just as the FAA announced a vendor to deploy the aviation safety surveillance equipment, known as ADS-B, nationwide over the next 12 years.

Cirillo came to Alaska from the Air Traffic Division at the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C. Cirillo is not a pilot, but has had a full career with the air traffic division.

Two of the big questions asked by local aviation industry officials were: Will Alaska get more ADS-B coverage, and will the digital data-link system be two-way?

The Universal Access Transceiver, or UAT, is a two-way data-link system used in Southwest and Southeast Alaska. It is credited with making flying more than 40 percent safer in high-traffic areas with no radar coverage.

The good news, according to Cirillo, the answer to both questions is yes.

Alaska will receive transmission equipment this year to add to the current coverage, Cirillo said. Pilots and industry groups were concerned that no new coverage would be available until late 2009. Currently ADS-B coverage is limited to Southwest and Southeast Alaska and in the Anchorage bowl airspace.

“This is huge. This is good news for Alaskan pilots,” said Jim Cieplak.

During a May 14 presentation to the Aviation Industry Council in Anchorage, Cirillo said four ground-based transmission receivers will boost coverage to Fairbanks, Nome, Kotzebue and Anchorage by the end of this year.

“I believe that there has been a great deal of confusion about where the FAA stands on this, but I am here to tell you that I support the UAT É used just like the Capstone proven signal,” said Cirillo. “I think there has been a misconception that there will be either-or. Both have a role. There is no plan to use only the 1090 out signal.”

The FAA was recently criticized for a plan to use a UHF 1090 MHz out-only signal for the nation's airspace.

Cirillo said he brings observations to the Alaska aviation industry that could be key to furthering an understanding of Alaska and its aviation needs.

“You really can't understand that uniqueness and idiosyncrasies of Alaska until you have been here and experience it,” he said. “While in Washington, all you hear is that Alaska is unique and frankly it after a while it sounds like a boy crying wolf.”

Cirillo said that one of his goals is to get acting FAA Administrator Bobby Strugell to Alaska later this summer so he can see the challenges for himself.

“You really are unique,” he said. “You are unique in every way. The basic utility of aviation is even different here in Alaska unlike other places in the U.S. You really have to see it firsthand.”

Although new to Alaska, Cirillo has looked at projections for air cargo and passenger traffic at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and sees change on the horizon for the Anchorage bowl airspace.

“With growth comes congestion, and it looks like there will be more cargo jets in the Anchorage airspace. The earlier people start talking about things the better,” Cirillo said.

Cirillo says the number of airplanes using Alaska airspace will definitely increase, and more so in the Anchorage bowl area, which will necessitate some airspace changes in the upcoming years.