Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/715089
In the Lower 48, getting from place to place is simple. Hop in a car, and the roads and highways run to virtually any destination with a myriad of helpful and convenient fuel stops along the way. Buses and trains provide an alternative without an afterthought, and in-car navigation systems remove any lingering doubts. In Alaska, travel is a much different story. At 663,300 square miles, Alaska is the largest and most sparsely populated U.S. state – so big, you could twice fit the state of Texas inside its boundaries. And within it, more than 80 percent of the communities find themselves without access to modern roads. More Alaskans per capita rely on planes to travel than other Americans. In fact, the number of enplanements is 2.5 times the rate in the lower contiguous states. Alaska has more than 9,300 registered aircraft and nearly 8,000 active pilots who rely on 400 public airports, in addition to lakes and gravel bars across Alaska for landing strips. Aviation is engrained in daily life. In most rural locations, air travel is a necessity for emergencies, family visits, work-related Story continued on page 4 3 Left: With Crowley-supplied fuel on board, Palmer-based Alaska Air Fuel is able to meet the needs of its customers. It's challenging work, but also very fulfilling, because we are hauling fuel that is really important to our communities and the people who live here." Connections Summer 2016 Wings Over Alaska Crowley Fuels Aviation Across the Great Land Story by David DeCamp Photos by Greg Martin Core Value: HIGH PERFORMANCE