Alaska Sen. Mark Begich used a Senate subcommittee hearing on airport safety this week to press for a new piece of equipment at the runway in Unalaska.

The subcommittee on aviation met Wednesday to talk about the NextGen Air Traffic System. It’s a new satellite surveillance system that the Federal Aviation Administration hopes to install in place of older aircraft radar.

FAA deputy administrator Michael Whitaker was on hand to answer the subcommittee’s questions. When it was Begich’s turn to speak, he brought up his recent visit to Unalaska.

Begich flew in to Tom Madsen Airport on a Coast Guard plane last month. He said weather conditions were rough when they arrived, and a long-overdue upgrade would have made the airport a lot safer.

Begich: "On that airport, it’s a short runway, and your end of that runway is a mountain, and there are high winds. They’d like to measure that wind. And they have been struggling with the FAA for years -- years -- to get this one piece of equipment that could literally protect and ensure that life safety is there."

The instrument is called an anemometer. Begich stressed the importance of Unalaska’s airport to industry and shipping in the region, and he asked Whitaker to make the anemometer happen.

Begich: So can you just put that on your shopping list? We’ll send you something about this. I know it’s not you directly, but I know -- you’re here from the FAA, you get the tag.
Whitaker: I will. I will follow up and take a look at that, Senator.

Begich also asked about installing more ground surveillance systems for aircraft in Alaska. Whitaker said the FAA is making progress, but they don’t have complete coverage yet. Begich said the FAA needs to prioritize safety for the small planes and airports that Alaskans use every day.