It won't be news to most that aviation is big in Alaska. It's a common talking point for Alaska's members of Congress that more than 80 percent of Alaska's communities lie off the road or ferry system, accessible only by air. Airport and aviation infrastructure are vital to many rural communities in providing much-needed goods and services.

The Department of Transportation on Tuesday released its annual "Alaska Airports and Aviation" report for 2011, which summarizes the numerous initiatives that the Statewide Aviation Division will undertake in the coming year. In 2012, that means 18 airport improvement projects costing more than $100 million, as well as numerous safety and education initiatives.

The DOT, which operates 254 airports of the more than 700 total airports around Alaska, said that aviation accounted for about 10 percent of all employment in the state and 8 percent of gross state product. Additionally, according to Steve Hatter, deputy commissioner of aviation with the DOT, rural Alaskans have an "enplanement" rate -- the frequency with which they fly in an airplane -- eight times above the national average for rural America. Rural Alaskans also ship nearly 40 times more freight than other rural Americans.

A study released late in 2011 highlighted some of the individual benefits of several rural and urban airports, including the Bethel airport, where one in every 14 jobs could be tied in some way to the airport there and aviation in the community.

With that said, the airport infrastructure in Alaska is an ever-changing beast, and this latest report is evidence of that. Numerous airport improvement or construction projects were completed last year, including in the communities of Akiachak, Fort Yukon, Lake Louise, Takotna, and Tuluksak. All of those projects included surfacing or resurfacing the runways, most involved expanded aprons or taxi areas, and several included upgraded lighting for improved navigation.

With those projects behind them, the DOT is looking at an ambitious list of improvements for other airports around the state to begin or be completed in 2012. The DOT reported to the Legislature that $230 million is dedicated to airport improvements over the next year, with $11.7 million of that coming from Alaska's general fund, and the rest being funded primarily with federal money.

Among the most expensive projects scheduled to be completed this year is the Akutan airport, previously funded for about $64 million that should be finished in fall 2012. Phase one of the Kotzebue Airport's upgrades -- costing about $20 million altogether -- should also be finished by fall 2012. Another phase is anticipated to begin soon after, with funding of another $22 million expected to be secured this year.

The Deadhorse Airport previously received about $23 million in 2011 and will get another $2 million in 2012 for resurfacing and lighting replacement, but that project won't be finished until 2013.

Starting this year is a resurfacing project at the Unalaska airport, expected to cost $27 million. The Fairbanks Airport is expecting to receive designs for a $16.7 million rescue and firefighting building to be completed in 2013.

The DOT is also undertaking numerous safety initiatives in 2012, the foremost of which is the continued development of the NextGen satellite communication program, which the Federal Aviation Administration hopes will improve safety for aviators around the U.S.

Meanwhile, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport released its own economic impact report, which says the airport directly employs 9,000 people and indirectly employs another 6,500, representing a total economic benefit of $1 billion. 

Despite that and other rosy numbers, Commonwealth North recently reported that Alaska's two largest international airports, Anchorage and Fairbanks, operated at a net loss of $24.49 million in Fiscal Year 2011.

Read the full "Alaska Airports and Aviation" report here.

Contact Ben Anderson at ben(at)alaskadispatch.com