Alaska News

Bumpy descents into Alaska's capital city may soon get smoother

If you've ever flown into Alaska's capital city, then you've probably experienced the occasional unpleasant jolt of turbulence. Aviation officials in Juneau are now looking into a system that will lessen the bumps of decent and lead to smoother landings.

Currently, the Juneau Airport is the only one in the U.S. to have the federally sanctioned turbulence-detection technology, known as the Juneau Airport Wind System, or JAWS, The Associated Press reports. The new system will help alert pilots to "pockets of turbulence and highlights corridors of smoother air," insureing a safer touch-down on the capital tarmac.

Alaska Airlines, the only commercial carrier that serves Juneau, estimates that the information provided by the on-flight system has aided more than 800 addition safe arrivals and departures last year. Deputy Manager of Juneau's airport, Patricia deLaBrueren, calls the system extremely important. She believes it will lead to safer flying in and out of the Juneau area. According to AP:

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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