Post date: May 8, 2014 10:19:46 PM

NTSB recommends safety audit of Alaska aviation

ANCHORAGE — Two fatal crashes of Alaska commuter aircraft and five other accidents or incidents have led the National Transportation Safety Board to recommend a comprehensive safety audit of the company that provides most commuter air service within the state.

The NTSB announced May 1 an “urgent safety recommendation” that the Federal Aviation Administration review of the businesses operating under HoTH Inc. to check for regulatory compliance and operational safety.

HoTH is the parent company of Hageland Aviation, Frontier Flying Service and Era Aviation doing business as Ravn Alaska, Ravn Connect and Corvus Airlines. In a statement, Ravn Alaska President and CEO Bob Hajdukovich said safety is the company’s top priority. Alaskan-owned HoTH Inc., he said, understands the responsibility of providing safe and essential air transportation services.

“Hearts ache across our whole family of companies due to the recent tragedies,” he said.

Alaskans are challenged by the weather, environment and lack of basic infrastructure and resources that the rest of the country enjoys, he said.