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 Merrill Field is a general aviation airport located on the east side of downtown Anchorage along 5th avenue. It was first official airport in Anchorage when it was opened in 1929. Since then, Merrill Field has grown to the point of parking 900 private aircraft and more than fifty aviation businesses surrounding the airport. Merrill Field does not host any major commercial airlines or aircraft, it is designed for smaller personal planes and small sightseeing businesses.
Becoming a pilot
The University of Alaska-Anchorage has an Aviation Technology Program that operates out of Merrill Field and offers a summer training program tailored for youths exploring a career in aviation. The Alaska Civil Air Patrol also has a mentoring program for high school students interested in aviation. King Career Center, a program in the Anchorage School District has two programs available. The Aviation Maintenance Technology Program instructs students about the basic mechanical operation of small aircraft while the Aviation Technology Program is geared toward prospective pilots. Anchorage students in grades 10-12 can apply through their school to enter one of these programs.
Statistics
• There are 10,000 general aviation aircraft in Alaska, 40% are in Anchorage, and 10% are based at Merrill Field.
• There are 8,000 certified pilots in Alaska, almost 50% of those live in Anchorage.
• Merrill Field has almost 200,000 flight operations each year making it the 104th busiest airport in the country.
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