The Association recently held its first safety workshop in Alaska, where pilots often face a different operating environment than they would elsewhere in the U.S. "NBAA Members that operate in Alaska often land on snow or gravel runways," noted NBAA Chief Operating Officer Steve Brown. "Many of those are short runways that require high-performance takeoffs and landings. And because of the wildlife hazards at many of the more remote locations - including bears, wolves and other carnivores - often the first thing out of the airplane is the rifle."