How to be Prepared for an Airport Emergency and What to Look for When Inspecting

Your Airfield

David Decoteau, A.A.E., C.A.E.Hayward Executive Airport

Job of Airport Operations

• Commercial vs GA• Airfield Inspections• Wildlife Mitigation• Driver Training• Construction

• Tenant Relations• Snow and Ice• Emergency Response• Environmental

Commercial vs GACommercial Airports- Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 139• Airport Certification Manual

(ACM)• Markings and signage• Personnel training• Snow and Ice Control Plan• Wildlife Hazard

Management Plan• Airport Emergency Plan• Self Inspection

General Aviation Airports

• No scheduled FAA inspections

• Grant assurances• Best practice to keep airfield

and records up to Part 139 standards

Airfield Inspections• At least 1 per day• Keep discrepancy log up to date• Vary your inspection• Create a venue for pilots to provide feedback- tenant meetings,

website, phone, and other electronic correspondence• Electronic inspections and work orders-APP 139, ProDIGIQ, Veoci,

Airport GIS departments.• Wildlife log- Can keep a separate log, excel

Paved Areas• Cracks• Spalling• Pavement failure• Hold same 139 standards• Advisory Circular 150/5380-6C

• FOD Program• FOD bins• Airport sponsored FOD walks• Education

• 150/5380-6C

Foreign Object Debris (FOD)

Unpaved Areas• Ruts• Ditches• Drainage Issues

Lights, Signs, and Markings

Lights-Advisory Circular- 150/5340-30HMarkings-Advisory Circular- 150/5340-1LSigns-Advisory Circular- 150/5340-18F

Navaids

Obstructions• Cranes- Lighting/flagged• Trees-(AIP/State) Funding• Protected Airspace Part 77• Buildings• 7460- Local municipality understands the process

14 CFR Part 77

Fueling

Advisory Circular- 150/5230-4B

Fences/Gates• Inspect gates• Inspect fence• Create a security plan for your airport• Suspicious activity/Challenge procedures• TSA Recommended guidelines for General Aviation Airports

Publication

Wildlife Mitigation• Wildlife Hazard Management Plan• Hazing techniques-Pyrotechnics• Habitat modification- cut grass, no food source• Wildlife log • Training with local FAR 139 airport• Report all wildlife strikes

• http://wildlife.faa.gov/

• Send in feathers/snarge• Smithsonian Institution

Feather Identification Lab E600, MRC 116P.O. Box 37012Washington, DC 20013-7012

Advisory Circular- 150/5200-33B

S.N.A.R.G.E

Supercharged Non-Aeronautical Repulsive Guts and Entrails

Communications

Driver Training

• Important to train all users- brochures• Non-movement areas• Movement areas (Towered airports)• Surface incidents• Runway incursions• Keep records• Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT)• Professional training opportunities (IET)

• Advisory Circular- 150/5210-20A

Construction• Safety briefing with contractors before project start• Check barricades• Safety Areas• Ruts, open ditches, equipment heights• Proper markings, closure crosses• Gate access• Be available for questions• Airport Website• Advisory Circular- 150/5370-2F

Snow Removal• Regulatory Requirements

• ACM• AC 150/5200-30

• Snow and Ice Control Plan

• NOTAMS

Snow Removal: Regulatory RequirementsPart 139 Airports

“Prompt” Snow Removal

GA AirportsNo Specific Requirement

Issue NOTAMClose Unsafe Surfaces

Correct within a Reasonable Amount of Time

What’s Reasonable Depends On:Characteristics of the Snow Storm

Capabilities of the AirportNeeds of the Airport Users

Annual Aircraft Operations *Clearance Time for 1” of Snow

40,000 or more 2 hours

10,000 – but less than 40,000 3 hours

6,000 – but less than 10,000 4 hours

Less than 6,000 6 hours

*General goal under ideal conditions for GA airports

Snow Removal: Operations

• Create Snow and Ice Control Plan (SICP)• Pre and Post Season Meeting with Stakeholders

• Airport Staff• Snow Removal Provider (if other than airport)• Airport Tenants• FAA Air Traffic Control and Tech Ops

(as applicable)• Discuss general plan for snow removal operations, changes from last year, contact

information, and stakeholder concerns

Snow Removal: OperationsAirfield Clearing Priorities

• Primary Runway• Taxiways• Primary Ramp Areas• Access Roads• NAVAIDS• Emergency Access Points

Snow Removal: Reporting Conditions

• Preferred way to report conditions will be through DDN NOTAMManager which provides consistent information. You can still call briefer to give info if preferred.

• Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) Reference Draft AC 150/5200-30D

Snow Removal: Braking Action

• Pilot Reports• Good• Fair (Medium)• Poor• Nil

Do not need to report these but good to know this info for trends.

• Braking action will be used in conjunction with Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) in the future for assessing surface conditions but you don’t need to report numbers for each third of the runway as has happened in the past.

Emergency Preparedness• ARFF at 139 airports• If no ARFF, good to train local FD (familiarization, agreements, training)• Close surfaces during emergency. Issue NOTAM if needed• Assist responders- Train Staff in first aid, CPR, and AED• Stay next to first responders control airport operations• Keep public away. People inevitably want to help• Keep a log of events• Contact FSDO do not remove wreckage until released by FAA of NTSB• Conduct thorough inspection before opening surface• Advisory Circular 150/5200-31C

Emergency Preparedness• Types of Emergencies

• Aircraft Accident• Natural Disaster• Bomb Threat• HAZMAT Spill• Structural Fire• Utility Failure

• How to Prepare• Airport Emergency Plan• Emergency Responder

Familiarization- Airport 101• Exercises/Tabletops• Work with local Emergency

Management

Emergency Preparedness• Develop Airport Emergency Plan-Create based on your

airport need• Roles and Responsibilities

• Airport• Firefighting• Law Enforcement• Emergency Medical Services

• Command and Control• Communication• Public Relations-Establish PIO (Public Information Officer-If not

Airport Manager)

Environmental

• Be familiar with Environmental and Spill response plans• Inspect drains and outfalls-Record Information• Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC)• Storm water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)• UST (Underground storage tank) reporting requirements

Questions?