Safety at the local airport

14 years ago

Safety at the local airport

IN THE CITY

by Scott Wardwell

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the chief safety regulator of the operation of airports in the United States. Last week the FAA completed the annual safety inspection at the Northern Maine Regional Airport (PQI). In addition, a FAA funded wildlife hazard assessment at PQI was begun in August. Both of these demonstrate the continued commitment of the FAA to not only maintain current safety levels but to improve them over the long term. 

    PQI is designated as a Part 139, Class 1 airport. This is the most stringent airport safety classification. All airports that have airlines operating aircraft large enough to transport 9 or more passengers must hold a Part 139, Class 1 certificate.
    As part of maintaining the Part 139 Class 1 certificate, PQI must demonstrate to the FAA that it is operating at all times in accordance with current safety regulations. An integral part of the assurance process is the annual safety inspection. Last week the FAA completed the annual inspection and the results clearly demonstrated that the airport is being operated with a very high level of safety. During the inspection, only two discrepancies were identified. Both of these were due to the location of an emergency shut off for a self serve aircraft fuel dispenser. This credit card pump is used by small general aviation aircraft. It is not related to the fueling of airline passenger aircraft. Therefore it posed no direct threat to the safe operation of the airline passenger aircraft. Given that the average number of discrepancies found at other airports was 12, the FAA and PQI staff were very pleased with the results.
    Due to the emergency landing of US Airways 1549 on the Hudson River, the FAA has increased its focus on wildlife hazards at airports. In the case of Flight 1549, a flock of Canada Geese was struck by the aircraft and caused almost total loss of engine thrust. With this new focus on wildlife hazards by the FAA, PQI has undertaken two new projects to reduce the wildlife hazards at the airport. The first project was the completion of perimeter fencing around the entire airport. The project has nearly eliminated the hazard of large animals crossing the runways and taxiways.
    The second project includes a wildlife study and, if needed, a mitigation plan. While the airport currently has procedures in place to minimize wildlife hazards, the FAA has required the airport to undertake a more extensive study. Over the next year, the United States Department of Agriculture will conduct a study of the type and number of animals within the perimeter fence. In the case of birds, the study will extend beyond the fence. The study duration will be one year as wildlife types and numbers vary depending on the time of year. Once the study is completed, a plan will be developed, if necessary, to further reduce animal populations at the airport.
    Clearly, both of these projects demonstrate the commitment of the FAA to making the Northern Maine Regional Airport as safe as it can be. The results of the latest safety inspection provide evidence that these and other efforts have been successful.
    Scott Wardwell is airport director at Presque Isle’s Northern Maine Regional. He can be reached at 764-2550 or via e-mail at scottw@FlyPresqueIsle.com.