crisfieldairportsafetyaudit (1)

Crisfield Airport Safety Audit

5/8/2013 Crisfield Municipal Airport

Crisfield Municipal Airport (FAA LID: W41) is a

public airport located 3 miles from Crisfield in Somerset

County, Maryland, U.S.

Crisfield, MD is located near the center of the Delmarva

Peninsula in the heart of Bay Country. The Atlantic

Ocean is 28 miles to the east and the Chesapeake Bay to

the west. The Crisfield-Somerset County Airport is a joint

endeavor of Somerset County and the City of Crisfield.

The airport averages 42 flights per week (59% in local

general aviation and 41% in transient general aviation) and

has 9 aircraft based at the field, 8 single engine airplane

and 1 ultra light.



Who: Metshafe, Ariane, Siddig, Paul, MohammedWhat: Safety AuditWhere: Crisfield Airport, Somerset County When: March 13, 2013Time: 3:30 – 5:00 pm

C R I S F I E L D M U N I C I PA L A I R P O RT

After a critical examination at the Crisfield Airport airfield, we discovered that

there were many issues relating to the safety of the airport and the airfield. Many of

them were not only lethal to operations but also led to many unwanted consequences

such as human injury, damage to property, damage to the environment, and economic

loss. These hazards we identified possess many risks to the airport, and aircraft

operations, the findings were as follow:

H A Z A R D S :

SECURITY ISSUES

-Lack of security of the airport

- no fence surrounding its perimeter

- no security personnel

-no alarm system, open fuel tank.

-no tower

Page 1

Crisfield Airport Safety AuditENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

-Water logged around the runway

-drainage issues

-standing water

ECONOMIC LOSS

-no landing fees

-no hanging fees

AIRFIELD

-cracked runway

-No standardize marking for the airport operation

-hangar exposed

R I S K S I D E N T I F I E D :

No fencing around the perimeter allows anybody to trespass onto the airfield. As

well as, wild life on the runway this can cause runway incursions. Fuel supply not well

protected can lead to anyone walking in and vandalizing the fuel which can also lead

to a fire outbreak destroying aircrafts packed in the hangers, airport and even

neighboring houses. The hanger area being exposed can lead to aircraft being

vandalized or stolen when there is no one around.

Water logged around the runway for a long period of time will eventually destroys

the runway pavement which could lead to rough landings and probably an accident.

Page 2

Crisfield Airport Safety AuditFurthermore, standing water can be a good environment to be inhibited y birds which

is another hazard to aircraft landing or taking off.

No standardize marking for the airport operation can cause confusion to the

pilots whereas there should be a clear separation between the area of operation and

the movement area in the airport. The way things are structured, the tendency of

someone driving onto the runway can cause an accident. (or waste of jet fuel to go

around is eminent in the airport) I don’t know what this is mean? . Also there is the

need to put up signs to indicate which area is secured or unsecured and a no entry

sign during operations.

The hanger should be locked with keys to protect aircraft from being vandalized when

there is no one around. If anyone has to use the airport after hours of operations, a

prior notice can be given to airport personnel before arrival to give an access code for

easy entry. This can be documented for record keeping and reference if needed.

If a safety management system is put in place, the hazard and the risks are

associated with the lapses which will be greatly reduced to an acceptable safety level.

This will also save the airport administrators and county a reasonable amount of

money for putting these proactive measures in place. Rather than paying off

settlements, a reconstruction of the airport and airfield building in the advent of fire

outbreak and the loss of life and property due to these factors this will help to mitigate

the risk involved with these hazards.

R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S :

In order to improve the safety environment at Crisfield airport we recommend:

a fence around the airport. This is an important piece in safe guiding the airport

Page 3

Crisfield Airport Safety Auditagainst unwanted guest at night and during the day.

In order to enhance security: security personnel should be kept in airport area

especially during off period to prevent unauthorized access into the premises. Also the

use of alarm system that goes off in the advent of unauthorized entry into the airport

could be another means of securing airport properties after operation hours to prevent

easy access to runway area during operation and unauthorized visitors to the airport.

For the standing water, airport officials should level the field to obtain a sewer system.

A proper water runoff system should be put in place to effectively drain off water after

down pour of rain to avoid the run way pavement form expanding over time and

cracking.

There should be a clear separation between area of operation and movement area in

the airport that will clearly separate the runway and the taxi way. Because, the way

things are structured, the tendency of someone driving through the run way and

possible causing an accident or waste of jet fuel to go around is eminent in the airport.

Also there is the need to put up signs to indicate which area is secured or unsecured

and a no entry sign during operations.

Tower or a building higher than other surrounding hangers and others to give the

operator a good view for the opened un fenced and un guarded field to provide

information to landing or taking off aircraft in case of any moving hazard.

The airport needs some type of rescue team in case of immediate emergency. The fact

that they have to contact ground personnel in the city would take too long to get to

the airport.

Before our visit to the airport we have in mind the scale of Crisfield airport we

were not expecting most of the tools and controls for the SMS we had in class to be in

Page 4

Crisfield Airport Safety Auditplace and that was O.K for economical reasons. For the same economical reasons we

believe if the issues we addressed in this paper we looked at carefully and

implemented will pay off their cost in a short period of time. First, the lost of a single

life is costless. Second, the SMS program is a profit center one major accident because

of these preaches will cost the city and the county many fold the cost of the few issues

we mentioned on this paper. Third, the safe and secure airport will be noticed by all

who enjoy the summer travel and have Crisfield at their top choices for the summer

which means more business for the city and the county in terms of transportations,

hotels, restaurants and other related business.

After our visit to Crisfield Airport, it is safe to say that Crisfield airport is a small

self-discretion advised airport with an uncontrolled airspace where after 4:30 pm in no

one is in attendance; which leaves local city personnel (ground operations) in charge.

Crisfield airport has cross runways with a slow traffic of at least 5 planes a day. This

airport has no landing fees, and a cracked ground. It is surrounded by neighborhoods

full of houses and causes noise complaints. Crisfield lacks security and consumers. It

has no alarm systems and its fuel tank is located in the front of the airport which is

putting the airport at risk for example, a fire. Because there are no fences around the

airport, anyone can walk in and muddle with the airport. Also, due to the

environmental issues, the airport has drainage issues and plenty of standing water

with open hangars and hanging fees. During warm weather, it is likely that wildlife

appears at the airport which could be a risk to incoming planes. Crisfield airport is

overall not a safe airport. It lacks safety management systems and does not abide to

the safety requirements recommended by FAA and ICAO.

Page 5


Works Cited

[1]

"http://www.airnav.com/airport/W41," Air Nav, 11 March 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.airnav.com. [Accessed 3 05 2013].

Page 6

crisfieldairportsafetyaudit (1)

Documents