TagSafety(20)

This FAA Advisory Circular (AC 150/5200-33C), issued February 21, 2020, provides guidance on land uses and development projects near public-use airports that may attract hazardous wildlife such as birds, mammals, and reptiles, which pose serious safety and economic risks to aircraft. It outlines recommended practices for airport operators, land-use planners, and federally funded airport projects to assess and mitigate wildlife hazards, though compliance is voluntary except for airports holding operating certificates under 14 CFR Part 139 or receiving federal grant funding. The document updates and replaces the previous 2007 version of the same circular.

This Puget Sound Energy brochure explains the company's vegetation management program, which focuses on trimming or removing trees near power lines to prevent outages and maintain reliable electrical service across Washington state. It outlines methods such as selective tree removal and directional pruning, and advises homeowners to avoid planting large trees beneath power lines or near electrical equipment. Residents are encouraged to call 811 before digging and to choose smaller native or ornamental trees suitable for planting near utility infrastructure.

A retired Northwest Airlines chief pilot with over 15,000 flight hours argues against the construction of a proposed third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, citing serious safety concerns including runway incursion risks, wind shear hazards from surrounding walls, and complications for fire and rescue operations. He contends that pilots will avoid the new runway because it is shorter and farther from the terminal than existing runways, meaning it will do little to reduce delays or increase capacity. Drawing a parallel to an unused commuter runway built at Sea-Tac in the 1970s, he warns that the $2 billion project will become a costly monument to poor planning.

Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), developed by Port Of Seattle in cooperation with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services, Olympia, WA, August 2000, AR 045494. Covers habitat management (grass, wetlands, water, vegetation, structure), wildlife control procedures (bird and mammal control, wildlife patrol), laws and regulations (Washington

This 1999 manual, prepared jointly by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides airport personnel with guidance on managing the safety risks posed by wildlife at airports. It covers topics including the FAA National Wildlife Strike Database, the roles of various federal agencies, and strategies for reducing bird and animal strikes on aircraft. The manual draws on strike records from 1990–1998 to illustrate the frequency, types, and impacts of wildlife encounters with aircraft.

Letter dated April 15, 1998 from J. Gary Oldenburg, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Animal Damage Control, State Director WA/AK/HI/Pacific Islands, to Jonathan Friedman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District, follow-up to public hearing of April 9, 1998. Strongly opposes establishment of any new wetlands within 10,000 feet of runways at

FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5200-33, dated 5/1/97, initiated by AAS-310 and APP-600, signed by David L. Bennett, Director of Office of Airport Safety and Standards. Provides guidance on locating land uses that attract hazardous wildlife to or near public-use airports. Covers siting criteria: 5,000 feet separation for piston-powered aircraft airports, 10,000 feet for turbine-powered aircraft

This 1997 FAA Advisory Circular provides guidance on identifying and managing land uses near public airports that attract hazardous wildlife, such as waste disposal sites, wastewater treatment facilities, and wetlands. It recommends minimum separation distances — 5,000 feet for piston-powered aircraft airports and 10,000 feet for turbine-powered aircraft airports — between wildlife attractants and aircraft movement areas. The document notes that gulls, waterfowl, and raptors are among the most common wildlife involved in damaging aircraft strikes, and urges airport operators, land use planners, and developers to avoid practices that increase wildlife hazards near airports.