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Critters And Collisions

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Key Takeaways:

  • The Chart Supplement (formerly Airport/Facility Directory) is a critical resource providing pilots with highly localized and often specific warnings about diverse aviation hazards.
  • Wildlife strikes, particularly by various bird species (including large eagles and waterfowl causing significant damage) and mammals like deer, present a common and serious safety risk at and around airports.
  • Pilots must thoroughly consult the Chart Supplement for essential details on these and other unique hazards, such as UAS (drone) operations and specific runway conditions, to ensure safe flight operations.
See a mistake? Contact us.

As you should know by now, the FAA’s Airport/Facility Directory recently was renamed the Chart Supplement. It’s the same multi-volume reference with information like: “CAUTION—FISH SPOTTING ACTIVITY—CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL WATERS. Caution is advised for extensive fish spotter aircraft activity between May 1 and December 1 upwards from 1500 feet above the surface over the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent coastal waters. Pilots should be alert for this activity.”

Isn’t that last sentence overkill? Doesn’t the whole “Caution is advised” part mean “Pilots should be alert”? How about this entry for Devils Lake, North Dakota (KDVL)?: “Numerous waterfowl and other birds, deer and jack rabbits on and invof arpt.” The Chart Supplement can spell out “waterfowl” and “jack rabbits,” but can’t spell out “airport” or “in the vicinity of?” 

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