 by Dick Kauffman June 07, 2002
Since Allen's earlier release of an April 3, 2002, "notification memo" announcing "new and dynamic changes planned for the Borough and for the Transportation Department," there have been ongoing concerns voiced by Ketchikan International Airport employees as well as by some community members. Regarding these public comments Allen stated, "Many of these comments suggest management's decisions will jeopardize public safety, and that we were making poor, uninformed decisions that place budget reductions ahead of public safety." In his June 3rd written memo to Corporon, Allen said he wished "to respond to these concerns and show how by implementing his proposals the airport will more efficiently meet all of its operational, security, and safety requirements." Addressing airport safety concerns Allen wrote, "In order to operate, the airport must be in compliance with regulatory standards provided by the FAA and the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The changes I have proposed meet or exceed the standards these agencies require. I have coordinated the proposed changes with both agencies." Responding to concerns that the budget proposal eliminates all airport police positions and reduces an already understaffed Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) staff Allen wrote, "The budget as proposed does not eliminate any airport police positions." He said, "The primary role of the airport police, however, is to support TSA requirements for aviation safety. The TSA eventually intends to place federal officers at the airport. In the meantime, TSA released the airport from previous law enforcement requirements and directed us to assign airport police to perform the TSA functions." Allen continued, "It is unclear if we will have any law enforcement responsibilities as they pertain to aviation safety, once TSA has officers in place. Depending on future TSA guidance, a review of airport police and security needs may become prudent."
The April 3rd announcement by Director Allen stating that the Ketchikan International Airport would reduce the permanent Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) standby response team from two to one fully-qualified individual as authorized by the FAA, also has generated ongoing public comments about understaffing and about safety. To address these understaffing and safety concerns Allen wrote in his latest June 3rd memo to the Assistant Borough Manager, "There is no understaffing of current ARFF personnel. The FAA agrees we are in compliance by ensuring one ARFF-qualified individual is on standby at all times when required." He wrote, "We historically maintained two ARFF personnel on shift. However, ARFF personnel are crosstrained to perform other tasks associated with operations and maintenance. The second individual frequently was assigned tasks away from the emergency response vehicles, often times away from the airport altogether." In an effort to address public criticism that having one Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) person on duty in the event of an emergency at the airport is unsafe Allen responded to this concern by stating, "Our ARFF vehicles are designed so that one individual can perform all tasks." He wrote, "Our capable ARFF personnel prove to the FAA each year that one person can perform the mission unaided. Having two personnel on standby, which generally has not occurred since the second individual is performing other duties elsewhere, would provide no measurable increase in support. It would take four personnel on standby each shift to provide the next level of increased support." Allen stated, "The FAA has determined that this increased level of support is not necessary." Director Allen, however, did not comment in his June 3rd memo on the recent Federal Aviation Administration's annual inspection report dated May 10, 2002, that revealed that the "ARFF recurrent training program is inadequate." The inspection report recently issued by the FAA said that "additional training is needed in all ARFF operations. Increased funding, time, and materials should be approved and supported from airport management." The FAA requested that a specific plan to address this discrepancy be provided to their office by July 1, 2002. In response to publicly expressed concerns that the airport's geographical separation from the rest of the Borough causes excessive delays for mutual aid responses by other local emergency agencies Allen wrote, "Between the quick, professional responses of the mutual aid agencies and the airport ferry crews, additional emergency support typically reaches the airport in less than 15 minutes. This is an acceptable response time at most airports, and also meets or exceeds the response time to many other locations in Ketchikan." Regarding emergency response and safety concerns, Director Allen made no reference in his memo to the recent findings revealed by the annual FAA inspection report of May 10th that "there was no annual review of the Emergency Control Plan in 2001." To address this discrepancy, the FAA requested that specific dates for the annual "table top" exercise and full-scale exercise which was due May 2002 be forwarded to their office by October 1, 2002. The FAA annual inspection also revealed that "some personnel who have duties and responsibilities under the emergency control plan are unfamiliar with their duties and the plan." The FAA requested that the specific plan to address this discrepancy be provided to them by July 1, 2002.
To alleviate concerns that there would be a lack of immediate triage support following an accident, Allen responded that Airport Police receive the same emergency medical training as ARFF personnel, and would provide this support until mutual aid arrives. Director Allen added, "If there was ever a future reduction in airport police staff, other personnel can be trained to perform triage." The final concern addressed by the KGB Director of Transportation Services in his June 3rd memo to Assistant Borough Manager Corporon addressed public comments made that every other airport in the United States is increasing both ARFF and law enforcement support. Allen wrote that he has regular contact with other airport associations and as far as he knows, no airport managers and airports are increasing their ARFF support except where a new type of aircraft serving that airport requires such a change. He said some airports are increasing their law enforcement personnel, but that is directly attributable to compliance with the new TSA directive. Allen wrote, "We are in compliance with all requirements for ARFF and law enforcement support." Allen further remarked in his memo, "It is interesting to note that as recently as March 18, 2002, an ARFF employee, who was serving as a union representative, was advocating a minimum ARFF staffing of one per shift for the airport. This was to allow several ARFF employees to schedule overlapping vacations this summer. Only after the layoffs were announced did the union's position about minimal ARFF staffing change to reflect 'safety concerns.'" In his concluding remarks Allen wrote, "The mission of the Department of Transportation Services is to provide and promote safe dependable and efficient transportation infrastructure and services for the general public. Safety is measured by standards imposed by federal regulations. Dependability is measured through our ability to provide continuous, uninterrupted operations. Meeting those standards efficiently means using only those resources required for a safe and dependable system. I believe we are accomplishing our mission." Ferry Operations: Confirmed by the latest news release, the Ketchikan International Airport Ferry will start running a second ferry June 10, 2002. The second ferry will operate until August 16, 2002. In an April 3rd memo an "effective immediately" notification announced the reduction to one ferry during the peak summer season to reduce costs. This is now no longer the plan for ferry operation during the peak summer season. Related Airport Safety Information: The annual airport certification inspection of the Ketchikan International Airport was conducted on May 9, 2002, by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine compliance with federal regulations specifically Title 14 CFR Part 139, the Airport Certification Manual, and the Airport Operating Certificate. In a report dated May 10, 2002, the FAA reported that the inspection revealed that "the airport was not in compliance with all of the requirements of Part 139." Nine areas were listed in the report as not in compliance and corrective actions noted. The inspection report was written by FAA Airport Certification Safety Inspector David G. Wahto. (Click on this link to download the report. pdf) On April 4-5, 2002, Alaska Occupational Safety & Health Administration (AK OSHA) conducted an inspection of the Airport Terminal. In its report dated May 22, 2002, it was revealed that penalties totaling $2,475 for alleged 'serious' violations that "may increase the potential for injury resulting from an accident" were imposed. The report was written by Richard A. Mastriano, the Director of Labor Standards & Safety of the Alaska Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Mastriano also noted in his report that of the five alleged violations, three were classified as 'serious.' All five alleged violations were corrected during inspection according to the report. (Click on this link to download the report. pdf)
Sources of Information:
|
||||
