Short Final: Runway Obstructions

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Alaskan airports face unique and large runway obstructions, often differing from those encountered elsewhere.
  • While wildlife like bears and moose are common, obstructions can also be highly unusual and significant.
  • A notable instance involved a sunken ship in Ketchikan harbor's seaplane lane, which was issued as a Notice to Airman (NOTAM).
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In Alaska, runway obstructions can be different. And large. Yes, there are the usual bears and moose. But sometimes it’s really big:

Last December, the following NOTAM was part of the ATIS at Ketchikan International Airport:

“Notices to Airman, there is a sunken ship in the Ketchikan harbor, East‑west seaplane lane, on the west end.”

Mark Helmericks
Anchorage, AK

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