Short Final: Runway Obstructions

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Alaska's runways can feature unusually large and diverse obstructions, not just typical wildlife like bears and moose.
  • A specific instance involved a sunken ship located in the East-West seaplane lane of Ketchikan harbor.
  • This significant obstruction required a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to inform pilots of its presence.
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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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