Federal Aviation

Administration

By:

Date: 

FAA SOUTHERN REGION

AIRPORTS DIVISION

Airport Safety 

Self-Inspection

Includes actual airfield inspection pictures

Patrick Rogers, Lead Inspector 

December 2012
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

General

At airports certificated under 14 CFR part 139, 

the self-inspection program is a key 

component of an airport operator’s airport 

certification program and is required under 

Part 139.327. An effective self-inspection 

program enables an airport operator to 

operate in compliance with Part 139 standards 

on a day-to-day basis.

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Regulation

A strong airport selfinspection program is 

essential to ensure 

compliance with the 

provisions of Part 139, 

Subpart D-Operations.

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Regulation

Part 139- Certification of Airports

139.327- Self inspection program.

(a) In a manner authorized by the 

Administrator, each certificate holder shall 

inspect the airport to assure compliance with 

this subpart...”

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Guidance

FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-18C assists 

airport operators in developing a good selfinspection program.

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Airport Responsibilities

• Define self-inspection procedures in the 

Airport Certification Manual.

• Provide sufficient, qualified personnel to 

conduct inspections.

• Equip personnel with sufficient resources to 

conduct inspections.

• Conduct self-inspections in accordance 

with the provisions of Part 139.327

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Airport Responsibilities

139.327(b)- Each certificate holder must 

provide the following:

Equipment and Procedures...

1) To conduct inspections

2) Rapidly disseminate information

3) Provide qualified personnel and training

4) A reporting system to ensure prompt correction of 

unsafe conditions(work orders)

5) Maintain inspection records showing conditions 

found and corrective action taken(12 months)

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Training/Records

139.327(c)- Each certificate holder must:

• Prepare records of training given to airport 

self-inspection personnel.

• Description and date.

• Maintain for 24 months.

• Make those records available for inspection.

• Training includes: 

• Before initial performance of duties 

• Recurrent(at least once every 12 consecutive 

calendar months).

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

139.327 Training Topics

• Airport Familiarization, including signs, 

markings, lighting

• Airport Emergency Plan

• Airport Certification Manual

• NOTAM procedures

• Ground vehicle operations in movement 

and safety areas

• Discrepancy reporting procedures

• FAA Advisory Circulars

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Types of Self-Inspections

• Regularly Scheduled- Daily, except as 

otherwise required by the ACM

• Continuous Surveillance- Construction, 

fueling, ground vehicles, wildlife, FOD

• Periodic- Weekly, monthly, quarterly(fuel 

farms, surveys)

• Special- Accident, incident, meteorological 

event, construction, SMGCS

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Inspection Items

• Paved and unpaved areas

• Safety areas

• Markings and signs

• Lighting

• NAVAIDs

• Wildlife

• Fueling

• Obstructions

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Inspection Items

• Hazmat

• Snow and ice

• Public protection

• Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting

• Construction

• Wind Indicators

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Inspection Checklist

• Required component of a good safety selfinspection program.

• Constitutes a written record of conditions 

noted and follow-up actions taken.

• Assures regularity and thoroughness of 

safety inspections.

• Each inspected area of the airport complex 

should be positively or negatively noted on 

the checklist.

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Suggested Checklist

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Suggested Checklist Cont’d

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Suggested Checklist Cont’d

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Suggested Checklist Cont’d

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Suggested Checklist Cont’d

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Suggested Checklist Cont’d

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Airport Sketch

A sketch is highly 

recommended to 

identify the location 

of problems found 

during the daily 

inspection.

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Inspection Techniques

• Vary daily inspection patterns to avoid 

complacency.

• Conduct runway inspections in both 

directions, time permitting.

• Drive slowly! Take your time! Don’t rush!

• Walk into the safety areas, weather 

permitting.

• Keep pen and paper readily available to jot 

down notes.

• Take pictures of discrepancies.

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Inspection Pictures

The following slides include pictures taken 

during annual FAA airfield inspections. With 

a well-trained staff and a good airport selfinspection program, there is no reason that 

any of these deficiencies should be found at 

your airport during an annual FAA Part 139 

inspection.

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Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Pavement

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Each certificate holder must maintain and promptly repair the 

pavement of each runway, taxiway, loading ramp, and parking area. 
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Pavement

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The pavement must be free of cracks and surface variations that could 

impair directional control of air carrier aircraft. 
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Foreign Object Debris

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Mud, dirt, sand, loose aggregate, debris, foreign objects, rubber 

deposits, and other contaminants must be removed promptly and as 

completely as practicable.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Safety Areas

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Each safety area must be cleared and graded and have no potentially 

hazardous ruts, humps, depressions, or other surface variations.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Vehicle Roadway Signs

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Install standard highway stop signs on vehicle roadways at the 

intersection of each roadway with a runway or taxiway.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Vehicle Roadway Signs

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This is an example of the new standard. Vehicle roadways that 

intersect a runway should have an additional runway holding position 

sign.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Vehicle Roadway Signs

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Vehicle roadways that intersect a taxiway should have an additional 

taxiway direction sign.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Taxiway Edge Marking

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Pavement markings that are no longer needed must be physically 

removed.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Threshold

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Each certificate holder must properly maintain each marking system 

installed and operated on the airport.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Aiming Point Marking

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“Properly maintain” includes cleaning, replacing, or repairing any faded, 

missing, or nonfunctional item; keeping each item clearly visible.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Safety Area

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Each safety area must be cleared and graded and have no potentially 

hazardous ruts, humps, depressions, or other surface variations.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Safety Areas

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Do you know the dimensions of your runway 

and taxiway safety areas? These areas must 

be inspected daily. Not knowing their 

boundaries will result in an incomplete 

inspection.

See FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13, Appendix 7, for the standard 

dimensions of your runway safety areas.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Shoulder

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Hole found in the runway safety area during a runway inspection.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Lighted “X”

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The bottom, right leg on this lighted “X” was not properly extended.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Safety Area

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No objects may be located in any safety area, except for objects that 

need to be located in a safety area because of their function.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Airfield Signs

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The inside, reflective material on this red and white mandatory sign has 

delaminated. Both panels of this sign must be replaced.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Object Free Area

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Stockpiled materials are not allowed in the Runway Object Free Area.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Safety Area

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No objects may be 

located in any 

safety area, except 

for objects that 

need to be located 

in a safety area 

because of their 

function.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Airfield Signs

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This concrete sign base is not at grade, which makes the frangible 

coupling higher than 3” above grade(non-standard).
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Fueling Facilities - Deadman Control 

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The use of any means that defeats the deadman control shall be 

prohibited. NFPA 407, 5.15.2
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Pavement - Ponding

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The pavement must be sufficiently drained and free of depressions to 

prevent ponding that obscures markings or impairs safe aircraft ops.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Safety Areas - Ponding

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The safety area must be drained by grading or storm sewers to prevent 

water accumulation.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Wildlife

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Each certificate holder must take immediate action to alleviate wildlife 

hazards whenever they are detected.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Rubber Removal

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Each certificate holder must properly maintain each marking. 

To “properly maintain” includes keeping each item unobscured 

and clearly visible. 
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Ponding - Birds 

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In addition to obscured markings, ponding is a wildlife attractant.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

ILS Critical Area Signs

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These signs are installed by the FAA, but must be maintained. The 

self-inspection program should identify when these signs need to be 

replaced.
Federal Aviation

Administration

ILS Critical Area Signs

There is no frangibility standard 

for wooden 4X4 posts or PVC pipe. 

Replace these with appropriate sign 

posts. 

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These signs must be frangibly mounted with an approved 

coupling, and maintained.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Pavement

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Longitudinal cracks on a runway could impair directional control of 

aircraft and must be evaluated, monitored, and repaired.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Airfield Sign Standards

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These signs do not meet the margin and spacing requirements of FAA 

Advisory Circular 150/5345-44, Specification for Runway and Taxiway 

Signs.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Airfield Markings

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The taxiway centerline beyond this runway holding position marking is 

painted very sloppy and non-standard. Taxiway centerlines are 6-12”.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Maintenance- Airfield Markings

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Sloppy paint job. This sign should be completely removed and 

repainted.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Surface Painted Signs

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The FAA does not endorse painting over old markings because that 

preserves the old marking. Here, the old 18L marking should have 

been removed.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Runway Object Free Area (ROFA)

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Know the boundaries of your ROFA to ensure that parked equipment 

and stockpiled materials remain clear. See FAA AC 150/5300-13, 

Appendix 7.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Taxiway Edge Markings

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Do not always conduct your taxiway inspections from the centerline. 

This may have been missed, if the vehicle did not drive adjacent to the 

shoulder.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Navaid - Runway End Identifier Light (REIL)

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Look closely at the mounts of this REIL. Are they frangible? All REILs 

must be frangible no greater than 3 inches above grade.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Wildlife

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NAVAIDs make great perches for birds. Consult with a qualified Wildlife 

Biologist for methods to control this, especially for protected species. 
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Wind Cones

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This wind cone has accumulated water, which may effect how it swings. 

A drain hole should be provided to allow water to drain out of the fabric.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Wind Cones

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This new wind cone was too small, damaged, but installed anyway.
Federal Aviation

Administration

December 2012 Airport Safety Self-Inspection 

Summary 

There are many items to look at when 

conducting an airfield inspection. A good 

program will include qualified, trained 

personnel, a comprehensive checklist, and 

recurrent training. A rushed airfield 

inspection is not a thorough one. Take your 

time when conducting this very important 

safety task and document all of your findings. 

The traveling public is depending upon you to 

keep your airport safe!

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