Vanquishing the V/PD

3rd Quarter 2015

A quarterly publication from the

Safety Section

Federal Aviation Administration Airports Division

Western-Pacific Region

This publication is directed primarily towards airport management to be disseminated to

all levels of personnel working at your airfield. Vanquishing the V/PD can be 

accomplished through a solid partnership between the FAA and airport management. The 

responsibility of making sure that the proper safeguards are in place; however, lies 

squarely on the shoulders of airport management. Please use this information and all that 

follows as a guide by which to provide a safer environment at your airfield.

Recent attention has been focused on perimeter fencing installations at airports since 

April 2014 when a teenager jumped the fence at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose 

International Airport (SJC), climbed into the wheel well of a Boeing 767, and stowed 

away to Maui, Hawaii. 

Of the 45 VPDs recorded in the Western-Pacific Region in the first six months of 

calendar year of 2015, 8 (18%) were caused by pedestrians jumping airport perimeter 

fences. 6 (75%) of those fence jumpers ended up crossing active runways. Half of the 

fence jumping incidents occurred at certificated airports. 

Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 139.335(b) states that “Fencing that meets the 

requirements of applicable FAA and Transportation Security Administration security 

regulations in areas subject to these regulations is acceptable for meeting the 

requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section (safeguards to prevent inadvertent entry 

to the movement area by unauthorized persons or vehicles).” 

FAA Advisor Circular 150/5360-13, Planning and Design Guidelines for Airport 

Terminal Facilities states: “Security fencing can vary in design, height, and type, 

depending on local security needs. Generally, it is recommended that the fencing be, as a 

minimum, No. 10 gauge, galvanized steel, chain link fabric installed to a height of 8 feet 
and topped with a three strand (12 gauge) barbed wire overhang. The latter should have a 

minimum 6-inch separation between the strands and extend outward at a 45 degree angle 

from the horizontal.” 

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) publication entitled Recommended 

Security Guidelines for Airport Planning, Design and Construction, May 2011 states: 

“Chain link fences are often constructed with seven (7) feet of fabric plus one or more 

coils of stranded barbed wire on top, which may be angled outward at a 45 degree incline 

from the airside.” This document does not create regulatory requirements or mandates of 

any kind and, surprisingly, it is the least restrictive of all of the guidance.

FAA CertAlert 04-16, Deer Hazard to Aircraft and Deer Fencing states: “The FAA 

recommends a 10-12 foot chain link fence with 3–strand barbed wire outriggers. In some 

cases and airport may be able to use and 8-foot chain link fence with 3-strand barbed 

outriggers, depending upon the amount of deer activity in a local area.” 

So how high should the perimeter fence be at your airport? 

The answer is: It depends. 

Generally speaking, if your airport is certificated under Part 139 or Federal funds are 

used to purchase and install the fence, the recommendations in AC 150/5360-13 must be 

followed. Following these guidelines would also satisfy the recommendations made by 

the TSA. If, however, your airport is experiencing issues with deer, then the 

recommendations in CertAlert 04-16 should be followed. That would satisfy TSA 

recommendations as well. 

Be careful to consult your FAA Airport Certification Manual (ACM) and your TSA 

Airport Security Plan (ASP) as the stated height of your perimeter fence in those 

documents will be the minimum value required at your airport even though it might be 

higher (more restrictive) than FAA or TSA recommendations. 

Column written by:

Steven Oetzell

Lead Airport Certification Safety Inspector, AWP-620.6 

Reproductions of this, past and subsequent issues of Vanquishing the VPD are available

on FAA website: 

http://www.faa.gov/airports/western_pacific/newsletter/