Inspection Process
Over the course of three days, inspectors thoroughly combed through many aspects of the airport's operation from airfield pavement conditions to the airport's wildlife management plan. Inspectors poured through training and inspection documents, conducted a simulated emergency drill and examined fuel facilities and transport vehicles.
“This was a very comprehensive review and obtaining a rating of no discrepancies doesn't come easy,” said McElvaney. “However, the high marks we received underscore our commitment to safety here at RDU.”
Airfield Safety
That commitment requires much more than doing only what is necessary to pass an annual review; it's a constant commitment on the part of frontline RDU employees. Each day, operations officers conduct several inspections of the airfield looking for broken pavement, burnt-out lights, wildlife and other issues that may impede safety.
Once noted, those issues are recorded in inspections logs and the items are turned over to RDU maintenance personnel, who are charged with quickly repairing and/or replacing the equipment. Depending on the nature of the deficiency, repairs must often be made immediately, regardless of holidays, weekends or time-of-day.
Emergency Response
Two other major inspection areas include emergency service response and the handling and transport of jet fuel. Both received high marks from the inspector.
The FAA inspector simulated a drill with the airport's Emergency Services Department. He specifically asked to ride along with the department's newest, most inexperienced team member, William Patterson, who had only been with the department for five months, won the honor.
According to McElvaney, the inspector picked at random a specific location on the airfield and timed the department's response to that location. Along the way, he quizzed Patterson intensely about procedures and policies along with several “what if” scenarios. When the drill was completed, the inspector gave praise for the new employee's responses.
Fueling
The final area of inspection was in an area never seen by travelers — jet fuel storage and transport. The Airport Authority's fuel storage facility, or Fuel Farm, was inspected to make sure it was in compliance with the FAA's numerous safety and training regulations. Also, fuel farm and fuel transport vehicles belonging to the airport's fixed based operators, who service private aircraft, were inspected and passed with flying colors.
“We don’t take safety for granted at RDU,” said McElvaney. “We always have the mindset of going above and beyond when it comes to safety. Just because we passed the certification doesn't mean that we become lax in our efforts. It's something that we keep on the forefront day in and day out.” |
