Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Flight Crew Total 4300
Situational Awareness; Distraction
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Airport
At the Tallahassee Regional Airport There is a large sod field on the north end of the airport east of Taxiway A adjacent to the windsock. This area is outside of the movement area but within the airport boundary fence. The area is routinely used by helicopters for training both day and night; as a staging area for firefighting helicopters; and as a mooring area for transient blimps. On the north end of the area are four unlit communications towers which are approximately fifty feet tall which are fed by power lines that extend from the towers Easterly toward the airport fence. Several utility poles support the wires. Until recent these towers; wires; and poles were not a hazard as they were positioned along the edge of a stand of pine trees which served as a very visible barrier. Several months ago the stand of trees was removed leaving the obstructions exposed without markings in the middle of what is now a very large field. While the towers and poles are visible during the day the wires are not always visible based on the scene background. During night time hours the towers and poles are sometimes invisible as well at some approach angles. The unlit structures as well as the exposed aboveground power lines present a hazard to aircraft operations especially at night. I submit that all four towers need marker lights and the power lines need to be placed underground to prevent an accident.
Power lines and towers within the airport boundary at TLH to the north and east of Taxiway A are unlit and unmarked.