Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 35000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Situational Awareness; Distraction
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Problem: Supposed 'settlement pond' approximately 200 feet east of Runway 5/23 at LBE. Location is northeast of Taxiway Kilo. Area is filled almost year round with water runoff. Cattail and weed vegetation fills 'pond' area. Area filled with frogs and insects (mainly mosquitos). Extremely large flocks of birds are constantly in this pond area. Size varies from blackbird size to large raptor. With a large corporate jet base; a FAR 121 Air Carrier service (5 to 7 flights per day) and 141 flight school along with Large GA aircraft population a serious safety issue arises. Both Tower and ATIS advise of bird activity. So we know airport is aware of problem on every takeoff no matter size of aircraft; bird flocks or individual birds arise from this area and on most occasions fly toward runway. On recent afternoon on 3 separate takeoffs I fully expected to have collision. Luckily none occurred. I feel this situation is intolerable and an accident waiting to occur. Solution: fill said area eliminating bugs which eliminated food which would eliminate birds in this area. I do not care of EPA and or Penna DNR regulations. Human life is more important than a cattail or bird.
An LBE based pilot described the 'settlement pond' east of Taxiway A between Taxiway K and the Southwest end of the terminal ramp. The pond is a bird feeding area attracting birds which become threats for aircraft departing Runway 5/23.