Light Transport
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter FOD
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
We were dispatched to KSUT. Runways 5/23 were NOTAM closed. Unless you gave two hour notice of your arrival. We called the airport and were assured of a landing clearance. We did all due diligence to assure a safe and legal landing. ATC asked if we were cleared for a landing as well. As we were turning downwind we noticed yellow X's on the runway. We asked the airport if we were still authorized to land. And they said yes. Right before touchdown we noticed objects on the yellow X's. After shutdown we asked airport management why the yellow X's were not part of the NOTAMs. We also found the objects were sandbags. We found that the sandbags and yellow X' should be part of the NOTAM. Also; you need available runway listed in feet in between the X's.
During my preparation for the first leg of the day; I began looking at the NOTAMs. While looking over the NOTAMs for the arrival airport; I noticed that a 2 hour PPR (Prior Permission Required) was in effect for our arrival time. At breakfast; I made sure my partner was aware of this and he called the company to confirm that they were also aware. It appeared that everyone was on the same page. On our arrival into KSUT; Approach control also confirmed that we were aware of the NOTAM. Just minutes prior; I had confirmed with airport operations that all men and equipment were off the runway so I relayed this message to ATC. We were cleared for the visual approach into KSUT; and we proceeded to enter the pattern. During our downwind leg; operations made us aware that there were X's on the runway but that it was ok because the runway was temporarily opened for our landing. As we touched down I noticed something on the X's that appeared to be holding them down. The landing was normal and the subsequent taxi into the ramp was normal. After we deplaned the passengers; I asked the operations personnel what was on the X's. He said that they were sandbags. It was then I realized that the area with X's and sandbags could most likely not be used for our takeoff calculations and we notified the company. Just to clarify; we did not land on top of the X's. In my original description; I mentioned that I glanced at the X's as we touched down; but more accurately it was right before we touched down. These areas should have been NOTAMed with the Landing and Takeoff distances available. Furthermore; due to the 2 hour PPR; I think that this would be a reasonable amount of time to remove the X's prior to our arrival. This action would eliminate the need to adjust the runway distance available.
Air Taxi flight crew reported receiving prior permission to land on a NOTAM-closed runway; but still finding yellow X's and sandbags on it upon arrival.