Small Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 16500; Flight Crew Type 400
Distraction; Workload; Situational Awareness; Confusion
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related
This report is to inform those of concern on the daily operations in and out of N03. We operate an aircraft in and out of N03 on a daily basis. I'm concerned with landing at N03 without a slope indicator. The PAPI has not been working for several months now and I believe it is a safety concern for all aircraft operating into N03; specifically at night. There are several trees at the approach end of [Runway] 24 that can not be seen at night and is a safety concern for all. The trees are clearly in the approach path of Runway 24. This situation needs to be addressed ASAP before an accident occurs.
The Reporter is very concerned about all aircraft arriving on Runway 24 but particularly about transient pilot night arrivals because the 100 FT plus tall trees cannot be seen. Even local pilots may loose situational awareness and forget about them. The Reporter's first suggestion is return the PAPI to service. The second suggestion is to cut the trees down but there are political and neighborhood objections to that solution. The Airport is attempting to find funds to repair or replace the PAPI but in the mean time this is a very dangerous situation.
The N03 Runway 24 PAPI is inoperative and is needed because of trees at or above 100 FT on the final approach descent path. The encroachment is particularly dangerous during night arrivals when the trees cannot be seen.