Date: June 18, 2019

To: (Withheld)
(Withheld)
From: John Nyman
Line Crew at Kenmore Air Lake Union Location
Subject: Recommendation Memo for Lake Traffic Research at Kenmore Air Lake Union Location

Purpose
The purpose of this recommendation memo is to summarize the findings of the research done
on helping the planes navigate Lake Union more efficiently.

Summary
Kenmore Air’s planes are being delayed on the lake due to other water traffic impeding their
path. Planes have had to abort takeoffs and perform more dangerous landing due to the water
traffic. Planes are also late to take off or arrive at the dock due to the water traffic. This leads to
angry customers and can lead to fines from customs. Not only does it hurt the company
financially, but if there were to be a collision between the planes and other water traffic people
could be killed.

Currently the only method of diverting water traffic is the dock crew yelling at boats and hoping
they move. There is no way to signal to boats that planes are landing or taking off or landing.
Line crew cannot yell loud enough to reach boats that far into the lake and the planes are not
fitted with any type of horn.

Performing this research was done in five steps. The first being talking with the pilots about
possible solutions. Second was talking with other Kenmore staff about how they think the
problem could be solved. The third task was investigating how other seaplane companies deal
with the similar problems. The fourth was looking at the legality of the options gathered from
the previous steps. The Final step is to create a rough budget.
After completing my five tasks three main solutions to the problem were gathered. One was
five flashing buoys running the approximate length of a runway. Another was obtaining a
megaphone for the line crew at the dock. The final solution is adding horns to the planes.

My recommendation would be to implement the buoys using concrete filled 55-gallon steel
barrels as the buoys. This is due to the fact that they are taller and have a flat top which helps
with mounting the light. The megaphone would be highly effective especially for its low cost.
The horns are worth exploring but due to the uncertainty of its legality and need for some
engineering to be worked out I would wait until the other two are implemented to start this
solution.

Introduction
Kenmore Air’s planes are being delayed on the lake due to other water traffic impeding their
path. Planes have had to abort takeoffs and perform more dangerous landing due to the water
traffic. Planes are also late to take off or arrive at the dock due to the water traffic. This leads to
angry customers and can lead to fines from customs who have rules about when planes need to
arrive at their dock. Not only does it hurt the company financially, but if there were to be a
collision between the planes and other water traffic people could be killed.

Currently the only method of diverting water traffic is the dock crew yelling at boats and hoping
they move. There is no way to signal to boats that planes are landing or taking off or landing.
Line crew cannot yell loud enough to reach boats that far into the lake and the planes are not
fitted with any type of horn.

Boat traffic is not well informed as to how to deal with boat traffic and often are not attentive
enough to see them in time. Paddleboarders, rental boats and kayakers often rent from nearby
businesses who do not inform their customers as to the dangers/ protocols of seaplanes.

Research Methods/(Tasks)
Task 1: Interview Pilots
The pilots are the ones who have the most experience dealing with boats and have inevitably
thought about ways in which to help deal with them. Many of them also fly or have flown for
other seaplane companies and likely they have dealt with similar problems and have found
ways to solve them. One thing that has to be kept in mind is legality of anything done many
pilots have worked for the FAA meaning that they would have great insight into exactly what
we can and can’t do legally to deter boat traffic.

Task 2: Interview Other Kenmore Staff Members

The pilots likely have the most experience in dealing with water traffic, but it does not hurt to
get ideas from people who have experienced the issue from different perspectives.

Task 3: Investigate other seaplane companies

We are not the only seaplane company that exist nor are we the only seaplane company to
operate out of a busy lake. Looking at anything available online as well as reaching out to the
management of these companies on how they addressed this problem will likely help us
implement some tactics to help with our own situation.

Task 4: Research Legality

After gathering Ideas from the pilots, staff and other seaplane companies it is vital to look into
the legality of any modifications to the airplanes, or other measures we may choose to employ.
As a industry that is highly regulated it is important to make sure we are operating in an
approved manor.

Task 5: Creating a rough Budget

After coming up with a list of solutions that could be legally implemented it’s important to
come up with a rough estimate of cost for each of these solutions.

Results (Tasks)
Task 1: Interview Pilots
After talking to the pilots there were two recommendations that the pilots agreed would be
helpful. The first was to put flashing buoys in a line down the lake in a span a little larger than
the take-off area of the planes that they could signal from their planes to alert water traffic that
a plane was coming or leaving. They estimated that we would need around five to cover the
maximum length of a takeoff. The other was to get a megaphone for the line crew on the dock
to allow boats to better hear them from the dock.

Task 2: Interview Other Kenmore Staff Members

The other staff members agreed that buoys and a megaphone would be a good idea. There was
a staff member that stated that it might be worth looking into hooking up a horn on the planes
to help alert water traffic that they are coming through.

Task 3: Investigate other seaplane companies

After looking extensively online and talking to Seattle Seaplanes it seems that they do not face
the problem to the extent that we do and therefore have survived without any additional
precautions.

Task 4: Research Legality

I could not find this exact buoy regulation, but I did find some promising information around
private buoys in Washington state. Washington state’s RCW 79.105.430 talks about mooring
buoys. Mooring buoys are private buoys that boats can be attached to so that they can remain
afloat without needing to be docked on a formal dock [1]. Permission for them is gained by
filing a permit with the state. Although we are not planning to dock our planes on them, they
are still private buoys which is what we are looking for. According to this it is legal to have
private buoys in Washington which looks promising as far the legality of this solution. The
specifics of it being used for business instead of recreational use which is exclusively what the
RCW describes. The flashing portion seems to be completely legal and many buoys used do
have a flashing element [2].
As far as the megaphone idea this seems to be completely legal. According to Washington state
all water vessels are required to have a sound device which means that Washington State is
aware that sound devices are useful for signaling [3]. It also seems that the government does
not ban noise amplifications such as megaphones on land either so it seems that it doesn’t
matter if Washington State considers the dock land or sea megaphones should be allowed
either way [4].

The horn issue is one that seems to be a little bit of a complexity. It appears that the larger land
planes do possess a horn however it cannot be used in flight [5]. I could not find anything on
the legality of signaling devices form the FAA directly but seeing as the horns on the larger
aircraft cannot be used in flight seems to point to that not being legal by the FAA. This seems to
be in contrast to boats that are required to have them [3]. According to the FAA the coast guard
considers anything that can transport people on the water as a vessel [6]. The fact that
seaplanes are planes and boats seem to put them in a strange place legally. This seems
plausible but would need much more investigation.

Task 5: Creating a rough Budget

- There are a few different design or buoys that are available [7]
Type components Cost for one Total Cost for 5
Mooring buoy - Mooring buoy - $89.99 [8] - $745.20
- chain - $11.49 [9]
- solar powered attachable - $47.56 [10]
light - Total = $149.04

Concrete Filled Drum - 50 gallon barrel - $99 [11] - $937.25

- Concrete - $29.4 [12]
- Chain - $11.49 [9]
- $47.56 [10]
 - Solar powered attachable - Total = 187.45
light
* Cost does not include labor, shipping or taxes
- Megaphone
- A quality megaphone is $50 [13].
- Air Horn
- $117.95 [14] for 1 assuming we will fit the whole 20 plane fleet the total comes to
$2,359.

Conclusions

From my research it seems that there are a few options that are reasonable to implement in
order to increase the efficiency of our planes moving through the lake. The horn idea might be
worth it but due to its legality issues and the engineering needed it should be put on the back
burner. The megaphone idea should absolutely be implemented. It is cheap, easy to implement,
as well as it allows the line crew to increase the radius, they can get boats to move. The buoy
idea should also be implemented. They are clearly legal and can be implemented easily. If
implemented there should be easier takeoffs and landing for planes as well as better safety for
all people on the lake. They will also make boats move giving the planes a clearer path to the
dock.

Recommendation:
After looking at the proposed options and their legality and cost I would recommend checking
with the city, FAA, and coast guard just to double check that the buoy and megaphone ideas are
in fact legal and if they in fact are implement them. These are clear cut and easy to implement.
As far as the type of buoy I would recommend the steel barrel and cement method. This
implementation seems the best due to the fact that they are bigger and taller and therefore
easier to see as well as the top if flat which makes mounting the solar light much easier. The
horns I think are worthwhile to look into, although they are in a little more of a grey area legally
than the other two as well as will take more complicated engineering if they can be
implemented legally I believe that it would make a world of difference in getting watercrafts
attention. As far as cost goes seeing as these planes according to the previous sales of these
planes, they are worth right around $1.5 million. Even a minor incident is thousands of dollars
as well as the lost revenue from not having that plane in service. The price to implement any
one of these is miniscule in comparison to even a small collision involving our aircraft. They are
also way less expensive than any fine we may receive for not meeting customs deadlines or
loosing repeat customers due to late flights.

Works Cited/References:
[1] “RCW 79.105.430 Private Recreational Docks—Mooring Buoys.” Pp.leg.wa.gov, Washington
State Legislator , app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=79.105.430.

[2] “U.S. Aids to Navigation Systems.” Uscgboating.org, U.S. Coast Gaurd,

www.uscgboating.org/images/486.PDF.

[3] “Washington State Required Equipment for Vessels.” Islandcountywa.go, Washington State
Legislator , www.islandcountywa.gov/Sheriff/Documents/WA-REQUIRED-EQUIPMENT-15.pdf.
[4] “Know Your Rights Guide: Protests.” ACLU of Washington, ACLU of Washington, 12 July
2017, www.aclu-wa.org/docs/know-your-rights-guide-protests.

[5] Graaf, Jessey de. “Does a Plane Have a Horn?” KLM Blog, KLM Blog, 14 Feb. 2019,
blog.klm.com/does-a-plane-have-a-horn/.

[6] “Rules Regulations and Aids for Navigation.” Faa.gov, Federal Aviation Administration,
www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/seaplane_handbook/media/fa
a-h-8083-23-2.pdf.

[7] Burden, Tom. “Constructing a Permanent Mooring.” West Marine, West Marine , 27 Nov.
2018, www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Constructing-a-Permanent-Mooring.

[8] “Sur-Moor T3C Mooring Buoy, 12.’” Overton's, Overton's, www.overtons.com/sur-moor-t3c-

mooring-buoy-12-317041.html?s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl72-
tJH34gIVFarsCh1vkQPvEAQYASABEgJYWvD_BwE.

[9] “ACCOMooring Chain.” West Marine, West Marine, www.westmarine.com/buy/acco--5-8-

mooring-chain-mwl-9750lb-3-77lb-ft--
P005_154_001_005?pCode=315690&mrkgcl=481&mrkgadid=3076578990&cm_mmc=PS-_-
Google-_-GSC%3ENonB%3EProduct%2520Type-_-
315690&product_id=315690&adpos=1o1&creative=108171392404&device=c&matchtype=&ne
twork=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh-agpZb34gIVE_5kCh2NOA4KEAQYASABEgKnGPD_BwE.

[10] “Barricade And Traffic Cone Lights.” Grainger Industrial Supply, Grainger Industrial Supply,
www.grainger.com/category/safety/traffic-safety/barricade-and-traffic-cone-lights.
[11] “Steel Drum with Lid - 55 Gallon, Open Top, Unlined.” Uline, Uline,
www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-10758/Drums/Steel-Drum-with-Lid-55-Gallon-Open-Top-
Unlined?pricode=WB0299&gadtype=pla&id=S-
10758&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzOGY6pf34gIVisVkCh2q1ALQEAQYASABEgKL6_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.d
s.

[12] “Concrete Prices - How Much Does Concrete Cost?” The Concrete Network, Concrete
Network, 21 Sept. 2018, www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-prices.html.

[13] “50 Watt Megaphone with Safety Siren.” Harbor Freight Tools, Harbor Freight Tools,
www.harborfreight.com/megaphone-with-safety-siren-
95271.html?cid=paid_google%7C%2APLA%2B-%2BAll%2BProducts%2B-
%2BLower%2BSales%2BItems%7CNew%2BProducts%2B-%2B%282%29%2BPrice%2B%2410-
30%7C95271&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&mkwid=sKk9fTCAR%7Cpcrid%7C318476
002941%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cpdv%7Cc%7Cslid%7C%7Cproduct%7C95271%7C&pgrid=6
3088204546&ptaid=aud-454408222021%3Apla-
295977332774&pcid=1654049980&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuazBpZz34gIVh8JkCh0GDQH6EAQYBCA
BEgJzhvD_BwE.

[14] “Model 220 Dual Train Horn.” Kleinn Air Horns, Kleinn Air Horns,
kleinn.com/product/model-220-dual-train-horn/.