I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Headquarters U.S. Air Force Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazards Donald Teig HQ AFCESA/CEOA

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 15 January 2009 in the Hudson River AP photo US Airways Flight 1549

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Objective Introduce you to basic BASH information so you have an understanding of potential wildlife hazards at your base.

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Overview Awareness Identifying the Problem Dealing With the Problem Engineer’s Role Safety’s Role

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 72,827 Wildlife Strikes $740,786,928 Damage 20 Year Average (86-06) - $35.0M, 3338 Strikes Statistics (1985 – 2006) Cost in millions Count

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e AIRFIELD 35,453 strikes (48%) $248,347,481 (32%) LOW-LEVEL / RANGE 10,364 strikes (14%) $490,693,694 (62%) OTHER 28,273 strikes (38%) $46,171,694 (6%) Statistics (1985 – 2006) Count Cost

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Statistics (1985 – 2006) Strikes Per Month Spring Migration Fall Migration

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Strikes By Altitude Strikes Altitude – Feet AGL ≤ 2000’ AGL, 92% ≤ 500’ AGL, 64% ≤ 1000’ AGL, 79%

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Strikes By Species (Count)

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Strikes By Species (Cost)

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Size Doesn’t Always Matter F-16 Target Pod White-Throated Swift BASH Examples

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e BASH Examples Damage to fan blades and canopy

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Props Don’t Necessarily Stop Engine Ingestions C-130 American Robin $495K Damage BASH Examples

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e BASH Examples Radome Damage

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Rotary Winged Aircraft Aren’t Immune US Marine Corps Cobra Golden Eagle BASH Examples

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e BASH Isn’t Just For The Birds White-tailed Deer BASH Examples

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Identifying the Problem Strike Reporting Wildlife Identifications Observations / Surveys Nighttime Hazards

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Wildlife Identifications OVER HALF OF ALL BIRD STRIKES ARE IDENTIFIED Feather Identification Red-tailed Hawks EXPERTS ARE AT THE SMITHSONIAN ACCESS TO OVER 650,000 SPECIMENS SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION National Museum of Natural History

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Observations / Surveys Plot Potential Trouble Areas (on & off base) directly on a Geographic Information System (GIS) Map AOC FULL EXTENT Areas of Concern

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Non-migration Insectivores Owls Migration Passerines (Songbirds) Waterfowl Can be flying at fairly high altitudes Mammals Bats, deer, and coyote Wildlife Hazards To Night Flying Nighttime Hazards

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Dealing with the Problem Exclude / Mitigate Harass Depredate Avoid

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Exclude / Mitigate GRASS HEIGHT (7-14 inches) NO BARE AREAS ELIMINATE BROAD-LEAF PLANTS AVOID WEED SEED HEADS Ecosystem Management

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e MOW DURING LOW FLYING Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Exclude / Mitigate

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e ELIMINATE STANDING WATER Maintain Good Airfield Drainage Exclude / Mitigate

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e DO NOT FEED THE WATERFOWL FENCE OR GRID SMALL PONDS Exclude / Mitigate

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Fencing Best Deterrent to Deer Exclude / Mitigate

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e REMOVE PERCHES Don’t Give Them a Reason to be There Exclude / Mitigate

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e MANAGE OUTLEASING WISELY - No Grain Crops Crops Around Your Airfield Exclude / Mitigate

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Harassment Tools Harass

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Be aware of other activities around the airfield when harassment activities are taking place Harass

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Depredation Use only after other methods have been employed Permits, Permits, Permits US Fish & Wildlife Service State Game Department When all else fails….. Depredate

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Bird Avoidance Model (BAM) Avian Hazard Advisory System (AHAS) Small Mobile Radar (SMR) Avoid Dealing

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e BAM Bird Avoidance Model Data Geographic Information System-based 30+ Years of Top 60 Species Web Based Dealing

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Small Mobile Radar Dealing

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e The Safety Office is responsible Cross-functional participation Safety (SE) Civil Engineering (CE) Judge Advocate General (JAG) Public Affairs (PA) Director of Operations (DO) Logistics (LG) BASH Problem

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Establish a BASH Plan Establish Bird Hazard Working Group, (BHWG) Establish procedures for wildlife control Develop a Bird Hazard Warning System Designate Phase I / II periods of bird activity Installation Safety Office: Safety Responsibilities

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e “Flight safety office will establish the BASH plan, defining the nature and extent of wildlife hazards and implementation of the plan” Living document Use Bird Hazard Working Group as forum for revising plan Responsibilities of each organization spelled out clearly BASH Plan Safety Responsibilities

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Bird Hazard Working Group Consists of organizations involved in airfield bird control, habitat management, operations, and safety Meet at least semi-annually Maintain minutes Vice wing commander chairs meetings Forum to discuss budgeting and all airfield projects and how they impact BASH Safety Responsibilities

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Safety Responsibilities Internal Manpower Which agency is responsible for harassment and/or depredation Equipment Contract Manpower US Department of Agriculture/Wildlife Services – depredation, harassment, surveys ….. Wildlife Control Airports are not Wildlife Refuges

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Flying one hour before and after dawn or dusk should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. The highest levels of bird activity normally occur during these hours as birds leave and return to their roost. Avoiding flight operations during these periods can significantly reduce the chance of a birdstrike. Sunrise/Sunset

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Vulture roost less than 2 nautical miles from the runway Other Solutions

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Other Solutions A Taxidermy Mount Of a Dead Vulture

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e AIR FORCE: Mr. Eugene LeBoeuf, DSN NAVY: Mr. Matthew Klope, (360) ARMY: Mr. Kevin Walter, (703) DoD BASH POC’s

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Advisory Circular 150/ FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR: HAZARDOUS WILDLIFE ATTRACTANTS ON OR NEAR AIRPORTS Federal Aviation Regulation Part 139, Sec CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS: LAND AIRPORTS SERVING CERTAIN AIR CARRIERS Certification Alert RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAA AND USDA/WILDLIFE SERVICES Certification Alert GRASS ATTRACTIVE TO HAZARDOUS WILDLIFE Certification Alert WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT PLAN OUTLINE FAA Guidance

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e  AFI (Chapter 7.11) The US Air Force Mishap Prevention Program 1 Aug 98  AFI (Chapters and 3.1) Safety Investigations and Reports (Bird Strike Reporting) 24 Sep 08  AFMAN (Chapters 1.3, and 5.4.2) Aviation Safety Investigations and Reports 6 Jul 04  AFPAM Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Management Techniques 1 Feb 04  AFI Integrated Natural Resources Management 17 Sep 04  AFI Environmental Impact Analysis Process 2 Mar 03  AFI Airfield Management 8 Dec 05  AFI Management and Maintenance of Non-Nuclear Munitions 10 Feb 05 USAF Guidance

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e  OPNAVINST B CH-3: Environmental and Natural Resources Program Manual  NAVFAC P-73 Procedural Manual, Volume II  OPNAVINST R Chg 1: Naval Aviation Safety Program Navy Guidance

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e USAF BASH Team Web Site USAF BAM / AHAS Web Site Federal Aviation Administration BASH Web Site References

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e QUESTIONS?