Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports in New York

Study Objectives  Greatest and most common hazards  GA airport needs  Recommendations for airports  Recommendations for further study

Methods  Field data compilation and analysis DOT survey Site Visits Wildlife Hazard Assessments  Analysis of GA industry Airport uses Aircraft Wildlife strikes

Results- DOT survey  18 responses  Range of settings and uses

Results- DOT survey  Strikes- at 61% of airports  Major or frequent wildlife hazards- 50% Deer Geese Starlings, gulls, crows, coyotes

Results- DOT survey Airport needs:  Funding  Equipment and personnel  Training  Permits & regulations assistance or guidance

Results- site visits  Seven airports  Range of settings and uses  Geese and gulls- concerns at all airports  Deer and coyotes

Results- site visits  Attractants/ habitats on- and off- airport Woods, brush Grass management Goose attractants  Regulated wetlands

Results- site visits Airport needs:  Management options for wetlands  Information on regulations and permits

Results- Wildlife Hazard Assessments  Deer  Starlings  Gulls  Killdeer  Crows  Geese, coyotes, hawks

Results- WHAs  Fences- vegetation, frost heave  Grass management  Woods and brush  Goose attractants off-airport

Results- Airports and aircraft  Increasing diversity of use  Increasing transient use  Wildlife strikes 82 reported strikes at 20 airports 24.3% resulted in damage

Study results  9 species primarily causing hazards  Major differences among GA airports

Conclusions  Increasing vulnerability at GA airports  Larger GA’s can use some existing guidance  Smaller GA’s need a different approach  Research needs

Recommendations  Go outside  Be aware of conditions  Request a site visit  Request a WHA  FAA-USDA Manual Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports

Acknowledgements  Seth Edelman and Steve Campbell NYSDOT Aviation Bureau  Allen Gosser USDA Wildlife Services New York Thank you!