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STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

Matt Quick

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STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

Understanding both the habitat and wildlife found on and adjacent to the airport is critical for effective wildlife population management.

Many of the strategies and techniques may be dependent on necessary funding, approvals, and permits prior to their implementation.

Focus on practical and implementable wildlife strategies and techniques that take into account small staffing and constrained budgets.

Implementation measures can be categorized into the following:

• Habitat/Facilities Modification (often the most effective)

• Wildlife Control

• Administrative/Operational Actions

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STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

Habitat/Facilities Modification:

1) Maintain grass areas adjacent to runway system in safety critical areas (runway safety areas)

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Habitat/Facilities Modification:

2) Maintain perimeter fencing/gates

STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

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Habitat/Facilities Modification:

3) Minimize Access to Airfield Facilities

4) Implement anti-perching devices on airfield structures

STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

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Habitat/Facilities Modification:

5) Remove unnecessary structures from AOA

6) Maintain proper drainage to limit water ponding/retention

STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

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Wildlife Control:1) Exercise repelling and hazing techniques while conducting daily

airfield inspections

2) Remove nests from buildings and infield areas

Proper permits may be needed to carry out certain wildlife control measures. • USFWS Depredation Permit• TPWD Depredation Permit

STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

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Administrative/Operational Action:

1) Coordinate with tenants on keeping trash receptacles closed and dumpster areas clean

2) Manage landscaping around terminal area

3) Coordinate with adjacent landowners on land use and agricultural feeding times

4) Utilize the USDA-Wildlife Services or local Animal Control Agency

5) Work with local planning and zoning boards to be aware of land-use changes that could create wildlife attractants

STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

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Resources for Identifying Wildlife Mitigation Measures

Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports: Manual for Airport Personnel (FAA and USDA – 2005)

ACRP Report 32: Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports (TRB – 2010)

ACRP Synthesis 39: Airport Wildlife Population Management (TRB – 2013)

STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE WILDLIFE HAZARDS

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Megan Philips-Schaap

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Megan Philips-SchaapFAA Qualified Airport Wildlife

Biologist

What is the Difference Between a Wildlife

Hazard Site Visit and a Wildlife Hazard

Assessment?

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SUMMARY

• Background

• Draft Advisory Circular 150/5200-38

• Wildlife Hazard Site Visit (WHSV)

• Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA)

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Purpose of Wildlife Hazard

Management

• CertAlert 09-10

• WHAs for Part 139 airports

• Recommend WHAs for general aviation airports

• Standard protocols?

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Draft Advisory Circular 150/5200-38

• Protocol for the conduct and review of wildlife hazard site visits (WHSV), wildlife hazard assessments (WHA), and wildlife hazard management plans (WHMP)

• The AC defines the minimum acceptable standards for the conduct and preparation

• Provides guidelines that define when a WHSV should be conducted and when an WHA must be conducted

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Wildlife Hazard Site Visits

• 1. Gathering airport information

• 2. Field observations

• 3. Final report and recommendations

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1. Gathering Airport Information

• Airport operations

• Past and present land management practices

• Strike records

• Federal and state permits

• Current wildlife hazard threats and concerns

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2. Field Observations

• Birds

• Mammals

• Habitat attractants

• Wildlife habitat relationship

• Wildlife interactions with aircraft operations

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3. Site Visit Report

• Summarize field data and any management recommendations

• List of wildlife species• Federal and State status of species observed• Habitat features that attract wildlife• Natural and man-made wildlife attractants• Strike data analysis• Recommendations

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Wildlife Hazard Assessments

• 1. Elements of the WHA

• 2. Survey protocols

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1. Elements of the WHA

1. Analysis of event that prompted the assessment

2. Identification of wildlife observed

3. Identification of features that attract wildlife

4. Wildlife hazards to aircraft carrier operations

5. Recommend actions for reducing wildlife hazards to aircraft

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2. Survey Protocols

• Twelve months data collection

• Avian surveys

• Mammalian surveys

• Habitat surveys

• Basic assessment of airport and aircraft operations

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Site Visit vs. Assessment

Site Visit

• 1 to 3 day survey

• Conducted by a FAA QAWB

• Produce letter report

• Recommend an Assessment or update Plan

Assessment

• Twelve month survey

• Conducted by a FAA QAWB

• Produce WHA report

• Recommend Plan

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Our Goal

Help ensure public safety by reducing wildlife strikes

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Sarah Brammell

Environmental Resource Solutions

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Guidance & Regulation Update

1. FAA Advisory Circular Updates

2. USFWS Federal Migratory Bird Depredation Permits

3. Wildlife Hazard Hot Topics on the Horizon

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Guidance & Regulation UpdateFAA Advisory Circulars - DRAFT

• FAA AC 150/5200-33C Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or Near

Airports

• FAA AC 150/5200-38 Protocol for the Conduct and Review of

Wildlife Hazard Site Visits, Wildlife Hazard Assessments, and

Wildlife Hazard Management Plans

FAA Advisory Circulars - ISSUED

• FAA AC 150/5200-32B Reporting Wildlife Aircraft Strikes (2013)

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General Aviation Airports

• How do the FAA AC’s apply to GA Airports? 150/5200-33B Applicability: “Airports

that receive Federal grant-in-aid assistance must use these standards”

• Reporting Wildlife Strikes

• Annual Training

• Funding

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WHA vs. WHSV• Wildlife Hazard Assessment

Comprehensive evaluation that provides the scientific basis for the development and implementation of recommendations to reduce wildlife strike risks.

Conducted by a QAWB

Requirements are provided in 14 CFR Part 139.337

12 month wildlife observations

WHA Document Determination if a WHMP is required.

• Wildlife Hazard Site Visit Quickly evaluate and mitigate potential hazards

Guidance in DRAFT FAA AC 150/5200-38

1-3 day site visit by a QAWB

Site Visit Report - with recommendations and if warranted:• conduct a WHA• Update an existing WHMP• No Action required

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USFWS Federal Migratory Bird Depredation Permits

• Do you need a USFWS Federal Depredation Permit?

YES - for lethal control (“take”) of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), effigies, and egg or active nest removal

NO - for species not protected under MBTA (non-native species, game birds), harassment activities (such as pyrotechnics), for non-active nest removal

• Currently, the permit lists species and allowable numbers

• Annual Report submitted to USFWS

• Recent court rulings:

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s January 26, 2016, decision in Friends of Animals v. Clay, No. 14-4071 (Jan. 26, 2016), airports that have secured depredation permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) that contain “emergency take” provisions may “take” migratory birds on an emergency basis irrespective of species. This makes depredation permits a much more useful tool for on-airport wildlife hazard management, because it avoids the need to specify species in advance of the hazardous wildlife control.

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Wildlife Hazard Topics on the Horizon

• Drones & Remote Pilot Aircraft

• Agriculture/Aquaculture Guidance

• New Technology in Wildlife Hazard Management Tools

• Voluntary vs. Mandatory Strike Reporting

• Updating an Airport’s Wildlife Hazard Assessment

• Bird Strike Committee USA - 2016 Conference

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Rick Jones

Mead & Hunt

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Precedents for Wildlife Strikes and Liability:

Boston Electra Litigation (1960)

Miree Litigation (1973)

Concord Settlement (1995)

AWAC – Elmendorf (1995)

Wildlife Hazards and Liability: 1960 to Present

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1960: Boston Electra

Aircraft struck European StarlingsCrashed in Boston Harbor and killed 62 of 72 persons on board.114 lawsuits in Federal Court48 lawsuits in State Courts

U.S. District Court found FAA negligent because it failed to require the operator to remove bird attractants at the airport.

Wildlife Hazards to Aviation –Operator Liability

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1973: Miree Litigation

Learjet departing PDK struck brown-headed cowbirds that were attracted to a nearby trash-transfer station. Crash killed eight people and injured one person on the ground.

Court determined that the airport manager could be held liable for failing to take the precautions to end bird hazards.

Wildlife Hazards to Aviation –Operator Liability

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1995: Concord Settlement

Air France Concorde approaching JFK ingested Canada geese at altitude of 10 feet. Uncontained failure in No. 3 engine. Shrapnel destroyed No. 4 engine

Aircraft landed safely, but the runway was closed for several hours. Damage > $7 million.

Air France sued the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Out-of-court settlement for $5.3 million.

Wildlife Hazards to Aviation –Operator Liability

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Wildlife Hazards to Aviation –Operator Liability

1995: Elmendorf AFB

Anchorage, Alaska

U.S. Air Force AWACS aircraft struck a flock of Canada geese on takeoff: Four geese into the No. 1 and No. 2 engines. Plane crashed 1 mile from the Air Force Base. All 24 airmen perished.

InvestigationThe “worst possible combination of operational conditions”. Infrequent and inadequate wildlife patrols. Controllers had a duty to warn the flight crew and failure to do so was a contributing factor to the accident.

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FAA Grant Assurance No. 19

*Wildlife Hazard Management is a Safety Issue!*

*Wildlife Hazard Management is Risk Management!*

*Airport operators must exercise “due diligence” to manage wildlife hazards and avoid liability!*

“The Airport and all facilities...shall be operated at all times in a safe and serviceable condition....”

• Your airport is a federally obligated airport because you accept federal money; therefore, you must adhere to FAA regulations or lose funding.