FAA Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports

362 Pages·2005·3.86 MB·English

by  Ed Cleary

Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports

A Manual for Airport Personnel

Prepared by
Edward C. Cleary Richard A. Dolbeer
Staff Wildlife Biologist National Coordinator, Airports Program
U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Agriculture
Federal Aviation Administration Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Office of Airport Safety and Standards Wildlife Services
800 Independence Avenue 6100 Columbus Avenue
Washington, DC 20591, USA Sandusky, OH 44870, USA

Second Edition, July 2005
The Federal Aviation Administration, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, produced the
second edition of this manual. The first edition was published December 1999.
The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Agriculture prohibit discrimination in all
their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion,
age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status (not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact one of the authoring agencies.
i

TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF CHAPTERS ....................................................................................................ii
LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................viii
LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................x
LIST OF APPENDICES................................................................................................xi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........................................................................................137
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND WEB SITES .......................................................139
GLOSSARY...............................................................................................................143
ACRONYMS..............................................................................................................149
APPENDICES ...........................................................................................................151
ii Table of Contents

LIST OF CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE WILDLIFE STRIKE PROBLEM.....................1
CHAPTER 2: THE FAA NATIONAL WILDLIFE STRIKE DATABASE FOR CIVIL
AVIATION....................................................................................................5
2.1 Introduction..................................................................................................5
2.2 Reporting wildlife strikes..............................................................................6
2.3 Management of the database......................................................................6
2.4 Use of and access to information in the database.......................................7
2.5 Summary of wildlife strike records, 1990-2003............................................8
2.5.a Strike frequency..........................................................................9
2.5.b Types of wildlife involved...........................................................13
2.5.c Characteristics of strikes...........................................................13
2.5.d Aircraft components struck and damaged.................................13
2.5.e Effects of wildlife strikes on aircraft and flights..........................14
2.6 Selected examples of wildlife strikes.........................................................17
2.7 Conclusions...............................................................................................22
CHAPTER 3: AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTING WILDLIFE
HAZARD MANAGEMENT ON AIRPORTS................................................23
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................23
3.2 Federal agencies.......................................................................................24
3.2.a U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration............................................................................24
3.2.a.i Mission................................................................................24
3.2.a.ii Authority..............................................................................24
3.2.a.iii Role and responsibility........................................................24
3.2.a.iii.a Office of Airport Safety and Standards......................................24
3.2.a.iii.b Wildlife hazard assessments.....................................................25
3.2.a.iii.c Wildlife hazard management plans ...........................................25
3.2.a.iii.d Advisory Circulars (150/5200 Series)........................................25
3.2.b U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services.....................26
3.2.b.i Mission................................................................................26
3.2.b.ii Authority..............................................................................26
3.2.b.iii Role and responsibility........................................................26
3.2.c U.S. Department Of Defense.....................................................27
3.2.c.i Mission................................................................................27
3.2.c.ii Authority..............................................................................27
3.2.c.iii Role and responsibility........................................................27
3.2.d U.S. Army Corps of Engineers..................................................28
Table of Contents List of Chapters iii

3.2.d.i Mission................................................................................28
3.2.d.ii Authority..............................................................................28
3.2.d.iii Role and responsibility........................................................28
3.2.e U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .....................................28
3.2.e.i Mission................................................................................28
3.2.e.ii Authority..............................................................................28
3.2.e.iii Role and responsibility........................................................28
3.2.e.iii.a Landfills.....................................................................................29
3.2.e.iii.b Pesticides..................................................................................29
3.2.f U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service......29
3.2.f.i Mission................................................................................29
3.2.f.ii Authority..............................................................................29
3.2.f.iii Role and responsibility........................................................30
3.3 State agencies...........................................................................................30
3.3.a State wildlife management agencies.........................................30
3.3.b State environmental protection agencies ..................................31
3.3.b.i Landfill siting permits and inspections.................................31
3.3.b.ii Pesticide registration...........................................................31
3.3.b.iii Pesticide applicator licensing..............................................31
3.4 Airports......................................................................................................31
3.4.a Airport operator.........................................................................31
3.4.b Air Traffic Control......................................................................32
3.4.c Pilots .........................................................................................32
3.5 Bird Strike Committee - USA.....................................................................33
CHAPTER 4: FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES
IMPACTING AIRPORT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT..................................35
4.1 Introduction................................................................................................35
4.2 Summary of applicable federal regulations................................................36
4.2.a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, part 139........................36
4.2.b Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, part 258.10...................36
4.2.c Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, parts 1 to 199...............36
4.2.c.i Depredation permitting requirements and procedures........37
4.2.c.ii Standing depredation orders...............................................37
4.2.d The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as amended
(U.S. Code 603-711; 40 Statute 755)........................................38
4.2.e The Animal Damage Control Act of 1931, as amended
(7 U.S. Code 426-426c; 46 Statute 1468).................................38
4.2.f Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as
amended (7 U.S. Code 136; Public Law 104.317)....................39
iv List of Chapters Table of Contents

4.3 Departmental policies................................................................................39
4.3.a FAA Advisory Circulars .............................................................39
4.3.a.i 150/5200-32A. Reporting wildlife aircraft strikes................39
4.3.a.i 150/5200-33A. Hazardous wildlife attractants on or near
airports................................................................................39
4.3.a.ii 150/5200-34. Construction or establishment of landfills
near public airports.............................................................40
4.3.b FAA, Airports Division: Airport Certification Program Policies
and Guidance............................................................................40
4.3.b.i Policy No. 77. Initiation of wildlife hazard assessments
at airports............................................................................40
4.3.b.ii Policy No. 78. Section 7 consultation on endangered or
threatened species..............................................................40
4.3.b.iii Policy No. 79. Review of airport wildlife hazard
management plans.............................................................40
4.3.b.iv Policy No. 82. Waste disposal facility coordination............41
4.3.c FAA, Airports Division, Office of Airport Safety and
Standards, Certalerts relating to airport wildlife management...41
4.3.c.i Certalert No. 98-05. Grasses attractive to hazardous
wildlife.................................................................................41
4.3.c.ii Certalert No. 04-09. The relationship between FAA and
USDA/WS...........................................................................41
4.3.c.iii Certalert No 04-16. Deer hazards to aviation and deer
fencing................................................................................41
4.3.d USDA, Wildlife Services Directive 2.305, Wildlife Hazards To
Aviation .....................................................................................41
4.3.e Memorandum of Understanding: FAA and USDA/WS..............42
4.3.f Interagency Memorandum of Agreement..................................42
CHAPTER 5: RECOGNIZING HAZARDOUS WILDLIFE ATTRACTANTS ON OR
NEAR AIRPORTS .....................................................................................43
5.1 Introduction................................................................................................43
5.2 Separation criteria for hazardous wildlife attractants on or near airports...44
5.2.a Airports serving piston-powered aircraft....................................44
5.2.b Airports serving turban-powered aircraft ...................................44
5.2.c Protection of approach or departure airspace...........................45
5.3 Land-use practices that potentially attract hazardous wildlife....................45
5.3.a Waste disposal operations........................................................45
5.3.a.i Siting new municipal solid waste landfills subject to AIR
21........................................................................................45
5.3.a.ii Siting new municipal solid waste landfills not subject to
AIR 21.................................................................................47
Table of Contents List of Chapters v

5.3.a.iii Considerations for existing waste disposal facilities
within the limits of separation criteria..................................47
5.3.b Trash transfer stations...............................................................48
5.3.c Composting operations on or near airport property...................48
5.3.d Underwater waste discharges...................................................49
5.3.e Recycling centers......................................................................49
5.3.f Construction and demolition debris facilities .............................49
5.3.g Fly ash disposal.........................................................................49
5.4 Water management facilities.....................................................................50
5.4.a Existing storm water management facilities ..............................50
5.4.b New storm water management facilities....................................51
5.4.c Existing wastewater treatment facilities.....................................52
5.4.d New wastewater treatment facilities..........................................52
5.4.e Artificial marshes.......................................................................52
5.4.f Wastewater discharge and sludge disposal..............................53
5.5 Wetlands...................................................................................................53
5.5.a Existing wetlands on or near airport property............................53
5.5.b New airport development ..........................................................54
5.5.c Mitigation for wetland impacts from airport projects..................54
5.5.c.i On-site mitigation of wetland functions ...............................54
5.5.c.ii Off-site mitigation of wetland functions...............................55
5.5.c.iii Mitigation banking...............................................................55
5.6 Dredge spoil containment areas................................................................55
5.7 Agricultural activity ....................................................................................55
5.7.a Crop production.........................................................................55
5.7.b Livestock production..................................................................56
5.7.c Aquaculture...............................................................................56
5.7.d Alternative uses of agricultural land...........................................56
5.8 Golf courses, landscaping and other land-use considerations..................57
5.8.a Golf courses..............................................................................57
5.8.b Landscaping and landscape maintenance................................57
5.8.c Other hazardous wildlife attractants..........................................58
5.9 Synergistic effects of surrounding land uses.............................................58
CHAPTER 6: DEVELOPING WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
AT AIRPORTS...........................................................................................59
6.1 Introduction................................................................................................59
6.2 Wildlife hazard assessment.......................................................................60
6.2.a Requirement for wildlife hazard assessment.............................60
6.2.b Necessary elements of a wildlife hazard assessment...............61
vi List of Chapters Table of Contents

6.2.c Duration of wildlife hazard assessment and basic survey
techniques.................................................................................63
6.3 Wildlife hazard management plan.............................................................64
6.3.a Requirement for wildlife hazard management plan...................64
6.3.b. National Environmental Policy Act review.................................65
6.3.c Necessary elements of a wildlife hazard management plan......66
CHAPTER 7: EVALUATING WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AT
AIRPORTS ................................................................................................81
7.1 Introduction................................................................................................81
7.2 Monitoring and record keeping..................................................................82
7.2.a Hazard assessments, plans, and studies..................................82
7.2.b Daily log of wildlife control activities..........................................82
7.2.c Daily log of wildlife strikes .........................................................83
7.2.d Records of significant management actions taken....................85
7.2.e Summary reports by month and year........................................85
7.2.f Training.....................................................................................86
7.3 Assessment of wildlife hazard management plan......................................86
7.4 Airport wildlife hazards working group.......................................................87
7.4.a Function ....................................................................................87
7.4.b Membership...............................................................................87
7.4.c Meetings....................................................................................88
7.4.d Meeting reports.........................................................................88
7.5 Summary and conclusions........................................................................89
CHAPTER 8: WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR AIRPORT
PERSONNEL.............................................................................................99
8.1 Introduction................................................................................................99
8.2 Training...................................................................................................100
8.2.a Bird identification.....................................................................100
8.2.b Mammal identification..............................................................102
8.2.c Basic life histories and behavior of common species..............102
8.2.d Wildlife and environmental laws and regulations.....................103
8.2.e Wildlife control techniques.......................................................104
8.2.f Record keeping and strike reporting........................................105
8.3 Sources of training ..................................................................................106
8.4 Wildlife hazard management library........................................................107
8.5 Field guides and reference books ...........................................................107
CHAPTER 9: WILDLIFE CONTROL STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES AT
AIRPORTS ..............................................................................................111
9.1 Introduction..............................................................................................111
9.2 Wildlife control strategies.........................................................................113
Table of Contents List of Chapters vii

9.2.a Aircraft flight schedule modification.........................................114
9.2.b Habitat modification and exclusion..........................................114
9.2.b.i Food..................................................................................114
9.2.b.ii Cover................................................................................115
9.2.b.iii Water................................................................................117
9.2.b.iv Exclusion techniques........................................................118
9.2.b.iv.a Exclusion of birds....................................................................118
9.2.b.iv.b Exclusion of mammals.............................................................119
9.2.c Repellent techniques...............................................................120
9.2.c.i Wildlife patrols and runway sweeps in vehicles................121
9.2.c.ii Chemical repellents for birds ............................................121
9.2.c.iii Chemical repellents for mammals.....................................123
9.2.c.iv Audio repellents for birds..................................................123
9.2.c.v Audio repellents for mammals ..........................................124
9.2.c.vi Visual repellents for birds..................................................125
9.2.c.vii Visual repellents for mammals..........................................126
9.2.c.viii Trained falcons and dogs to repel birds............................126
9.2.c.ix Radio-controlled model aircraft to repel birds ...................126
9.2.c.x Nonlethal projectiles to repel birds....................................127
9.2.d Wildlife removal techniques.....................................................127
9.2.d.i Capturing birds and mammals..........................................127
9.2.d.i.a Chemical capture of birds........................................................128
9.2.d.i.b Live-trapping birds...................................................................128
9.2.d.i.c Chemical capture of mammals................................................129
9.2.d.i.d Live-trapping mammals...........................................................129
9.2.d.ii Killing birds and mammals................................................129
9.2.d.ii.a Destroying eggs and nests......................................................130
9.2.d.ii.b Shooting birds .........................................................................130
9.2.d.ii.c Shooting mammals..................................................................131
9.2.d.ii.d Oral toxicants for birds.............................................................132
9.2.d.ii.e Contact toxicants for birds.......................................................132
9.2.d.ii.f Toxicants for mammals...........................................................133
9.2.d.ii.g Fumigants for mammals..........................................................134
9.2.d.ii.h Lethal traps for mammals........................................................134
9.3 Conclusions.............................................................................................134
9.4 Other sources of information...................................................................135
viii Table of Contents

LIST OF TABLES
Table 2-1. Source of information for reported wildlife strikes to civil aircraft, USA,
1990–2003...................................................................................................7
Table 2-2. Person filing report of wildlife strike to civil aircraft, USA, 1990–2003.........9
Table 2-3. Number of reported wildlife strikes to civil aircraft by type of operator,
USA, 1990–2003. ........................................................................................9
Table 2-4. Number of reported bird, mammal, and reptile strikes to civil aircraft by
USA state, including the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico (PR),
USA-possessed Pacific Islands (PI), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (VI),
1990–2003.................................................................................................10
Table 2-5. Number of reported strikes, strikes with damage, and strikes having a
negative effect-on-flight (EOF) for the five most commonly struck bird
species groups and two most commonly struck mammal groups, USA,
1990–2003.................................................................................................11
Table 2-6. Number of reported bird and mammal strikes to civil aircraft by month,
USA, 1990–20031. ...................................................................................12
Table 2-7. Reported time of occurrence of wildlife strikes to civil aircraft, USA,
1990–2003.................................................................................................12
Table 2-8. Reported phase of flight at time of wildlife strikes to civil aircraft, USA,
1990–2003.................................................................................................13
Table 2-9. Number of reported bird strikes to civil aircraft by height (feet) above
ground level (AGL), USA, 1990–2003........................................................14
Table 2-10. Civil aircraft components reported as being struck and damaged by
wildlife, USA, 1990–2003...........................................................................15
Table 2-11. Number of civil aircraft with reported damage resulting from wildlife
strikes, USA, 1990–2003...........................................................................16
Table 2-12. Reported effect-on-flight (EOF) of wildlife strikes to civil aircraft, USA,
1990–2003.................................................................................................16
Table 6-1. Airport Wildlife Hazard Review Worksheet................................................75
Table 7-1. Example of a daily log of wildlife control activities.....................................91
Table 7-2. Example of a Wildlife Strike Log for recording bird or other wildlife
remains found within 200 feet of runway centerline that, in the judgment
of wildlife control personnel, were killed as a result of interacting with an
aircraft........................................................................................................93
Table 7-3. Example of a form to provide monthly summary of wildlife control
activities.....................................................................................................95
Table 7-4. Example of a form to provide annual summary of wildlife control activities
derived from monthly reports (Table 7-3). Modify each airport’s form to
reflect the common control activities undertaken during the year. The
data may also be presented graphically.....................................................97
Table 8-1. Ranking of 25 species groups as to relative hazard to aircraft (1=most
hazardous) based on three criteria (damage, major damage, and effect-