Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific l<nowledge, policies, or practices. — / USDA United States One Strike Department of Agriculture You're Out! Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services Service Helps Reduce Wildlife ProgramAid Conflicts at Airports No. 1644 The Problem Collisions between aircraftand wildlife at airports have risen dramatically in recentyears as a result of large popu- lation increases in manywildlife species, fasterairplanes, and the increase in airtransportation traffic. Everyyear between 1991 and 1997, wildlife strikes cost U.S. civil avi- ation morethan $300 million and 500,000 hours ofaircraft downtime. About 2,400 bird strikes to civil aircraft are reported each year, and more than 2,500 are reported by the U.S.Air Force. Since 1990, morethan 300 deercolli- sionswith aircraft have been reported tothe Federal AviationAdministration (FAA). FAAregulations (Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 139) prescribe rules governing the certifi- cation and operation ofcertain commercial airports. These regulations require certificated airportsto conduct a wildlife hazard assessmentwhen an aircraft experiences a multiple-bird strike or engine ingestion or a damaging colli- sion with wildlife otherthan birds orwhen wildlife capable ofcausing such events are observed to have accessto any airportflight pattern or movement area. Depending on the results ofthewildlife hazard assessment, awildlife hazard management plan may also be required. Wildlife management at airports can eliminate or greatly reduce collisions between aircraft and birds or otherwildlife. However, Wildlife Services (WS) researchers and the FAAbelievethat about 80 percent ofwildlife strikes to aircraftgo unreported. These unreported strikes make detection and management ofwildlife hazards atair- ports much more challenging. The purpose ofthis leaflet isto explain to the aviation community howthe Federal Governmentcan helpwith these life-threatening problems. Help is Availabl( The Wildlife Services program ofthe U.S. Department ofAgriculture'sAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service offers consultation and management services to assess wildlife conflicts at airports and improve safety by reducing hazards associated with wildlife. Wildlife Services has a nationwide network of biolo- gists trained and certified in wildlife hazard management at airports. These professional biologists are readyto pro- vide airport site visits and wildlife consultations, develop wildlife hazard assessments and wildlife hazard manage- ment plans, and conduct operational wildlife management programs. These services may include assistance in complying with Federal and State environmental laws, endangered species and wildlife permit requirements, and conservation and ecology issues. Wildlife Services also has a major research and development program that provides a solid scientific foundation for its services. Wildlife Services personnel provide airport site visits and wildlife consultations as resources permit. These site visits and consultations are designed to help airport man- agers maintain a safe environment and meet FAAregula- tory requirements. Wildlife Services can conductwildlife hazard assess- ments and develop wildlife hazard management plans that meet FAA Part 139 criteriathrough airport-funded agreements. WS can also conductwildlife management programs. WS Certified biologists from can train airport person- nel to recognize hazardouswildlife conditions andto imple- mentappropriate actions. Wildlife Services provides assistance to people expe- riencing problems caused bywildlife. The mission of WS is to protect agriculture, property, natural resources, and human health and safety from wildlife damage. WS works closelywith the FAA, U.S. military, and the aviation indus- tryto research wildlife hazards at airports and to reduce the economic impacts and hazards to aviation caused by wildlife. Wildlife Sen/ices' experienced biologists are skilled and certified in managing wildlife hazards at airports. These biologists have a unique understanding ofwildlife behavior and interaction with human activities in airport environments. The methods used by Wildlife Services to reducethe risk ofwildlife strikes to aircraft are based on environmen- tally sound research conducted at WS' National Wildlife Research Center, the world's only scientific research cen- terdevoted entirelyto the development of methods and technology forwildlife damage management. % What DoesWS Provide In an Airport Consultation? Asite visit and overviewofwildlife attractants on and around the airport. Areview ofwildlife hazards. Identification ofwildlife species observed and their legal status. Strike dataanalysis. Averbal debriefing and written summary report containing appropriatewildlife hazard management recommendations. Airport representatives can call their nearest Wildlife WS Services Regional Office, the Operational Support Staff, ortheir FAA Regional Coordinator. These officeswill direct airport managerstothe appropriate WS State Director, who is prepared toworkwith industry managers to determinetheirappropriatewildlife hazard management WS WS needs. also has aWebsitewith adirectoryofall State and Regional Offices. The address is www.aphis.usda.gov/ws Wildlife Services' Off,ic,e Phone Numbe. r.s. Eastern Regional Office: (919) 716-5632 Western Regional Office: (303) 969-6560 Operational Support Staff: (301)734-7921 National Wildlife Research Center: (970) 266-6000 To continue the baseball analogy begun with thetitle of this leaflet,justonewildlife strike can put awhole airport and its aircarrierstemporarilyoutofservice. Reporting wildlife strikestothe FAAand working withWildlife Servicesto manage local wildlife populations arethetwo most important stepsthe aviation industrycan taketo addressthe problem ofwildlife hazards at airports. The U.S. Department ofAgriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disabili- ty, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital orfamily status. (Not all prohibited bases applyto all programs.) Personswith disabilitieswho require alternative meansfor communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA'sTARGET Centerat (202) 720-2600 (voice andTDD). To file a complaint ofdiscrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 orcall (202) 720-5964 (voice andTDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued June 1999 Slightly revised September2001