JBER partners with USDA to protect airfield, wildlife

  • Published
  • By Airman Ty-Rico Lea
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaksa --  When it comes to the safety of Air Force pilots, cargo and aircraft, one of the biggest issues is the birds and wildlife that occasionally inhabit or come across the flightline. This is why the Air Force has contracted the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and created the Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard program to help avert any wildlife that can become a liability.

"The really good part about our job is that we never really know what we are going to do as far as what animal we'll have to ward off," said Jerry Morrill, BASH wildlife specialist.
The job of a BASH wildlife specialist is to prevent and remove any wildlife from the base's flightline by non-lethal methods. By doing so, they prevent potential harm to the many aircraft that take off on a daily basis to fulfill their mission requirements.

According to www.afsec.af.mil, BASH's goal is the preservation of war-fighting capabilities through the reduction of wildlife hazards to aircraft operations. They are the Air Force's point of contact for worldwide on-site technical assistance. They are also responsible for developing research programs to reduce bird strike potential around airfields and during low-level flight operations. The team manages the largest bird strike database, often used for conducting detailed statistical analysis for aircraft component design and environmental assessments.

Such methods of non-lethal force include various pyrotechnics to scare the animals away without harming them. Each form of force used has to be done in patterns to avoid the animals becoming accustomed to one certain form of repellent.

"We've had animals such as moose, foxes, porcupines, coyotes and just about every other animal native to this part of Alaska," Morrill said. "Even animals that appear on roads directly outside the flightline are warded off, as they can be potential liabilities for oncoming traffic."

There have been incidents where birds have accidently flown into the engines of Air Force aircraft. On September 22, 1995, an E-3B Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft struck a flock of Canadian geese while departing then Elmendorf Air Force Base. All 24 people on board were killed as the four-engine aircraft lost power in two engines and crashed two miles from the end of the runway. In 1996, the BASH program was started and overseen by the USDA ever since.

"Simply going out and exterminating the birds or other wildlife really doesn't solve the problem of their constant presence," Morrill said. "That's why we as an agency are dedicated not only to preserving the safety of people, but wildlife too. BASH is a nationwide program organized under the USDA and is established to maintain the welfare of wildlife."

Morrill said there is a BASH wildlife specialist on duty every day of the year for specified hours. From April 1 until Oct. 31, someone is on duty at all times.

Kevin Cramer, 3rd Operations Support Squadron airfield manager, said the partnership between the Air Force and the USDA has been greatly beneficial to the BASH mission.

"With the continued help of the USDA, our aircraft incidents with the wildlife have gone down making our missions more accomplishable," Cramer said.