Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports (2010)

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TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2010 www.TRB.org A I R P O R T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M ACRP REPORT 32 Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration Subscriber Categories Aviation Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports Edward C. Cleary WASHMAN LLC Brookston, IN A N D Archie Dickey BIOZONE INC. Prescott, AZ

AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in trans- portation of people and goods and in regional, national, and inter- national commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal respon- sibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Coopera- tive Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study spon- sored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Coopera- tive Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Pro- gram. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, mainte- nance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport opera- tors can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary partici- pants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport oper- ating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), and the Air Transport Association (ATA) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research orga- nizations. Each of these participants has different interests and respon- sibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by iden- tifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel, appointed by the TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport pro- fessionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels pre- pare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooper- ative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the intended end-users of the research: airport operating agencies, service providers, and suppliers. The ACRP produces a series of research reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other interested parties, and industry associations may arrange for work- shops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by airport-industry practitioners. ACRP REPORT 32 Project 04-06 ISSN 1935-9802 ISBN 978-0-309-15474-1 Library of Congress Control Number 2010928616 © 2010 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB or FAA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The members of the technical panel selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance. The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research Council, and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. Published reports of the AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America

CRP STAFF FOR ACRP REPORT 32 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Crawford F. Jencks, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs Michael R. Salamone, ACRP Manager Marci A. Greenberger, Senior Program Officer Tiana Barnes, Senior Program Assistant Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Doug English, Editor ACRP PROJECT 04-06 PANEL Field of Safety Stephanie Ward, Mead & Hunt, Inc., Lansing, MI (Chair) Nick A. Atwell, Port of Portland (OR), Portland, OR Michael J. Begier, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC David F. Edwards, Baltimore Washington International Airport, Glen Burnie, MD Laura C. Francoeur, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Jamaica, NY Carl L. Remmel, Georgia/Dekalb Peachtree Airport, Atlanta, GA Michel Hovan, FAA Liaison Christine Gerencher, TRB Liaison AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS No work such as this guidebook is created solely by the authors. Many people played a part in its cre- ation. The authors wish to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to all who played a part, no mat- ter how large or small, in the development of this guidebook: Dr. Richard Dolbeer, who submitted the original idea to the Transportation Research Board; Dr. Russell DeFusco, who conducted site visits to gen- eral aviation airports in Colorado and Alaska and reviewed early versions of the guidebook; technical panel members—Nick Atwell, Portland International Airport; Michael Begier, USDA Wildlife Services; David Edwards, New Bedford Regional Airport; Laura Francoe, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Paul Friedman, Federal Aviation Administration; Marci Greenberger, Transportation Research Board; Christine Gerencher, Transportation Research Board; Michel Hovan, Federal Aviation Administration; Mike Linnell, USDA Wildlife Services; Carl Remmel, DeKalb Peachtree Airport; Joseph Snell, Trans- portation Research Board; and Stephanie Ward, Mead & Hunt Inc.—for their review, comments, and guidance on the guidebook; and Mollyssa Kuper, technical editor for Biozone. Without all of these people’s efforts and cooperation, this project could never have come to fruition. Ed Cleary, WASHMan LLC Archie Dickey, Biozone Inc. C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S

ACRP Report 32: Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports presents the different wildlife challenges that airports may face and the techniques and strategies for addressing them. The Guidebook discusses for airport mangers and other airport personnel at general aviation airports with limited resources (1) the different species that can be found at airports and specific information that will be helpful in identifying and controlling them, (2) the various wildlife attractants and best management practices that can be employed by airport operators to minimize wildlife activity at and around airports, (3) wildlife control strategies and techniques that are most appropriate at general aviation airports, and (4) how to develop a wildlife control program. General aviation airports are usually resource constrained, and because of limited staff, there is very little specializing that occurs. Airport personnel often handle many different areas of airport management, and rely on easy-to-read, all encompassing materials to help them be as effective as possible in their different responsibilities in operating and maintain- ing the airport. ACRP Report 32 is a guidebook for general aviation airport personnel in the area of wildlife management designed to assist them in providing the safest environment possible in an efficient manner. Wildlife hazards and the safety concerns associated with them have always been a con- cern for airport operators, and with the January 2009 ditching of a US Airways aircraft into the Hudson River after colliding with Canadian geese after take-off, this has put the issue in the public spotlight. However, there isn’t as much data on wildlife collisions with aircraft at general aviation airports as there is at Part 139 airports, possibly due to the lack of general understanding of the issue and the reporting process. Under ACRP Project 04-06, Biozone Inc. and WASHMan LLC were asked to develop a guidebook that could be used by airport personnel at general aviation airports to help them identify and understand the nature of wildlife hazards and provide practical ways in which they can be addressed. To develop the Guidebook, the research team reviewed known rele- vant materials and spoke directly to general aviation airport operators to obtain informa- tion on the primary issues affecting them, and used this information and their expertise to identify best management practices at general aviation airports. F O R E W O R D By Marci A. Greenberger Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

xi Preface 1 How to Use This Guidebook, and an Introduction to Controlling Hazardous Wildlife at General Aviation Airports 1 Guidebook Purpose and Design 2 Introduction to the Problem 4 Applicability P A R T 1 For General Aviation Airport Personnel 9 Chapter 1 The Most Hazardous Species of Wildlife 9 Introduction 10 Most Hazardous Mammals 10 Coyotes 11 Deer 12 Dogs 13 Foxes 14 Raccoons 15 Most Hazardous Birds 15 American Crows 16 Blackbirds 18 Cormorants 19 Ducks 21 European Starlings 22 Gulls 24 Herons, Egrets, and Cranes 26 Mourning Doves 27 Pigeons 28 Raptors – Hawks, Owls, and Eagles 30 Resident Canada Geese 31 Chapter 2 Recognizing Hazardous Wildlife Attractants at or near General Aviation Airports 31 Introduction 32 Separation Criteria for Hazardous Wildlife Attractants at or near Airports 32 Airports Serving Piston-Powered Aircraft 34 Airports Serving Turbine-Powered Aircraft 34 Protection of Approach or Departure Airspace 34 Land Use Practices That Potentially Attract Hazardous Wildlife 34 Waste Disposal Operations 36 Trash Transfer Stations 36 Composting Operations on or near Airport Property C O N T E N T S

37 Underwater Waste Discharges 37 Recycling Centers 37 Construction and Demolition Debris Facilities 38 Fly Ash Disposal 38 Water Management Facilities 38 Existing Storm Water Management Facilities 40 New Storm Water Management Facilities 41 Existing Wastewater Treatment Facilities 41 New Wastewater Treatment Facilities 41 Artificial Marshes 42 Wastewater Discharge and Sludge Disposal 42 Wetlands 43 Existing Wetlands on or near Airport Property 43 New Airport Development 43 Mitigation for Wetland Impacts from Airport Projects 45 Dredge Spoil Containment Areas 45 Agricultural Activity 45 Crop Production 45 Livestock Production 46 Aquaculture 46 Alternative Uses of Agricultural Land 46 Airside Vegetation Management 49 Landscaping, Golf Courses, and Other Land Use Considerations 49 Landscaping and Landscape Maintenance 49 Golf Courses 50 Other Hazardous Wildlife Attractants 50 Synergistic Effects of Surrounding Land Uses 51 Chapter 3 Wildlife Control Strategies and Techniques at General Aviation Airports 51 Introduction 52 Basic Control Strategies 52 Repelling Techniques 53 Habitat Modification 54 Exclusion Techniques 54 Population Management Techniques 56 Notices to Airmen of Potential Wildlife Hazards 56 Strategies and Techniques for Controlling Birds 56 Repelling Techniques 62 Habitat Modification 66 Exclusion Techniques 67 Population Management 72 Strategies and Techniques for Controlling Large Mammals 72 Repelling Techniques 73 Habitat Modification 75 Exclusion Techniques 76 Population Management 78 Strategies and Techniques for Controlling Small Mammals 78 Toxicants 79 Fumigants 79 Notices to Airmen of Potential Wildlife Hazards 80 Conclusions

P A R T 2 Activities for General Aviation Airport Managers Concerned About Hazardous Wildlife Problems 87 Chapter 4 Measuring the Threat 87 Introduction 89 Ranking Wildlife Species Hazardous to General Aviation Aircraft 90 Wildlife Strikes at General Aviation Airports 92 The Cost of Wildlife Strikes to General Aviation 93 Human Deaths and Injuries Resulting from Wildlife Strikes 93 Economic Losses 95 General Aviation Airports and Their Legal Responsibilities 97 Chapter 5 Developing a Wildlife Control Program at General Aviation Airports 97 Introduction 98 Sources of Funding 99 Wildlife Hazard Surveys 99 Requirement for Wildlife Hazard Assessment 99 Necessary Elements of a Wildlife Hazard Assessment 102 Wildlife Hazard Management Plans 103 Requirement for Wildlife Hazard Management Plans 104 Necessary Elements of a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan 104 Equipment 109 Portable Equipment 110 Static Devices 110 Trained Predators (Raptors and Dogs) 110 Logging Wildlife Management Activities 111 Wildlife Strike Reporting 112 Chapter 6 Evaluating Wildlife Hazard Management Programs at General Aviation Airports 112 Introduction 113 Monitoring and Recordkeeping 113 Hazard Assessments, Plans, and Studies 113 Daily Log of Wildlife Control Activities 114 Log of Wildlife Strikes 116 Records of Significant Management Actions Taken 116 Summary Reports by Month and Year 117 Training 117 Evaluation of Wildlife Hazard Management Programs 118 Airport Wildlife Hazards Working Group 118 Function 118 Membership 119 Summary and Conclusions 123 Chapter 7 Wildlife Hazard Management Training for General Aviation Airport Personnel 123 Introduction 124 Training 124 Bird Identification 125 Mammal Identification 126 Basic Life Histories and Behavior of Common Species

128 Wildlife and Environmental Laws and Regulations 128 Wildlife Control Techniques 130 Recordkeeping and Strike Reporting 130 Sources of Training 130 Wildlife Control Workshops at Airports 130 Bird Strike Committee–USA Meetings 131 Hunter Safety and Firearms Courses 131 Miscellaneous Courses and Activities 132 Wildlife Hazard Management Library 132 Field Guides and Reference Books 133 Chapter 8 Government Agencies and Regulations Impacting Wildlife Hazard Control at General Aviation Airports 133 Introduction 133 Federal Agencies 133 U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration 137 U.S. Department of Agriculture/Wildlife Services 137 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 138 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 139 U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 144 State Agencies 144 State Wildlife Management Agencies 144 State Environmental Protection Agencies 145 Airports 145 Airport Operator 146 Air Traffic Control 146 Fixed Base Operators 146 Pilots 147 Private Contractors 149 Glossary 154 Acronyms 156 Bibliography 160 Appendix A Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, Headquarters and Regional Offices 165 Appendix B U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Headquarters and State Offices 170 Appendix C Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circulars and CertAlerts Useful to General Aviation Airports 171 Appendix D Equipment for Control of Hazardous Wildlife 172 Appendix E Assessing Wildlife Hazard Management Plans at Civil Airports 178 Appendix F Federal Aviation Administration Form 5200-7, Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report

P R E F A C E As part of the preparation for writing this guidebook, questionnaires were sent to a ran- dom selection of approximately half (1,120) of the general aviation (GA) airports in the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS); approximately 15% of the airports that received questionnaires responded. On-site evalua- tions were conducted at 13 GA airports selected from various geographic regions of the United States and ranging in size from 19,000 operations per year to over 505,000 opera- tions per year. Information gathered from the surveys and the site visits was used to verify and provide insight into the approach and direction of this guidebook. The surveys also brought to light several facts that have a major influence on how most GA airports operate. Many GA airports are found in rural areas and are managed by local city or county avia- tion boards. About 21% of GA airports have urban development next to the airport, 17% have development within a half mile, 27% have urbanization within 1 to 1.5 miles, and 33% of the airports are more than 2 miles from the closest urban development. GA airports operate with minimal budgets and staffing. Lack of funding forces many air- ports to not take actions toward minimizing aircraft/wildlife hazards or to allow activities that exacerbate the problem rather than correcting or lessening it. About 35% of GA air- ports have adequate (chain link) fencing. Over 30% of GA airports do not have perimeter fencing. About 33% allow on-airport agriculture. The majority of these airports have indi- cated that on-airport agriculture is necessary for financial viability of the airport. The majority (59%) of GA airports reported they had never had a wildlife strike reported at their airport. For those airports that acknowledged having had at least one wildlife strike, the most commonly reported struck animals were deer (12%), birds (22%), geese (6%), and coyotes (3%). When asked about wildlife being seen at the airport, 39% indicated that wildlife was not often seen, and 61% indicated that it was often seen. The most commonly reported wildlife seen were birds (41%), mammals (14%), birds and mammals (43%), and birds, mammals, and domestic animals (21%). Little if any research directed specifically at wildlife problems at GA airports has been con- ducted. The FAA sponsors a great deal of research directed at the wildlife aircraft strike problem. However, that research is directed at broad application to certificated airports. It is not directed specifically at GA airports.