Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 5, No. 35
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, September 26, 2014
U.S., partner nations conduct airstrikes against ISIL in Syria
U.S. Navy photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlos Vazquez II
The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launches Tomahawk cruise missiles to conduct strikes against ISIL targets. Arleigh Burke is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. See the story on Page 3.
Leaders approve increased measures to deter geese, prevent aircraft mishap
From Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
Officials at Joint Base Charleston recently discussed an escalation in the base’s ongoing efforts to prevent aircraft bird strikes in the vicinity of the Air Base. Due to a large increase in the number of geese inhabiting areas surrounding the airfield, and their growing immunity to other bird-removal tactics, officials have approved the supervised use of firearms to decrease and deter the geese population in areas outside the flightline. Bird strikes, especially among large fowl like geese and vultures, pose a significant threat to aircrews, as well as people who live and work near the Air Base. Each year, civil and military aircraft strike thousands of birds, and some planes — like U.S. Airways Flight 1549 which did an emergency landing in the Hudson River—crash as a result. Base leaders approved the bird-depredation tactic to prevent just such an incident. “Ensuring the safety of our people, both in the air and on the ground, is my highest priority at Joint Base Charleston,” said Col. Jeffrey DeVore, 628th Air Base Wing commander. “With the number of geese here on the rise and the growing ineffectiveness of our previous tactics, we needed to expand our depredation efforts to prevent a possible disaster.” The colonel stressed that the new plan involves prudent checks and balances to prevent the risk of a safety mishap to base members. “I know that the use of firearms, even in controlled circumstances, presents risks; therefore, I want to assure you that we have numerous checks in place to minimize those risks,” said DeVore. Leaders are striving to make this process transparent to base employees and residents and are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement the plan. Before the USDA representative may begin depredating efforts, they must obtain approval from the 628th ABW com-
mander. The USDA representative will then coordinate with base security forces personnel, who will escort them to the scene and cordon off the area, to protect the general public. Populated areas on the installation will be assessed for risk and, if the order to remove the geese is given, receive notification as early as possible before removal efforts begin. All firing will be done while the birds are on the ground and in such a way as to avoid any buildings, structures or people. Finally, the USDA representative will only use birdshot to further reduce the risk of injury or damage on base. “We have used this tactic on the airfield for several years and we rarely find geese inhabiting that area any longer, but the threat of bird strikes still remains from the flocks further inside the base,” said Christopher Anderson, 628 ABW Director of safety. Previously, base officials have used non-lethal tactics like loud noises and paintball guns to deter the geese. Though effective at first, the birds have since become immune, Anderson said. “We have discussed a variety of options to decrease the threat of bird strikes,” said Col. John Lamontagne, 437th Airlift Wing commander. “Unfortunately, the geese population is becoming too much of a risk to flight operations, and we need to use a more effective method to prevent a potentially catastrophic accident.” Officials estimate that 120 or more geese currently inhabit the Air Base, having ceased their migratory patterns, said Lt Col Brian Surdyk, 437th Airlift Wing chief of safety. These geese sometimes fly to neighboring areas for water, which can involve them crossing the arrival and departure paths of aircraft. "If unaddressed, the population of geese on the Air Base could drive a Bird Watch Condition rating of 'severe,' which would prevent DOD aircraft from landing here," said Surdyk. Regarding what to do with the meat from any birds killed as result of the new method, the base plans to donate it to
Q1) What is the new method of off-airfield geese removal? A1) Our new method is to shoot and kill a select number of geese near the airfield and on the airbase, while scaring off the rest. These will be a highly-controlled and coordinated activity, to reduce the risk to base employees and residents. Q2) Isn’t this method extreme? A2) This was never our first-choice method. In the interest of public safety, we have been forced to expand the lethal tactics due to the immunity the geese have developed to our earlier methods and the growing number of flocks on the air base. Q3) When was the last time Joint Base Charleston air-
craft experienced a bird strike? A3) As of Sept. 24, the most recent bird strike occurred five days ago, on Sept.19. Q4) How many bird strikes does the base average each year? A4) JB Charleston has averaged 135 reported bird strikes per year to military aircraft from 2008-2013. Multiple birds hitting an aircraft on one sortie is classified as a single strike. Q5) Did you reach out to BASH programs at other bases to see if they have other non-lethal methods for deterring the geese before deciding to use this new method? A5) USDA Wildlife services is in constant contact with
U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman David Carbajal
Roses lie beside a memorial at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Sep. 30, 2009. The memorial honors the 24 U.S. and Canadian AWACS crew members who died when their plane crashed after hitting a flock of geese upon takeoff. A recent escalation in Joint Base Charleston’s Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program is designed to prevent a similar tragedy here at Charleston.
those in need off base, where possible, Anderson said. For questions about the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program at JB Charleston, contact Public Affairs at (843) 963-5608.
INSIDE
Q&A Regarding Joint Base Charleston’s Bird Strike Program
POW/MIA
Remembering our heroes
WINGMAN DAY MOTORCYCLES
Page 6
Reenforcing resiliency
Page 6
Learn to ride safely
Page 7
their counterparts to discuss wildlife control measures. We made the decision to extend our depredation tactics after considering a range of options. Q6) What are you doing to reduce the risk to base employees and families that this method presents? A6) We’ve developed guidance with our Security Forces and Wing Safety members, along with our U.S. Department of Agriculture contractor, that outlines a series of steps to decrease risk. Before the U.S. Department of Agriculture representative may begin depredating efforts, they must obtain approval from the 628th ABW commander. The USDA See Q&A, Page 3
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC A Few Showers
Showers Friday, Sept. 26
(40% precip)
High 78º Low 68º
Saturday, Sept. 27
(30% precip)
High 80º Low 68º
See Joint Base Charleston on Facebook! - Follow Discussions, Connect With Your Base! CYAN-AOOO
MAGENTA-OAOO
YELLOW-OOAO
BLACK 01/29/08
A Few Showers
Sunday, Sept. 28
(30% precip)
High 81º Low 67º