Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 6, No. 41
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, October 30, 2015
437th AW provides airlift for paratroopers
U.S. Army photo / Sgt. Chad Haling
Army jump masters with the 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, conduct paratrooper door checks during a night tactical combat jump aboard a C-17 Globemaster III from the 437th Airlift Wing, while flying over Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Oct. 20, 2015. The purpose of the jump was to practice exiting the aircraft with cavalrymen and a full combat equipment load to secure a drop zone. The interior lights are red to remain tactical and assist the paratroopers adjust their eyes upon exiting the aircraft.
Increased measures to deter geese, prevent aircraft mishaps continue at JB Charleston
By Christopher Anderson Joint Base Charleston Safety director
Officials at Joint Base Charleston authorized 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 approved the supervised use of firearms to decrease and deter the geese population. The goose population has increased again much like it did last year when we first initiated our off-airfield depredation plan. Base residents need to be aware that because of this escalation there will be some instances where the U.S. Department of Agriculture may need to depredate near base housing. As
JB Charleston base paper to go twice monthly From Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
INSIDE
Beginning November 2015 Joint Base Charleston’s newspaper, the Patriot, will begin publishing the first and third Fridays of every month. The advantages to a twice monthly paper are an increased ability to cover base activities, more lead time for announcements, additional photos and more comprehensive articles. The JB Charleston family is encouraged to continue submitting stories, articles, commentaries, photos and ideas to 628ABWPatriot@us.af.mil for inclusion in the paper, as well as the base website. The JB Public Affairs Office will continue to update the JB Charleston website (www.charleston.af.mil) with news and information daily.
JB Charleston C-17 gets new paint job
MAKEOVER
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an additional safety measure, the current plan is to remain one-hundred yards from the base housing perimeter. The only exception to depredation inside the base housing perimeter will occur at the pond located on W. Jackson Dr. adjacent to the Forest City housing office. The USDA will continue to use nonlethal deterrents, such as paint ball guns, inside all base housing areas. 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. "The installation's current plan involves necessary prudent checks and balances to prevent the risk of a safety mishap to our base members and their families," said Col Rob Lyman, Joint Base Charleston commander. "Please be assured that our team has numerous checks in place to both minimize risks and ensure the right actions are taken to prevent future strikes." said Lyman. Before USDA representatives begin depredating efforts,
Children take the pledge
DRUG FREE Page 6
Shaw AFB jets test arresting system here
FALCONS
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they must obtain approval from the 628 ABW commander or his designated representative. The USDA representatives will 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, will 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 representatives 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. However, a serious threat of bird strikes still remains from flocks further inside the base," said Christopher Anderson, 628 ABW Safety director. 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. Regarding what to do with the meat from any birds killed as result of the new method, the base, when possible, will transport the geese to a processor who can then donate the food to those in need off base, Anderson said. Officials estimate that 120 or more geese currently inhabit the Air Base, having ceased their migratory patterns, said Lt Col Markwart, 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 result in a Bird Watch Condition rating of 'severe,' which would prevent DoD aircraft from landing here," said Markwart. For further questions about the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program at JB Charleston, contact the Public Affairs office at (843) 963-5608. See Bird Strike Deterent Q&A, Page 5
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC Partly Cloudy
Friday, Oct. 30
(10% precip)
High 74º Low 55º
Mostly Sunny
Saturday, Oct. 31
(0% precip)
High 74º Low 63º
Afternoon Showers Sunday, Nov. 1
(50% precip)
High 77º Low 68º
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BLACK 01/29/08