FAA Wildlife Strike Mitigation Documents
Summary of the Evaluation of the North Shore Marine Transfer Station
The City of New York Department of Sanitation proposed a plan for long term exportation of municipal solid waste from New York City in 2006. The plan intended to refurbish four facilities previously operated by the Department of Sanitation. These facilities were located 2,206 feet from the threshold of Runway 13/31 of LaGuardia Airport. The proposed transfer station was to be entirely enclosed which by FAA definitions in Advisory Circular 150/5200-33B, Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On or Near Airports, “generally are compatible with safe airport operations.” However, the issue of the transfer station causing a hazardous wildlife attractant was brought up during review and public comment. This lead to the creation of a panel comprised of experts in the field of wildlife hazards at airports comprised from multiple agencies working together to determine if the municipal transfer station would cause any direct aviation hazards to the airport.
The panel determined several methods to determine and base their findings. They reviewed the wildlife data and strike history for LaGuardia, conducted detailed reviews of the design plans, observed and surveyed current wildlife numbers at the proposed site, surveyed two similar operating transfer stations (Bronx and Staten Island) for wildlife activity, conducted risk assessments, issued a determination of findings based on data, and sought public input on their findings.
The proposed, fully enclosed, municipal transfer station was determined to have minimal risk to the aviation operation of LaGuardia. However, an Integrated Wildlife Hazard Management Plan would be put in place and the hiring or contracting of a wildlife biologist dedicated to proactively mitigate wildlife use as it developed was recommended. Other recommendations included assessing cleanliness of incoming containers prior to their arrival, monitoring trash containers before they leave the building, and monitoring barge activity disturbance for bird activity and to mitigate accordingly to reduce future wildlife issues.
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ACRP Report 32, A Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports
ACRP Report 32, A Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports is an excellent FAA-funded report produced by the Transportation Research Board’s Airport Cooperative Research Program. All airports—GA and commercial—have a legal responsibility to provide a safe aircraft operating environment. ACRP Report 32 is a wildlife management guidebook for general aviation airport personnel designed to assist them in providing the safest environment possible in an efficient manner. The guidebook discusses the different species that can be found at airports and specific information that will be helpful in identifying and controlling numbers, especially of the most hazardous species. Also discussed are various wildlife attractants and best management practices airport operators can use to minimize wildlife activity at and around airports. While we highly recommend you read the entire report (Click Here To Read the Entire Report), Loomacres has summarized many of the main points for your convenience (Click Here to Read Our Summary). General aviation (GA) airports are usually “resource constrained,” a fancy way to say they have limited money, equipment and staff. Many GA airports are manned by only one or two people whose duties range from managing the airport to moving snow and mowing grass. While these folks are generally very well aware of wildlife using the airport, they seldom have the background and training to properly manage wildlife hazards. Plinking at rabbits and gophers with a .22 might be fun, but does not constitute a wildlife hazard management program. This is where ACRP 32 and Loomacres can help.
View the Document
Summary of the Evaluation of the North Shore Marine Transfer Station
The City of New York Department of Sanitation proposed a plan for long term exportation of municipal solid waste from New York City in 2006. The plan intended to refurbish four facilities previously operated by the Department of Sanitation. These facilities were located 2,206 feet from the threshold of Runway 13/31 of LaGuardia Airport. The proposed transfer station was to be entirely enclosed which by FAA definitions in Advisory Circular 150/5200-33B, Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On or Near Airports, “generally are compatible with safe airport operations.” However, the issue of the transfer station causing a hazardous wildlife attractant was brought up during review and public comment. This lead to the creation of a panel comprised of experts in the field of wildlife hazards at airports comprised from multiple agencies working together to determine if the municipal transfer station would cause any direct aviation hazards to the airport.
The panel determined several methods to determine and base their findings. They reviewed the wildlife data and strike history for LaGuardia, conducted detailed reviews of the design plans, observed and surveyed current wildlife numbers at the proposed site, surveyed two similar operating transfer stations (Bronx and Staten Island) for wildlife activity, conducted risk assessments, issued a determination of findings based on data, and sought public input on their findings.
The proposed, fully enclosed, municipal transfer station was determined to have minimal risk to the aviation operation of LaGuardia. However, an Integrated Wildlife Hazard Management Plan would be put in place and the hiring or contracting of a wildlife biologist dedicated to proactively mitigate wildlife use as it developed was recommended. Other recommendations included assessing cleanliness of incoming containers prior to their arrival, monitoring trash containers before they leave the building, and monitoring barge activity disturbance for bird activity and to mitigate accordingly to reduce future wildlife issues.
View the Document
ACRP Report 32, A Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports
ACRP Report 32, A Guidebook for Addressing Aircraft/Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports is an excellent FAA-funded report produced by the Transportation Research Board’s Airport Cooperative Research Program. All airports—GA and commercial—have a legal responsibility to provide a safe aircraft operating environment. ACRP Report 32 is a wildlife management guidebook for general aviation airport personnel designed to assist them in providing the safest environment possible in an efficient manner. The guidebook discusses the different species that can be found at airports and specific information that will be helpful in identifying and controlling numbers, especially of the most hazardous species. Also discussed are various wildlife attractants and best management practices airport operators can use to minimize wildlife activity at and around airports. While we highly recommend you read the entire report (Click Here To Read the Entire Report), Loomacres has summarized many of the main points for your convenience (Click Here to Read Our Summary). General aviation (GA) airports are usually “resource constrained,” a fancy way to say they have limited money, equipment and staff. Many GA airports are manned by only one or two people whose duties range from managing the airport to moving snow and mowing grass. While these folks are generally very well aware of wildlife using the airport, they seldom have the background and training to properly manage wildlife hazards. Plinking at rabbits and gophers with a .22 might be fun, but does not constitute a wildlife hazard management program. This is where ACRP 32 and Loomacres can help.
View the Document