Kunsan safety works to protect birds big and small

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Hines
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  It was U.S. Air Force Academy graduate Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, who successfully landed Flight 1549 onto New York's Hudson River after being struck by a flock of birds in 2009, saving all passengers on board.

Referred to as "bird strikes," the Air Force works to reduce such wildlife hazards, which can compromise the safety of pilots and aircraft operations. However, the Air Force not only works to protect both pilot and aircraft, but the creatures of a sky they both share.

For Kunsan Air Base, there are a number of wildlife in the area, many familiar and unfamiliar to arriving Airmen.

Through the 8th Fighter Wing Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Plan, it was determined what wildlife is on Kunsan AB, and if threatened, endangered, or Korean-listed bird species are present. There are, in fact, five bird types designated as "Cultural Properties" by the Ministry and Tourism, and one, the Kestrel, is designated as rare and endangered species by the Korean Association for Conservation of Nature.

The safety office uses various techniques, both humane and lethal, to discourage birds and wildlife from nesting near or crossing the flightline posing danger to aircraft.

While the top priority of the Air Force BASH Plan is to protect and keep aircraft functional, the Air Force also works to respect and uphold wildlife preservation regulations of host nations, such as the Republic of Korea.

"It's our duty to uphold their standards and respect their endangered and protected species," said Tech. Sgt Chad Calahan, 8th Fighter Wing flight safety NCO in charge.

The safety office uses shotguns to discharge scare rounds that discourage birds from the area.

"The bird-scare rounds are fired from a shotgun at a 45 degree angle toward a flock of birds and emit a loud bang, similar to a fire cracker," said Calahan. "The bird-scare rounds give us a great deterrence tool, without the worry of killing protected species."

Another tool used is an Avian Dissuader, a hand-held humane device that uses a laser to deter birds. According to Calahan, this device is best used to deny targeted birds their desired roost if it's too close to the flightline, primarily along the seawall tree line.

"Forcing birds to a different overnight roost usually means that they go somewhere else to forage (find food) during the day," he said.

As an additional measure, the supervisor of flying in the control tower on base can remotely trigger bird scare cannons around the flightline if he sees the potential for collision between bird and aircraft.

"They emit a loud bang by igniting propane," said Calahan. "After the bang, they sound off predatory calls, to help scare away birds."

In 2011, Kunsan Air Base experienced a very low count of bird and wildlife strikes, with a total of eight, and no major harm to aircraft or pilot.

On Kunsan, the kestrel actually helps the safety office keeps other birds away.

"The kestrels are known to hover around the airfield and prey on small mammals and other small birds," Calahan continued. "So in turn, they are helping the BASH team."

Not all birds are so easily deterred with loud noises and lasers, and sometimes more aggressive measures must be taken to protect aircraft with live shots.

"BASH management is a big process and takes a lot of time and effort," said Calahan. "It's a vital program the Air Force needs to help minimize aircraft bird strikes. Bird strikes are dangerous and can cause quite a lot of damage."

With the 8th Fighter Wing Safety Office, both Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and kestrels can share the sky together.