Statistically, 68 percent of USAF accidents occur along the runway or within
the CZ, APZ I, or APZ II. While the potential for accidents is statistically
relevant, the decreased potential within APZ I and II does not warrant
property acquisition by the USAF. Accordingly, land use planning and controls
are strongly encouraged in these areas for the protection of the public.
Within these zones, there are recommendations on land use types, residential
densities, nonresidential intensities, and heights of structures.
Bird / Wildlife Air Strike Hazard
Birds and wildlife can represent a significant hazard to military training and
flight operations. Certain types of land uses, such as standing water, attract
birds and wildlife. The concern associated with BASH is the significant amount
of damage a BASH incident can cost the federal government. According to the
DoD Partners in Flight Program, strikes involving military aircraft cost
approximately $75 million in damage every year. This amount does not
consider the potential impacts that damage to aircraft may have on
operations or the training schedule.
Airports, due to the nature of their operations, typically have large, open,
grassy areas where various wildlife congregate. Additionally, some land uses,
like golf courses, are often situated near airports because they can easily meet
the height and density restrictions imposed by aircraft activity. Unfortunately,
golf courses also have large, open, grassy areas and oftentimes also feature
water – another wildlife attractant. Given the ramifications that can occur as
a result of a bird and / or wildlife strike, the FAA set forth recommendations
for managing these types and other types of bird and wildlife attractants near
airports.
taxiway, and aprons. This area was determined to be significant by the FAA as
aircraft are more likely to strike birds and wildlife due to descending altitudes
and decreasing aircraft speed. This area cannot be physically seen similar to
the previously mentioned imaginary surfaces. In contrast to the imaginary
surfaces, the area measuring five miles out from the air operations area does
not include a height aspect since it deals with the management of terrestrial
features like land use and water features. Figure 3‐13 illustrates the five‐mile
area for potential for BASH incidents in the vicinity of the Keesler AFB airfield.
Since 1985, Keesler AFB has experienced 508 strikes. Approximately one third
of these strikes were doves, nine percent were swallows, and approximately
four percent were killdeer. The remaining strikes were generally from other
various birds and bats. In 2015, Keesler AFB experienced 17 bird air strikes.
Hazards within the Keesler AFB JLUS Study Area that can attract birds and
other wildlife include four golf courses – Royal Gulf Hills Golf Course,
Sunkist Golf Course, Gulf Hills Golf Course, and Great Southern Golf Club.
Other water features that may attract birds are the Back Bay of Biloxi, the
Mississippi Sound, and the Pond at Hiller Park. Keesler AFB last updated its
BASH Plan in December 2016 and is currently in review for 2017.
Source: http://www.usahas.com/
The primary recommendation made by the FAA is to create and manage a
minimum horizontal separation distance between an airfield and wildlife
attractants. The minimum separation distance extends five miles out from the
entire perimeter of the airfield operations areas based on the statistical
probability of bird and wildlife strikes occurring. These areas include paved
and unpaved areas associated with aircraft movement including runways,
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Background Report