Landowners take flight for BASH at McConnell AFB

Published June 9, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Laura L. Valentine
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Fourteen landowners who open their property to McConnell's Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program visited McConnell June 7, 2011, viewing first-hand the mission of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the BASH program.

The land surrounding McConnell is home to both migratory and permanent resident species of birds. These winged creatures pose a tremendous threat to the missions of the 63 KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to McConnell and to aviation industries worldwide.

The BASH program, and the implementation of Vasi, a Border collie, in 2007, has helped decrease the number of birdstrikes by more than 30 percent. This reduction has saved millions of dollars in aircraft repairs, and most importantly, it has reduced the potential for the loss of life in aircraft mishaps.

"The BASH program's goal is to keep the birds from crossing the airfield during the day because the planes are most vulnerable during takeoff and landing," said Lauren Caister, 22nd Air Refueling Wing flight safety base wildlife manager and animal behavior expert.

As planes are at lower elevations during takeoffs and landings, flocks are more prone to be startled by jet noises or nearby movements, scattering into the path of a jet. Birds in flight can be sucked into engines, causing damage or failure, as well as and damage windshields.

About 120 landowners have property within a five-mile radius of McConnell. Their participation greatly increases the success rate of the program.

To thank them for their help, the landowners were invited to McConnell for a tour and an orientation flight on a KC-135.

At the 184th Intelligence Wing, the landowners tested the Fire Arms Training Simulator, and toured the individual protection equipment section at the 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron.

A question and answer session was held before the flight to discuss the functions and goals of the BASH program, as well as various aspects of the KC-135 mission. Lauren Caister, 22nd Air Refueling Wing base wildlife manager and animal behavior expert, and Vasi's handler, was available to talk with the landowners.

Landowners then took flight to witness an in-flight refueling mission of an E-3 Sentry, Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and a B-2 Spirit.

"The BASH program benefits McConnell in a big way," said Chris Streckfus, a BASH landowner for three years and engineer at Spirit AeroSystems. "We don't want to see bad things happen to airplanes."

The Birdstrike Control Program, which holds the contract at McConnell with Ms. Caister and Vasi, is a comprehensive program that allows for wildlife management, analysis and report.

Vasi, a 4-and-a-half-year-old rescue Border collie, was trained specifically for bird control. Collies are used because of their keen intelligence and herding ability. These working dogs learn to directionally disperse birds, preventing the flock from scattering and then returning to an adjacent area.

The most common type of bird Vasi encounters are Canadian geese, but she discourages many other species from returning as well. Kansas is located along the Central Flyway, a major migration route for birds traveling between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico.

While the fields and ponds surrounding McConnell are inviting habitats for these birds, Vasi is introduced as a predatory species, and the birds instinctively know that it is too dangerous to seek food and shelter.

There are several other ways that bird and wildlife populations are humanely controlled around the airfield. The use of dogs for bird harassment can essentially eliminate the need for lethal methods of control.

"With the dog, we don't have to depredate any geese or foul," said Ms. Caister. "We can just relocate ducklings instead of using depredation."

In previous years, Cattle Egrets, a small bird that resembles a heron, would follow lawn mowers and forage near the airfield.

"Within six months of using Vasi on the airfield, they [cattle egrets] have stopped following mowers and don't forage here anymore," said Mrs. Caister. "So there is a long-term affect on the birds."

Methods such as maintaining a prescribed length of grass around the airfield perimeter and eliminating areas of standing water prevent birds from congregating. Cannon blasts and noise makers can also be used to disperse flocks.

"The only reason we can leave the base and work on private property is because of the habitat management in place at the airfield," said Ms. Caister.

With the total force safety efforts put into action by the BASH team, Vasi, McConnell Airmen and supporting landowners, reducing the number of wildlife mishaps and birdstrikes has been a continued success.

"Every life is worth a million bucks," said Royce Kerfoot, a BASH supporter for the past three years. "A million, plus."