Airport Wildlife Biologist
7 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS CONDUCTING WILDLIFE HAZARD ASSESSMENTS AND WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT TRAINING AT FAA CERTIFICATED AIRPORTS.
7.1 Wildlife biologists conducting airport Wildlife Hazard Assessments must meet certain education, training, and experience standards. Section 139.337(c) reads: Wildlife Hazard Assessment required in paragraph (b) of this section shall be conducted by a wildlife damage management biologist who has professional training and/or experience in wildlife hazard management at airports or an individual working under direct supervision of such an individual.
7.2 Airports with a FAA-approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plan must provide employees the training needed to carry out the Plan. §139.337(f)(7) reads: A training program conducted by a qualified wildlife damage management biologist to provide airport personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully carry out the Wildlife Hazard Management Plan required by paragraph (d) of this section.
7.3 To meet the requirements of §139.337(c) and (f)(7), a wildlife damage management biologist (from now on referred to as a “qualified airport wildlife biologist”) must: 1. Have the necessary academic coursework from accredited institutions and work experience to meet the qualifications of a GS-0486 series wildlife biologist as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management classification standards (Appendix A) or be designated as a Certified Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society (http://www.wildlife.org) and, 2. Have taken and passed an airport wildlife hazard management training course acceptable to the FAA Administrator (Appendix C) and, 3. While working under the direct supervision of a qualified airport wildlife biologist: a. Have conducted at least one Wildlife Hazard Assessment acceptable to the FAA Administrator (as described in Section 139.337) or, b. Conducted at least one year of continual wildlife hazard monitoring at a certificated airport using FAA-approved methodology (FAA AC 150/5200-38, Ch. 4). 4. Have successfully completed at least one of the following within 5 years of their initial FAA approved airport wildlife hazard management training course, and every 5 years thereafter: a. An airport wildlife hazard management training course that is acceptable to the FAA Administrator (Appendix C), or b. Attendance, as a registered participant, at a joint Bird Strike Committee– USA/Bird Strike Committee–Canada annual meeting, or c. Other training acceptable to the FAA Administrator.
7.4 Individuals who work under the direct supervision of a qualified airport wildlife biologist are allowed to conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments if the airport sponsor and the qualified airport wildlife biologist agree in writing to determine how the qualified airport wildlife biologist will: 1. Supervise how the individual(s) will conduct the Wildlife Hazard Assessment, and 2. Report progress of the Wildlife Hazard Assessment, and 3. Supervise the Wildlife Hazard Assessment report production.
7.5 Certificate Holders or Airport Sponsors must obtain documentation verifying the qualifications outlined in paragraph 7.3 (1) – (4) above of any person(s) conducting wildlife hazard assessments or providing requisite training. Documents such as training certificates, transcripts, diplomas, letters from employers, etc. are acceptable to verify professional qualifications.
7.6 Holders of Airport Operating Certificates issued under Part 139 must retain records documenting the airport wildlife biologist(s) qualifications to conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments. These records must be retained for 2 years.