Training

D.1     Training Curriculum Outline.

The goal of the training course must be to provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by airport personnel to safely, accurately, and effectively implement relevant portions of an FAA-approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. To be acceptable to the FAA, initial and recurrent training must include the following agenda items:

1. General survey of wildlife hazards to aviation based on the most recent annual FAA National Wildlife Strike Database Serial Report.

2. Review of wildlife strikes, control actions, and observations at the airport over at least the past 12 months.

3. Review of the airport’s Wildlife Hazard Assessment is to include—

a. Existing wildlife hazards and trends in wildlife abundance.

b. Status of any open or unresolved recommended action items for reducing identified wildlife hazards to air carrier operations within the past 12 months.

4. Review of the airport’s Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, to include the following:

a. Airport-specific wildlife attractants, including man-made and natural features and habitat management practices of the last 12 months.

b. Review of the airport’s wildlife permits (local, State, and Federal).

c. Review of other airport-specific items:

i. Wildlife hazard management strategies, techniques, and tools:

(1) Flight schedule modification

(2) Habitat modification, exclusion

(3) Repelling methods

(4) Wildlife population management

ii. Responsibilities of airport personnel for—

(1) Reporting wildlife strikes, control actions, and wildlife observations

(2) Communicating with personnel who conduct wildlife control actions or who see wildlife hazards and air traffic control tower personnel and others who may require notification, such as airport operations or maintenance departments

(3) Documenting and reporting wildlife hazards seen during patrols and inspections and follow-up control efforts

(4) Documenting and reporting when no hazards are seen during patrols and inspections

5. Basic bird and mammal identification, stressing local hazardous and rare or endangered species of concern.

6. For any airport personnel using pyrotechnic launchers or firearms, training on the following topics from a qualified individual1:

a. Safety, parts, and operation of pyrotechnic launchers.

b. Fundamentals of using pyrotechnics to safely and effectively disperse wildlife.

c. Personnel protective equipment.

d. Cleaning, storage, and transport of firearms and pyrotechnic launchers.

e. Applicable local, State, and Federal regulations on firearms, pyrotechnic launchers, and pyrotechnics.2

f. Live fire training with pyrotechnic launchers including strategies for dispersing wildlife away from runways and aircraft movement corridors.

g. For any airport personnel using firearms, live fire training. This training is highly recommended from a qualified individual but not a requirement for this training program.3

7. Any other training required by local, State, or Federal regulations.

D.2     Recommendations.

1. Exams or tests may be oral, written, practical demonstrations, or a combination of all three.

2. The Trainer should retain passing grades/evaluations records.

3. The Trainer should retain course attendance records for a period of 2 years.

4. Airport personnel responsible for the airport’s wildlife hazard management program should retain records of those to whom instruction in airport wildlife hazard management has been given for the period of time during which the employees conduct hazardous wildlife management activity on the airport and for 6 months after termination of employment.

The wildlife issues that will be covered in this course are a serious safety concern for airport operators and airlines. Progress continues to be made on a number of technological and procedural fronts. However, more awareness and “hands on” training is needed as the industry works together to find reasonable and effective solutions for best management practices.

This course will provide the opportunity to learn from airport and wildlife experts how wildlife hazard management strategies are developed and how effective techniques can be implemented for the best results. This “hands-on” course, through both training in the classroom and on the airfield, emphasizes the practical application of tools and techniques to assist airports in managing wildlife and employing a practical wildlife hazard management program. One key advantage will be for attendees to proactively aid their airports to ensure that our nation’s airports operate safely.

This course is intended as the first of three courses in the Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Program and has been designed as an introductory workshop to airport wildlife management tools and techniques. Moreover, this course will meet the Part 139 annual training requirements for airport personnel involved in implementing FAA approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plans as defined by AC 150-5200-36 Qualifications for Wildlife Biologist Conducting Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Training Curriculums for Airport Personnel Involved in Controlling Wildlife Hazards on Airports. This course also meets FAA’s requirement for refresher training for Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists. In addition, multiple hands-on opportunities to work with capture, harassment and lethal control tools will be offered.

THE CURRICULUM WILL FOCUS ON:

• wildlife capture tools

• firearms and pyrotechnics safety and operations

• technology updates

• new wildlife control and mitigation innovations

• wildlife identification

• current federal regulations

• wildlife hazard assessments and management plans

This five-day course is intended for the individuals responsible for creating and/or implementing an airport's Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. With a focus on the challenges faced by a prospective airport wildlife program manager or coordinator, it is intended to enhance the knowledge and skill sets needed to create a successful wildlife hazard management program. The wildlife issues that were covered are a serious safety concern for airport operators, airlines, pilots, and the overall aviation community.

Using an existing airport wildlife hazard assessment, participants worked in teams to conduct a site survey on the airport, analyze survey data, and make recommendations important to that assessment. The teams were then required to develop a wildlife hazard management plan based on the completed wildlife hazard assessment as well as knowledge and skills learned in the first two days of the course. Students who have previously attended the Airport Wildlife Techniques Courses will find the knowledge gained in that course invaluable when working to develop their wildlife hazard management plan. As the capstone of the course, teams were required to make presentations to defend their Wildlife Hazard Management Plan and training program to the course training staff.

This course meets the Part 139 annual training requirements for airport personnel involved in implementing FAA approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plans as defined by AC 150-5200-36 Qualifications for Wildlife Biologist Conducting Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Training Curriculums for Airport Personnel Involved in Controlling Wildlife Hazards on Airports. This course also meets the FAA's requirement for refresher training for Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists.

THE CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON:

• wildlife hazard assessments and management plans

• current federal regulations