Carol Bannerman (301) 734-6464
Suzanne Bond (301) 734-5175
USDA APPROVES $250,000 FOR AIRPORT WILDLIFE HAZARDS TRAINING
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2009--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced that it has approved $250,000 for training airport staff on identifying and responding to wildlife hazards at airports. This training is offered in response to the heightened interest in strikes between wildlife and aircraft and the potential damage they can cause.
In 2008, APHIS’ wildlife services (WS) Airport Wildlife Hazards program trained more than 2,200 airport personnel across the United States. The goal of this program is to increase the number of airport personnel trained in identifying the species and conditions that contribute to airport hazards. The 8-hour training program complies with standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for staff at federally certificated passenger-use airports and will be offered in all 50 states and territories of the United States. WS has a staff of more than 300 biologists and specialists that assist with the training. The training covers various topics including bird identification, recognition of wildlife attractants in the airport environment and management methods necessary for implementation of federally approved wildlife hazard management plans.
APHIS is also announcing the appointment of retired Dr. Richard Dolbeer as a Science Advisor to WS’ national program that focuses on the abatement of wildlife strike risks at the Nation’s airports and military airbases. Dolbeer is internationally recognized as a leader in bird strike issues. He will assist the WS program in advanced training development for agency staff who work domestically with other federal and state agencies.
WS has been active in research and management of wildlife hazards at airports for over 20 years. The program’s professional biologists worked closely with the military, the civil aviation industry and the FAA to reduce the economic impacts and safety risks to aviation at 764 airports and airbases last year.
Airports may contact WS’ offices at 1–866–4–USDA–WS (1–866-487–3297) for more information.
#
Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom. Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send an e-mail message to lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov and leave the subject blank. In the message, type subscribe press_releases.