BIRD-AIRCRAFT STRIKE HAZARDS: A NEGLECTED CONSIDERATION IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DREDGED MATERIAL DEPOSITION

摘要

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for maintaining the navigable waterways and coastal channels throughout the United States. Dredged material obtained through the dredging maintenance process is used for numerous beneficial uses including beach nourishment, wetland and marsh mitigation, and wildlife habitat creation. In particular, shorebird and wading bird species are frequently the targeted beneficiaries of wildlife habitat creation because of their well-documented population declines, sensitive or endangered status, and dependency on the early successional habitat made available through dredged material deposition. However, these areas can attract large numbers of birds, potentially creating bird-aircraft strike risks if the deposition location is near an active airport. Collisions between birds and aircraft pose a serious threat to the safety of passengers and flight crews on both civilian and military flights. Here, we summarize a specific case where beneficial use of dredged material by the USACE was used to create a bird island in the Brunswick Harbor, GA, USA. This island was located within the flight paths of two active local airports. We describe how this island was in violation of recent Advisory Circulars established by the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) that limit the creation of bird attractants to at least 5 miles from an active airport. We discuss how the Corps dealt with this situation and we summarize additional cases for other Corps Districts nationally. Finally, we offer specific recommendations to incorporate better planning and awareness of bird-aircraft strike hazards during dredged material deposition, including, 1) increased awareness of FAA Advisory Circulars and bird-aircraft strike hazards, 2) implementation of close reviews for all dredged material deposition activities to ensure adequate distance from operational airports, and 3) minimize use of dredged material sites by high flying/soaring birds like egrets and cormorants by reducing tall vegetation or marsh and wetland habitats.