LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- In addition to clams, there are a number of other objects birds are known to drop on runways and taxiways, creating FOD hazards. Following are some examples:
- Gulls drop golf balls on runways and taxiways thinking they're eggs.
- Ospreys will leave unwanted fish or eels and even nesting materials, like sticks, in the path of aircraft.
- An Osprey recently dropped a 3.5-foot piece of rebar on the Langley airfield, witnessed by Wildlife Biologist Tom Olexa, U.S. Department of Agriculture at the 1st Fighter Wing.
Other interesting facts are:
- Worms crawl on the runway and attract hundreds of feeding birds preventing take-off and landing until they can be cleared.
- The mute swan is the largest bird threat to aircraft - an impressive 31 pounds of meat and beak.
- In 2007 there were six Class A Mishaps (damage in excess of $1 million) involving birds. The average Class A mishap was $2.6 million. This is above the previous average of 1.2 per year. U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife experts believe this is a result of a major increase in population of large birds (eight or more pounds).
- The Ospreys around Langley Air Force Base travel more than 3,600 miles south for winter nesting. Several were tracked, via GPS-capable transmitters, into South America.
As of 1 January 2007:
- Turkey Vultures are the No. 1 struck bird, hit 776 times by Air Force aircraft, responsible for $51.7 million in damage.
- The Black Vulture is the No. 2 struck bird, hit 403 times responsible for $54.3 million.
- American white pelicans caused $257.6 million in damage - with only 18 strikes. No other bird has cost the Air Force more money.
- Canada geese are the second most expensive bird, costing the Air Force $92.3 million in only 129 strikes.
- Some birds will fly as high as 19,000 feet above ground-level.
- Some vultures can soar in excess of 3,000 feet AGL regularly.
(Information gathered from 1st Fighter Wing Safety Office, Langley Air Force Base; U.S. Department of Agriculture; and U.S. Air Force BASH Team at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.)
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)