BASH program keeps pilots and aircraft safe

  • Published
  • By Airman Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard or BASH program is a Department of Defense directive aimed at reducing the risk of aircraft striking wildlife.

The safety office heads the BASH program at Columbus Air Force Base and at the Gunshy auxiliary airfield at Shuqualak.

"The whole idea of the BASH program is birds and wildlife don't play nice with aircraft," said Lt. Col. John Zohn, 14th Flying Training Wing Chief of Wing Safety. "I would consider BASH one of the pillars of a good flight safety program. A very small bird sucked down the engine of any aircraft can cause severe damage; in the worst-case scenario, loss of life and aircraft."

The BASH program documents where the birds are by keeping track of every bird strike and using historical data.

"Historic data tells us about when the birds are migrating, and about where they are going," said Capt. Erik Goff, 14th Flying Training Wing Safety. "The BASH phases are mostly based on this historic data, but we've backed it up with actual Columbus strike and damage data to make sure the phases are not arbitrary."

When Airmen know where increased bird activity is, they can steer the mission to try to avoid those high-risk areas.

"The Avian Hazard Avoidance System gives us the more real-time data to use on our day-to-day operations," Goff said. "In short, we are trying to put fewer planes near birds, but we cannot eliminate this threat completely."

Aside from just documenting where the birds are, the BASH program works hard to manipulate the environment to make it less bird-friendly.

"We keep the grass mowed at a height that is unattractive to birds," Goff said. "We try to keep transitional areas, such as tree lines, far from the runways. We try to get rid of standing water, or make it less attractive by decreasing vegetation or controlling the water depth."

The BASH program not only manipulates the environment but creates non-lethal ways to scare birds away from airfields.

"We scare birds away with small propane cannons near the airfield, and we back the cannons up with controlled depredation," Goff said. "We inspect the airfield daily, and assign groups to constantly watch for bird activity."

Wing Safety urges all the whole Air Force family to support keeping pilots and aircraft safe.

"If you see birds while flying, report them," Goff said. "Do not feed the wildlife on base; bird feeders encourage birds to come here, which increases their chances of being hit by a plane, which is detrimental to the bird and the pilot. Take the bird watch conditions seriously."