Keeping the runways clear

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  There are many aspects that go into producing pilots, advancing Airmen and feeding the fight. Buck Jolley, 14th Flying Training Wing Safety Office and a Wildlife Biologist on Columbus AFB, works in one of the more interesting parts of the mission. Jolley's job is to monitor and control wildlife on base, and do his best to protect our pilots from striking animals while flying.

"I will respond to emergency situations," said Jolley. "Like when there is a deer or a coyote out on the runway while planes are flying. I will remove them if I have to."

Jolley goes far above just responding when animals cross onto the runway; he regularly conducts population surveys to study animals' patterns and behavior.

"Twice a month I go out and do a mammal survey with a thermal camera to find a population estimate of deer on base," said Jolley. "We probably maintain the population around 50 deer at any given time."

Jolley's work on base is vital to keep our pilots and planes safe.

"The thing about a deer strike on an aircraft is it's kind of always catastrophic," said Jolley. "It's going to severely damage if not crash the plane."

Deer are one of the most dangerous mammals to our aircraft.

"Some of the most dangerous mammals to planes nationwide are Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, domestic dogs and coyotes," said Jolley.

Deer are the largest animals on base that are a threat to our aircraft, but other animals provide a whole new set of problems.

"The mammals are pretty simple to manage compared to birds," said Jolley. "Birds are a lot more complex and difficult to monitor."

Just like deer, Jolley regularly conducts population surveys on birds. Recently there was a large group of Turkey Vultures roosting on a cell phone tower right below one of our flying routes. He drove the large birds away from the power lines by craftily using deceased road kill turkey vultures to discourage them from roosting there.

"I will go out and monitor birds, not to try to find the population, but to try to study their patterns," said Jolley. "Each bird species is different and it takes different means to control their population."

There are several ways Jolley keeps birds away from our aircraft. Propane cannons, pyrotechnics and shotguns are some of the direct means he uses. Jolley indirectly manages the bird population using a water pump to squirt down nests that attract large birds.

"We have a set of 24 propane bird cannons," said Jolley. "They are fired remotely from the control tower and just make a loud boom to scare animals. The bird cannons are effective on some birds and deer to scare them away from our planes, but not on all."

Jolley uses multiple methods to keep animals away from our planes. His most effective solution is to change the habitat to move the animals away from the airstrip.

"Animals need food, shelter and water," said Jolley. "If you can change the habitat by taking away one of those things you can move the animals."

Cooperation with our local residents is important part of making sure the wildlife population stays at a safe level for our aircraft.

"I work with a lot of surrounding land owners if there are problems there that can affect our planes," said Jolley. "Most of the time when people realize we are just trying to protect our service members they are more than willing to help."