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'Birdman' keeps skies safer with fellow falcons

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Just like an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a high-performance weapon system capable of providing air-to-air combat attack, two smaller falcons here serve as a natural weapon that attacks other dangerous flocks of birds to protect aircraft from bird strikes.

Mustang and Thunderbolt, lanner and lugger falcons, lurk in the sky and scare other flocks of birds away; all the while keeping the skies clear for aircraft to continue the mission at the Transit Center at Manas.

These birds and their control specialist are friends of aviators here, and they are part of Manas' Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Prevention program (BASH) team.

"We work closely with the wing safety office to mitigate bird strikes at Manas," said Stephen Farrell, bird control specialist with the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing. "We provide a safer environment for missions flown from here."

In order to make the flightline a safer haven for aviators, the team also identifies conditions that attract birds to the airfield (on and off the Transit Center) and makes recommendations to the wing for actions.

According to Mr. Farrell, some of the recommendations range from grass cutting, building repairs and other habitat management procedures.

Other bird-strikes prevention techniques used, apart from birds of prey like Mustang and Thunderbolt, are sound tapes and sound makers.

The control technique used varies depending on the airfield conditions. Each airfield is unique, and our program is tailored to the specific requirements of the airfield involved, Mr. Farrell explained.

Mr. Farrell, also a site manager here with about 30 years experience of flying birds of prey for Phoenix Bird Control Services, said considering a single large bird, such as a black kite (which is common here at Manas) could cause a serious damage to an aircraft and could potentially result in the aircraft crashing in a populated area. His job here is vital to flight safety and Manas mission.

Each day for the Manas BASH team is considered very busy; each day presents new challenges, apart from the day to day running of the operation.

According to the site manager, it takes commitment, drive, dedication, loyalty and imagination to be a successful "Birdman."

Sometimes, depending on the severity of weather conditions here, the birds cannot be flown due to the potential threat it poses to their lives, but their controller has to be creative on how to fly them for flying operations to continue.

Members of the BASH team agree that the overall goal of the program is to maintain a safe fightline for all flyers, and they take necessary action to achieve that goal.

Either by flying birds of prey on airfields or meeting both the daily and long-term challenges posed by different airfield conditions, we are here to overcome obstacles, thereby helping to create a safe flying environment for aircraft, Mr. Farrell said.