SAN ANTONIO – The ditching of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15 into New York’s Hudson River brought to the forefront an aviation problem most airports don’t care to make public, according to one Texas wildlife expert.
Michael Bodenchuk, San Antonio-based state leader for Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s Wildlife Services, said aircraft-wildlife encounters are something the agency deals with on a fairly regular basis. He said the New York incident reportedly was caused by the plane hitting a flock of geese.
“We have five biologists stationed at military airbases throughout Texas who frequently deal with the problem,” Bodenchuk said. “We also have a host of people who are certified airport biologists who are also trained to spot such problems.
“In any given year we will respond to from eight to 10 airports who ask for assistance in identifying problems or remediating problems. It’s not something airports like to advertise, but it is a real danger,” he said.
“In the past year for example, I worked with Abilene’s airport where a coyote had been struck by a plane,” Bodenchuk said. “That one was easy. Once their security fence was in place, the problem was resolved.”
Bodenchuk said the agency was also called to work with El Paso’s airport which reported a plane hitting a bird at high altitude. The instance was not an engine strike, but the bird went through the skin of the plane, which caused the cockpit to depressurize.
Bodenchuk said the agency currently has a contract with a Houston development near an airport where they are tasked with identifying possible wildlife attractants.
“Our Houston work is meant to lessen the chance of something like what occurred in New York from happening here,” he said. “I understand those birds were hit off the airport itself; out of the air space that’s right over the airport.
“Our task, as is the case in Houston, is to identify and advise against constructing things like ponds or even landfills right at the end of the runway which would attract birds and definitely cause major problems. We do a lot of this type of work.”
For more information call Bodenchuk at 210-472-5451.
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