Bash Campaign

Flying Safety, June, 2008 by Wendell L. Griffin

The Safety Center is embarking on a BASH Awareness Campaign this year. Significant progress is being attained on several different AF-level BASH-related programs, culminating years of research, coordination, and staffing efforts. As spring bird migration progresses northward, I urge you to take the opportunity to re-educate your wings on the significance BASH has upon your mission. Please take time to review your BASH programs, from installation environmental management to operational flight procedures, including risk management.

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Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard mishap events pose a credible threat to aircrew safety and mission sustainment. Thirty-five USAF aviators have died as a direct result of bird strikes since statistics were collected on this subject. After normalizing BASH data, USAF aircraft sustain an average of $19 million in damage annually due to wildlife strikes. On average, 3,300 wildlife strikes are reported each year. Nearly 50 percent of those strikes occurred on or around the immediate airfield environment and accounted for 32 percent of total mishap damages. More telling, only 15 percent of all strikes occurred in the low-level and range mission flight environments, but accounted for 62 percent of damage costs. Statistical and scientific analysis indicates flying above 3,000 feet AGL reduces strike potential by 94 percent.

BASH strike trends increased dramatically in calendar year 2007. Our fleet sustained $21 million in damage due solely to wildlife strikes, with cost increases expected as investigations close out. The Air Force also experienced a significant increase in damaging strikes last year. There were four Class A and 14 Class B BASH-related mishaps in 2007, compared to the 22-year annual average of 1.6 Class A and 5.7 Class B events. The number of reported wildlife strikes has increased over the last five years, with 4,500 recorded last year. Better program management and awareness, as well as increased bird populations, are components of these statistics.

Lessons learned highlight unity of effort between agencies within your wing and supervisor knowledge is paramount to a successful BASH program. Cross-functional participation and concurrence is essential among your Safety, Civil Engineer, Judge Advocate General, Public Affairs, Director of Operations, and Logistics staffs to safely execute your mission. Each organization plays a vital role in reducing exposure to this risk. Now is the time to exploit all the available tools to mitigate damage, to save lives, and to preserve mission capability. The Bird Avoidance Model and Avian Hazard Advisory System were designed to mitigate threats in lowaltitude flight environments and have evolved to provide additional wildlife forecasting around airfields as well. Success relies on a thorough understanding by all involved of the tools used to reduce BASH impacts on flight operations. AHAS is being revised to provide more detailed information, allowing leadership and users to exploit good ORM practices when executing flight operations. A comprehensive training guide will be available on the AHAS Web site when the revision is complete.

Look to the Air Force Safety Center for BASH reach-back capabilities. Visit our BASH Web site at http://afsafety.af.mil/sef/bash/sefw_home.shtml for additional information, from safe remains collection procedures and program development, to species specific prevention and control techniques. My BASH team supports wildlife-related mishap investigations, assists with operational wildlife control, habital management, and coordination with outside agencies. They are also my POCs for the BAM/AHAS and Feather Identification Programs. The BASH Team can be reached at afsc.sefw@kirtland.af.mil.

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We can ill afford to have weak BASH programs in these tight budgetary times. We in the safety community believe the BASH Campaign, if properly implemented, could potentially yield huge AFSO 21 benefits. Thorough evaluation of your BASH program will enable your team to focus their research, and to develop and enhance programs that will effectively and efficiently target and mitigate your hazards. My BASH Team professionals stand ready to assist you in any way necessary. I invite you to contact them for personalized trend analyses and on-the-spot technical advice. Please consider inviting them to your location for a tailored staff assistance visit. Mr. Eugene LeBoeuf is the USAF BASH Team Chief and can be reached at DSN 246-5679.

HQ AFSC Photo by Andi Blackwell Background Photo by Dan Harman

photo illustration by Dan Harman

MAJ. GEN. WENDELL L.GRIFFIN, USAF

Air Force Chief of Safety Commander, Air Force Safety Center