ACE - Airport Certified Employee Wildlife Hazard Management Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to 14 CFR Part 139.337, which of the following events would mandate that an airport conduct a formal Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA)?
- A routine sighting of a single deer near the airport perimeter fence.
- An air carrier aircraft experiences an engine ingestion of wildlife. (Correct answer)
- A private general aviation aircraft reports a minor bird strike with no damage.
- The airport receives a citizen complaint about birds roosting on a hangar.
Correct answer: An air carrier aircraft experiences an engine ingestion of wildlife.
14 CFR Part 139.337 explicitly states that a Wildlife Hazard Assessment must be conducted when an air carrier aircraft experiences an engine ingestion of wildlife. The other options, while potentially warranting action, do not meet the specific regulatory triggers for a mandatory WHA.
Question 2: An airport's Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP) calls for habitat modification to make the airfield less attractive to birds. Which of the following is a primary example of a habitat modification technique?
- Deploying propane cannons on a regular schedule.
- Using pyrotechnics to disperse a flock of gulls.
- Managing grass height to be unappealing for certain bird species. (Correct answer)
- Obtaining a depredation permit for lethal control.
Correct answer: Managing grass height to be unappealing for certain bird species.
Habitat modification involves altering the physical environment to make it less suitable for wildlife by removing sources of food, water, or shelter. Managing grass height is a key habitat modification technique. Pyrotechnics and propane cannons are harassment/dispersal techniques, and depredation permits relate to lethal control, not habitat modification.
Question 3: While conducting an airfield inspection, an Airport Operations Officer spots a large flock of geese on an active runway where an aircraft is on final approach. What is the most critical and immediate action the officer should take?
- Drive onto the runway with the vehicle horn and sirens activated.
- Immediately notify Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the hazard. (Correct answer)
- Take a photo and begin filling out a wildlife strike report form.
- Contact the airport's wildlife biologist to request dispersal.
Correct answer: Immediately notify Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the hazard.
The most critical and immediate action is to inform Air Traffic Control of the hazard. ATC can then instruct the approaching aircraft to perform a go-around or divert, preventing a potential catastrophic strike. While other actions like contacting the biologist or using the vehicle to haze the birds are important subsequent steps, ensuring the safety of the aircraft via ATC is the top priority.
Question 4: Which federal agency provides direct, on-site expertise and assistance to airports in developing and implementing wildlife hazard management programs, including conducting assessments and direct control actions?
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) APHIS Wildlife Services (Correct answer)
Correct answer: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) APHIS Wildlife Services
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services program is the primary federal agency that partners with the FAA and airports to provide professional expertise and operational assistance for wildlife hazard management.
Question 5: The use of pyrotechnics, such as bangers and screamers, is a common technique in airport wildlife management. What is the primary operational purpose of these devices?
- To lethally remove individual problem animals.
- To serve as a long-term exclusion method.
- To actively harass and disperse wildlife through noise and light. (Correct answer)
- To chemically repel wildlife from airport vegetation.
Correct answer: To actively harass and disperse wildlife through noise and light.
Pyrotechnics are a form of active harassment or dispersal. They are designed to frighten wildlife away from critical areas using loud noises, flashes of light, and smoke, but they are not intended to be lethal. They are an immediate, active measure, not a long-term exclusion or chemical repellent method.
Question 6: A certificated airport has an FAA-approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP). According to 14 CFR Part 139, personnel responsible for implementing the plan must receive:
- One-time certification upon hiring with no further requirements.
- A safety briefing only when a significant wildlife event occurs.
- Initial training and recurrent training every 24 months.
- Initial training and recurrent training at least every 12 consecutive months. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Initial training and recurrent training at least every 12 consecutive months.
14 CFR Part 139.303(e) requires recurrent training for personnel with duties under the Airport Certification Manual every 12 consecutive months. Furthermore, 139.337(f)(7) specifically requires the WHMP to include a training program for personnel who carry out the plan. FAA guidance supports this annual recurrent training requirement.
ACE - Airport Certified Employee Wildlife Hazard Management Questions and Answers 1
According to 14 CFR Part 139.337, which of the following events would mandate that an airport conduct a formal Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA)?