Deputies Taser Emu
By Tyler Ludke
Published: Mon, July 07, 2008 - 1:29 am
Last Updated: Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 1:37 am
Last Updated: Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 1:37 am
Tyndall Air Force Base's F-22A "Raptors" are protected by
avionics, communication programs and aerial surveillance systems
spun like spider webs across the nation. But at 30 feet, they're
counting on John Fontenot.
Fontenot is a wildlife biologist at Tyndall Air Force Base and
the man in charge of implementing the Air Force's Bird/Wildlife
Aircraft Strike Hazard Management Techniques, or BASH. His job is
to keep Florida's ample wildlife at a safe distance from Tyndall's
runways.
An 8-ounce ringneck dove can mean big problems for even the most
seasoned pilots, especially around 200 mph during takeoffs or
landings.
There were 37 bird strikes in 2006 at Tyndall, followed by 33 in
2007. This year has seen about 13.
But birds are not the sole cause of concern for Tyndall's
aircraft. With a healthy and often untraveled bit of forest and a
generous serving of freshwater points, Fontenot has to contend with
deer, rodents, snakes and the occasional Dumpster-raiding bear. He
even has caught an alligator trucking toward the runway.
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