‘Unsung heroes’ – McGuire Falconers keep air ways safe, clear for air crews Published Aug. 13, 2007 By Erin Blauvelt 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Every day at McGuire, falcons are sent to fly above flight lines in an effort to scare unwanted birds and wildlife out of aircraft's way. In an age with so much technology and machinery, so many electronics and computers, it seems strange that one of the best ways to keep air crew members safe is by using birds! But it's true; almost every Air Force base on the East Coast makes use of specially trained falcons each day. The Falconers Program is part of the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program run through flight-safety. These birds of prey serve to scare birds which pose a threat to the safety of air crews out of the way . They specifically aim to keep large birds, like geese, away from the flight line. Every year the Air Force and Navy report 3,000 bird strikes, causing more than $75 million in damages. And, it is estimated only 20 percent of bird strikes are reported. The threat presented by birds became fully actualized in 1994, when 24 Air Force crew members were killed in a plane crash at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The plane did not have a faulty engine, control system, or propeller; the problem was a flock of Canada geese. According to officials, 35 geese were hit by the plane, five of which entered the number one and two engines. The tragedy was a wakeup call which highlighted the importance of the BASH program. Capt. Michael McCartney, 305th Air Mobility Wing safety officer, said the incident was "the advent of the modern BASH program." One such improvement came in the form of falcons. At McGuire, eight falcons are used to patrol the airways -- four Peregrine and four Hybrid. Trained and supervised by a group of three civilians known as "The Falconers", these falcons are bred specially to do their job protecting the military. Daily, usually two-to-three times, the Falconers take two-to-three birds out and have them fly around, letting any close fowl know they are not welcome. The Falconers are out on the flightline seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset, all year round. The program is particularly important at McGuire because the base lies in the path of the Eastern Atlantic Migratory Pattern, the pathway followed by migrating birds as the seasons change. This causes many problems for the safety of both the pilots and birds; critical Air Force missions are not able to be postponed due to bird traffic. Bird conditions and patterns are monitored closely, and precautions are taken when there is reason to believe the skies will be particularly hazardous due to migratory patterns. Falcons have been used at McGuire since at least 1998, almost 10 years ago. Captain McCartney said the falcons and the Falconers are among the many unsung heroes of the U.S. military. That's because it's hard to assign an actual number value to the birds; the damage and lives they spare cannot be tallied, Capt. McCartney said . Still, they continue to soar above the flight lines, keeping the air ways safe and clear for aircraft and air crews.