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Randolph, Schertz staff outline plan to disperse vulture roosts near Schertz Elementary to reduce bird strikes
Summary
Representatives of the 12th Flying Training Wing and USDA Wildlife Services told the Schertz City Council on May 20 they plan repeated evening dispersals to move vulture roosts away from low‑altitude training patterns near Schertz Elementary, citing safety and training impacts.
RANDOLPH/Schertz, Texas — Representatives of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph told the Schertz City Council on May 20 that vulture roosts near Schertz Elementary School are elevating the risk of bird strikes for pilot training and that a multiweek or multiyear effort will be needed to disperse the birds.
At a workshop presentation, Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Sands, safety chief for the wing, said bird strikes are the largest single category of high‑value mishaps for Randolph’s flight operations. “Bird strikes are by by and large the biggest percentage,” Sands said, adding that strikes can cause damage that ranges from “relatively superficial skin damage” to holes that can cost “over $600,000” to repair.
The wing’s BASH (bird/wildlife aircraft strike hazard) program manager, Kent Farnadique, and Emmy Chan, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services embedded with the wing,…
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