Airport Must Assess Wildlife

By Associated Press

COLUMBUS – The Golden Triangle Regional Airport must conduct a yearlong wildlife assessment following a Federal Aviation Administration inspection.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture study is mandatory for airports of its size. The main concern is animals – mostly deer – getting on the runway in the rural setting.

The study, which will be paid for out of Airport Improvement Program grant money, is expected to cost $100,000.

When complete, the USDA will make a plan for the airport to decrease dangers wildlife pose to aircraft operations.

GTRA executive director Mike Hainsey told the airport’s board of directors about the upcoming study at a Friday meeting.

“We could put my son-in-law in a deer stand out there,” board member Bobby Harper joked. “I’ve been hunting with him three times and we haven’t seen a deer yet.”

Hainsey said the need for a wildlife study became more important after a small civil aircraft recently hit a deer on a Mississippi runway, killing both passengers in the plane.

Hainsey said the airport received good marks overall during the FAA inspection.

“We got through just fine,” Hainsey said. “There were no discrepancies. It’s pretty much a safety and training inspection.”

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