Safety officials get qualified on 12 gauge shotgun

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Staff Sgt. Scott Fitzgerald, 8th Security Forces Squadron combat arms instructor, oversees Tech. Sgt. Chad Calahan, 8th Fighter Wing flight safety NCO in charge, during a shotgun qualification course here July 6. Certified personnel use the shotgun for the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program, or BASH, to help reduce the number of birds on the airfield that may interfere with flight operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs)

Airmen take up shotguns to tackle potential bird problems

Published July 6, 2011
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Safety officials from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, conducted shotgun qualification tests with the 8th Security Forces Squadron here July 6, adding another tool to their arsenal for the wing's Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program.

Combat arms instructors covered weapons safety, loading and unloading, in the classroom before heading to the range to fire for the qualification. Five Airmen are now qualified on the 12 gauge shotgun to use with the BASH program. BASH typically calls for either birdshot or "bird scare" rounds, with the latter emitting a loud noise and burst of light similar to a firecracker.

"The BASH program is important because it helps reduce the number of birds on the airfield that may interfere with flight operations," said Tech. Sgt. Chad Calahan, 8th Fighter Wing NCO in charge of flight safety. "Without the BASH program, our pilots would be at a greater risk for bird strikes, which could result in the loss of an aircraft, or even worse -- one of our pilots."