A federal agency is recognizing Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field’s efforts to deter wildlife from interfering with airport operations.
The United States Department of Agriculture recently presented Airport Director Rob Peterson with the Airport Wildlife Award.
It was announced during the Yakima City Council meeting last night, Tuesday.
“I appreciate continued efforts by Director Peterson and airport staff to ensure our passengers, aircraft operators, and airport users remain safe as they utilize Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field,” said City Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez, who chairs the Council’s Public Safety Committee.
The award recognizes airports that take proactive measures to prevent wildlife from negatively impacting operations.
Those measures here in Yakima began in 2015. They include implementing a wildlife tracking system at the airport, maintaining specific landscaping that does not attract wildlife, and coordinating with airport tenants to ensure garbage containers are secure when not in use.
“These actions are critical, because from 1990 to 2015 the Federal Aviation Administration identified almost 170,000 wildlife strikes at airports nationwide,” said Peterson. “In 2015 alone, wildlife strikes caused a loss of $229 million within the aviation industry.”
This marks the second consecutive year that Yakima’s airport has been honored.
In 2017, the Washington Airport Management Association recognized Peterson as Management Member of the Year.
For more about Yakima Air Terminal–McAllister Field, visit https://flyykm.com/