Airfield Support Services

JSA have over forty years’ experience of working on Airfields

We are one of the primary specialist contractors working in this high risk environment in the UK. We carry out a full range of operations on the manoeuvring area from bottoming-out to airfield topping cuts using 9m Schulte mowers capable of cutting up to 180ha/day.

Effective, performance based, aerodrome wildlife habitat management is a critical and important activity that should yield a continuous reduction in the numbers and types of hazardous bird (and wildlife) on and in the vicinity of the aerodrome. Habitat management techniques should therefore be aimed at the removal or reduction of habitats that attract wildlife that give the greatest risk.

The key objective of habitat management is to prevent, proactively and systematically, hazardous wildlife from being attracted to the airfield environment in the first place, and thereby reduce the reliance on reactive or ‘active’ bird control methods in order to prevent wildlife strikes.

Aerodrome grassland has the potential to provide food, security and nesting habitats for a variety of birds. Studies and fact based research over many years has determined that grass that is maintained at a height of 200-300mm with minimal levels of weed infestation has been proven to reduce the presence of upright stems and the majority of hazardous bird species. This method of grass management is often referred to as a ‘long grass’ policy.

Where a LGP is employed, its primary intention is to reduce the attraction to hazardous birds via a healthy, erect, dense grass sward, which is weed free. This acts to reduce the attractiveness to wildlife that wish to reside on the airfield, to reduce security and the accessibility of food that wildlife may feed on.

As grass grows according to season, so does the presence and prevalence of certain wildlife species, and therefore grass maintenance should be planned accordingly to deter and target species when necessary.

All our works are carried out to ensure both CAP 772 and CAP 168 compliance to work with airfields to achieve a LGP compliance. We actively work with the airfields, understanding their aims and tailoring the operations according to their specific budgetary restraints.