Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Human Factors
The Airport vehicle was doing his usual daily airport inspection for bird activity. Weather was IFR; visibility >1 and ceiling about 200 FT. Vehicle notified me he was stopping for a moment near the approach end of Runway 4R. There was an aircraft on about a three mile final to that runway. The CIC and I noticed; using binoculars; that the vehicle driver was shooting flares in the direction of the oncoming aircraft. Not only were the flares a potential hazard; but if the birds lying in the grass were agitated; they would be in flight low level at the approach end of the runway while the arriving aircraft was short final. I have continuously asked the facility to address the issue of airport vehicles and their movement on the airport. There seems to be a lack of understanding of air traffic operations. This is an acute example. Vehicle operators need to be aware of what they're doing and how it may impact the safety of aircraft. Birds sitting in the grass are much less a hazard than getting those birds to commence flight off the ground while an aircraft if flaring on arrival to an adjacent runway less than 100 FT away. It would be beneficial for airport operators to discuss these issues with the controllers they regularly communicate with; rather than having points of contact who are staff that have not worked traffic in the tower in several years. Bird inspections and dispersal of birds should be done when there is NO activity on the airport; not when the traffic is starting up for the day. In no case should flares be shot towards an oncoming arrival aircraft.
A BOS Controller voiced concern regarding bird activity actions taken by an airport vehicle operator that was potentially unsafe. The reporter suggests airport employees be given training regarding this issue.