BCP personnel handle all data and reporting for the Safety Office (enter all bird strikes into local and AFSAS/Smithsonian database and conduct BASH related mishap investigations) often allowing Flight Safety Officers (FSOs) to concentrate on their mishap investigations and spot inspections. BCP personnel also collect and prep all birdstrike remains and coordinate their mailing to the Smithsonian Institution for identification. BCP personnel follow-up on all open AFSAS BASH reports and ensure their timely closure and accurate data. This also provides the continuity required for this type of program. The AFI requires FSOs to remain on the job for 2-3 years, this very rarely happens. Even if an FSO understood bird migrations, species’ habitats, etc., there is such turnaround that any lessons learned would leave with the departing FSO. BCP personnel are able to concentrate solely on wildlife issues and possess the core knowledge to interpret and react to various wildlife related trends and patterns. Most importantly, BCP personnel do not deploy and therefore there is no loss in continuity to an AEF or other deployment.

BCP personnel also maintain a local database of all birdstrikes, to facilitate searches, quick access, and appropriate followup. A local databse also allows all airbase personnel to have ready access and input to the data, without a need for AFSAS accounts or the long time-delay for performing off-site searches and assessment of the data.

BCP personnel also ensure that all appropriate forms are filed and are completed with as much accurate information as possible. BCP personnel follow-up with pilots, Debrief, maintenance, QA, and other agencies that may be involvred with the collection and dissemination of birdstrike information. BCP personnel ensure that Form 853, as well as Forms 97 and 21-102 (or their equivalent) are appropriately filled out by all agencies and distributed appropriately. Many birdstrikes "fall through the cracks" without BCP's ceaseless pursuit of comprehensive and complete data.

BCP personnel also accomplish the identical process in the civil aviation world, with the FAA Form 5200-7 substituting for the Air Force's 853, equivalent agencies substituing for AF departments, and civilian processes and enitities replacing military equivalents.

Without comprehensive and complete strike data, it is far more difficult to evaluate and resolve wildlife hazard issues. You must know what you're hitting and what is causing problems if you are to have any hope in mitigating the risk.