INTERNATIONAL BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE IBSC27/WP X-4 Athens, May 2005

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "INTERNATIONAL BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE IBSC27/WP X-4 Athens, May 2005"

Amos May
5 years ago
Views:

1 INTERNATIONAL BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE IBSC27/WP X-4 Athens, May 2005 INTEGRATED NORTH AMERICAN BIRD AVOIDANCE SYSTEM: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN Russell P. DeFusc, PhD, Lt Cl, USAF (ret.) 1, Michel J. Hvan, P.E., PhD 2, James T. Harper, Lt Cl, USAF 3 and Kurt A. Heppard, PhD 4 1 Vice President, BASH Incrprated, 5010 Lanagan Street, Clrad Springs, CO USA Tel.: (719) , BirdmanRuss@al.cm 2 Wildlife Strike Mitigatin R&D Prgram Manager, Airprt Safety R&D Sectin, AAR-411 William J. Hughes Federal Aviatin Administratin Technical Center Atlantic City Internatinal Airprt, NJ USA Tel.: (609) , Michel.Hvan@faa.gv 3 Managing Directr, Institute fr Infrmatin Technlgy Applicatins HQ USAFA/DFEI 2354 Fairchild Drive, Suite 4K29, USAFA, Clrad , USA Tel.: (719) , James.Harper@usafa.af.mil 4 Assciate Prfessr f Management, HQ USAFA/DFM 2354 Fairchild Drive, Suite 6H130, USAFA, Clrad , USA Tel.: (719) , Kurt.Heppard@usafa.af.mil Abstract Bird strikes t bth civil and military aircraft in Nrth America reprtedly cst ver $US 1 billin annually. Bird cntrl effrts and ppulatin management are cnducted in the airfield envirnment, but many strikes and a disprprtinate amunt f damage are recrded in the ff-airfield envirnment. Aviding birds in flight remains a viable ptin that requires further research and develpment. Bird avidance in time and space is scale dependent in bth time and space. Lng range planning can be addressed by such histrical systems as the USAF s Bird Avidance Mdel. Near real time, reginal advisries are prvided by the Avian Hazard Advisry System. Real time and lcalized advisries are addressed with mbile avian radars, airprt surveillance radars, and ther systems under research and develpment by varius agencies. Effrt is nw underway t integrate all these disparate systems under ne verarching umbrella fr the United States and Canada. The USAF Academy Institute fr Infrmatin Technlgy Applicatins is currently hsting the prgram t cnslidate such effrts. Maintenance and updates t the US BAM and the new Alaska BAM, integratin f BAM and AHAS internet map server applicatins, develpment f small t large scale bird detectin radars, and cmmunicatin netwrks fr cntrl prgrams and ultimately t be prjected int cckpits fall under the new purview. A strategic plan fr the prpsed integrated Nrth American Bird Avidance System has been develped t utline research, develpment, and implementatin f these effrts. Department f Defense, Federal Aviatin Administratin, Transprt Canada, Canadian Defense Frces, and varius cntractrs are current participants. The gals are t end cmpetitin and incmpatibility between cmpnents and t create a unified system fr all users. Ultimately, effrts t integrate systems in a wrldwide netwrk will be pursued with cperating natins acrss the glbe. Keywrds: Strategic Plan, Nrth America, Bird Avidance, Radars, BAM, Cmmunicatin, Advisries. 1

IBSC27/WP X-4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRD STRIKE ADVISORY SYSTEM STRATEGIC PLAN 1. Intrductin Cllisins between birds and aircraft have ccurred since the earliest days f aviatin.

2 IBSC27/WP X-4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRD STRIKE ADVISORY SYSTEM STRATEGIC PLAN 1. Intrductin Cllisins between birds and aircraft have ccurred since the earliest days f aviatin. The bird strike prblem has becme mre severe ver time with crwded airspace, faster aircraft, and significant increases in hazardus bird ppulatins. Glbally, since 1990, there have been a minimum f 147 fatalities and ver 120 aircraft lst due t bird strikes. It is virtually impssible t accurately calculate the csts f these incidents due t lack f mandatry reprting, differing reprting standards, indirect csts, and cmmercial interests; but by any measure the csts are staggering. The United States Federal Aviatin Administratin (FAA) recrds an average f ver 6,000 bird strikes per year t the civil aviatin industry, including direct and assciated csts at a minimum f $97.9 millin per year. Crrected fr the estimated 80% f unreprted strikes, csts may well exceed $489.8 millin per year. Figure 1 shws a 2002 bird strike n the nse f a civilian aircraft that ccurred n departure frm Dulles Internatinal Airprt. Transprt Canada (TC) estimates direct csts t its industry between $64 and $127 millin US dllars annually frm ver 900 reprted strikes per year and an estimated 30% unreprted strikes. The US Air Frce (USAF) reprting rates are cnsidered much higher than in the civilian sectr due t mandatry reprting requirements. The USAF annually recrds apprximately 4,000 bird strikes and direct csts f ver $25 millin. The USAF recrded 22 lst aircraft and 33 fatalities since Figure 2 shws a bird strike n a USAF C-141. Figures 1 and 2 shw bird strikes that did nt result in the lss f human lives. Figure 3 shws a September 1995 bird strike that resulted in an E3-B AWACS crash that claimed the lives f 22 Americans and 2 Canadians. Figure Turkey strike n cmmercial aircraft at Dulles Internatinal Airprt. 2

3 DeFusc, Hvan, Harper & Heppard Figure 2. Canada Gse strike n radme f US Air Frce C-141. AWACS Crash Site Figure 3. September 1995 AWACS crash frm Canada Geese struck at Elmendrf Air Frce Base, Alaska. 3

4 IBSC27/WP X-4 The US Navy and Marine Crps tgether reprt apprximately 450 bird strikes annually csting an average f $21.7 millin per year in direct csts, including six lst aircraft and tw fatalities since Indirect csts t the US Department f Defense (DOD) are nt calculated, but exceed the abve values by substantial margins. Aviatin industry analysts calculate the ttal direct and indirect csts t the civil aviatin industry at ver $1.2 billin US dllars annually. Insurance industry analysts place this figure much higher and cnclude csts may apprach $4.5 billin US dllars annually fr US and Canadian civil aviatin alne. While we may never knw the exact csts attributed t bird strikes n civil and military aviatin, the ecnmic lsses are extreme. The demnstrated ptential fr injury and lss f life may be f greater cncern. The majrity f reprted bird strikes t bth civil and military aircraft ccur in the immediate airfield envirnment where cntrl measures may be implemented t reduce hazardus bird cnditins. Land use planning, habitat management, active and passive bird dispersal techniques, and ppulatin cntrl measures are all effective means f lessening the risk. Such techniques are well defined and implemented at civil and military airfields arund the wrld. Hwever, analysis f civil and military strike recrds clearly indicates that nce aircraft depart airprt prperty, a disprprtinate amunt f damage and csts are incurred. Birds are difficult r impssible t effectively manage r cntrl utside the bundaries f airprts. Planning t avid birds in time and space, and warning systems t enable evasin f birds in flight becme the nly viable ptins t manage ff-airfield risks. Histrically based mdels such as the USAF s Bird Avidance Mdel (BAM) aid in lng-range planning fr aviding knwn cncentratins f ptentially hazardus birds thrughut the cntinental United States and Alaska. The Avian Hazard Advisry System (AHAS) prvides a dynamic versin f the BAM by updating the risk assessments every 10 minutes based n detectin f birds and mnitring weather cnditins cnducive t bird mvements. AHAS gathers data frm the natinwide NEXRAD and ther weather radar systems. Small-scale mbile radars are available t mnitr lcal bird mvements in real-time at select lcatins. Fr several years, wrk has been cnducted t develp and field a three-dimensinal airprt bird detectin radar (3-D ABDR) t detect, track, and mnitr birds at cmmercial airprts in Canada. Eurpean natins use weather and natinal defense radar netwrks t detect birds and prvide warnings t pilts and decisin makers. Other cmpnents are als currently being develped r prpsed t address the issues f bird detectin, frecasting, mdeling, warning, and cmmunicatins. These diverse and varius systems can be effectively used fr planning, scheduling, and aviding birds in time and space, and may als be used t trigger ther actins such as active bird dispersal effrts. Hwever, research and develpment effrts have nt been effectively crdinated t create a fully integrated system fr bird strike advisries thrughut Nrth America. Cmpetitin fr scarce funding resurces and fragmented effrts t develp systems has resulted in nn-standard and ften incmpatible applicatin f bird avidance prcedures. Cperatin and integratin f techniques, specificatins, requirements, and prcedures are needed t effectively manage the prblem. 2. Prblem Statement At the current time, there are a number f prblems that have encumbered the develpment f an integrated bird strike risk warning system thrughut Nrth America. These can be categrized as fllws: Organizatinal Structures. There is n centralized agency t cnduct research and develpment f technlgy, t netwrk cmmunicatin systems, nr t implement prcedures fr Nrth American civil and military bird avidance prgrams. There has been prgress made in technlgical and research aspects f current bird avidance research and develpment. Hwever, implementatin effrts are ften uncrdinated, fragmented, and redundant, resulting in inefficient use f limited resurces. The result is a patchwrk f numerus bird strike risk reductin schemes f varius quality and effectiveness. Technical Challenges. The ability t detect r predict the presence f birds in such a way that they can be avided in time r space is nt fully develped. The detectin f birds can rely n radar r ther remte sensing technlgies. The develpment f realtime predictive bird presence mdels is in its infancy. 4

5 DeFusc, Hvan, Harper & Heppard Cmmunicatins. The ability t cmmunicate warnings fllwing detectin f bird hazards s that aerdrme staff can fcus directed bird dispersal effrts is nt develped. Beynd airprt prperty, the ability t cmmunicate meaningful and useful real-time warnings is virtually nn-existent. Plicy. Plicy crdinatin fr bird avidance prcedures is incmplete. Plicy rganizatins, decisin makers, and users are prly infrmed r unaware f ptential slutins. The range f prcedures and bird avidance techniques are incmpletely defined. Funding. Sustained prgram funding fr lng-term research, develpment, and integratin f a bird strike advisry systems des nt exist. Current effrts are individually funded by ptentially cperating gvernments and agencies in an ad hc manner. 3. Visin Statement The visin f the cperating agencies is t prduce a real-time and widely available Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System that prtects aircrew, passengers, and aircraft. The agencies will cperatively research, develp, and implement advisry systems that will prvide technlgical and prcedural slutins t minimize the risk f bird strikes t civil and military aircraft. 4. Research, Develpment, and Implementatin Gals and Objectives There are a number f key gals and bjectives identified by the cperating agencies that will be required t fully integrate a Nrth American scale bird strike advisry system. These cmpnents will be develped at varius lcatins and by several agencies and include: Cntinuing wrk n the existing USAF BAM and AHAS research, develpment, and maintenance effrts. Expanding BAM and AHAS int a cnslidated Nrth American system. Using GIS maps t shw bird hazards and resulting risks at and near airprts. Prviding an airprt-level risk management system at high reslutin t cmplement the current 1 kilmeter US BAM reslutin. Expliting current technlgies, develp and test shrt, intermediate, and lng-range radar-based as well as ther remte sensing bird hazard detectin capabilities. These capabilities must be explred ver the full range f real-time and near real-time scales. Using state f the art technlgy t determine hw the presence f birds creates varius levels f risk t aircraft and develp peratinal risk assessments. Creating the cmbined US/Canada Bird Strike Advisry Center (BSAC) t manage integratin f all system cmpnents. The BSAC will cllect, analyze, and cnslidate histrical, near real-time, and real-time bird hazard data at the lcal, reginal, and Nrth American scale. Develping airprt- t Nrth American-level bird strike risk management systems in cmpliance with GeBase and/r cmmercial GIS systems. Develping cmmunicatins netwrks t disseminate real-time, near real-time, and histrical bird strike advisries frm lcal t Nrth American scale. The BSAC will distribute bird strike advisries. 5. Data Surces Data will cnsist f histrical and real-time infrmatin. Histrical data includes the current United States BAM and is data that has been cllected ver many years in terms f bird species, ppulatin density, migratry patterns, relative bird strike risk, and peratinal airspace infrastructure. The AHAS 5

6 IBSC27/WP X-4 prvides dynamic updates t the BAM in near-real time at the reginal level. Real-time data will be cllected by radar at all levels. At the reginal and natinal level, lnger range radar may be able t detect bird migratin patterns. At the airprt r airfield level, dedicated radars must be able t detect birds in the critical airspace, defined as three-dimensinal cverage ut t five nautical miles and up t 3,000 feet abve grund level. These cmpnents must be integrated int a netwrked and accessible system that is user-friendly and widely available. Research is necessary t determine the best methds t gather rnithlgical and peratinal data at varius spatial and tempral scales. 6. Administratin A Bird Strike Advisry Center (BSAC) will be the central cllectin and distributin rganizatin fr the Nrth American system. The BSAC s cmpsitin, lcatin, and functins shall be defined by Memrandums f Agreement (MOAs) between the cntributing gvernments and agencies. The BSAC functins as the perating arm f the Executive Bard cmprised f representatives frm the cntributing gvernments and agencies. An Executive Bard will versee an integrated Bird Strike Advisry System fr the United States and Canada. The Bard will cnsist f DOD, FAA, Transprt Canada, and Department f Natinal Defence representatives. The Bard will cnvene ad hc advisry cmmittees when deemed necessary t address specific cmpnents f the integrated system. The Bard will secure funding fr the Bird Strike Advisry Center and assciated prgrams. A Prgram Manager will crdinate and implement the plicies established by the Executive Bard, and is respnsible fr making cntractual agreements, crdinating cntracts r the versight f cntracts. The Prgram Manager serves as the intermediary between the users and the Executive Bard and is the fcal pint fr system queries. Additinally, the Prgram Manager versees the prcessing f varius data cllected t prduce a finished prduct t disseminate t the end users. The Prgram Office, cnsisting f the Prgram Manager and Prject Staff, will administer the Bird Strike Advisry Center with versight frm the Bard. The Center will versee crdinated effrts in the fllwing areas: Research and develp bird detectin systems fr Nrth American, natinal, reginal, and lcalized applicatins. Crdinate data acquisitin fr hazardus bird cncentratin areas. Develp data management systems t depict and mdel hazardus bird cncentratin areas. Develp cmmunicatin netwrks t prvide bird advisry infrmatin in the lng term, intermediate term, and real time. Identify and develp capabilities t prvide real time warnings t decisin makers, airprt peratrs, grund-based wildlife dispersal teams, and airbrne users. Ensure standardizatin and integratin f technlgical systems. Prvide plicy and guidance fr implementatin f the bird strike advisry system in crdinatin with the end users. 6

7 DeFusc, Hvan, Harper & Heppard 7. Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System Implementatin and Operatins The Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System will be similar in appearance t United States and Canadian natinal weather infrmatin systems. Real-time infrmatin and predictins will be available n user-friendly, web-based maps at Nrth American, natinal, reginal, and lcal levels. Thrughut this system develpment prcess, cnsultatins with internatinal stakehlders will be maintained t ensure glbal cmpatibility and standardizatin. The system will be accessible n-line and users will be able t extract real-time infrmatin at airprt and reginal levels. Figure 4 shws large scale bird hazard frecasting based n histrical data and reginal radar inputs. The inset depicts the airprt-level representatin f the lcal area arund the Dallas-Frt Wrth Airprt using airprt maps and radars. Figure 4. Cnceptual depictin f a prtin f the Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System There will be diverse users f the integrated system. At the airprt level, airprt persnnel, air traffic cntrllers, and pilts will be able t access histrical and real-time infrmatin. Fr flight planning purpses, pilts and airlines will be able t use infrmatin at the Nrth American and natinal levels. In an apprach mde, a pilt will als be able t get current updated infrmatin frm either direct cnnect t the system, r via the airline peratins center and military equivalents. Figure 5 is a ntinal representatin f the Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System. 7

8 IBSC27/WP X-4 Bird Strike Advisry System Architecture Histrical Mdels Bird Strike Advisry Center Civilian Aircrews Lng Range Radar Military Aircrews Shrt Range Radar Ornithlgical Data Netwrked Airprt Bird Strike Systems Air Traffic Cntrllers Other Surces Data Prcessing Prducts Other Clients Figure 5. Ntinal Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System The implementatin f the bird strike advisry system will be prgressive, but ffered at the lcal, reginal, and Nrth American level at the same time. In rder fr the Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System t be successful, research and develpment will perfrm the fllwing: Establish the cmbined United States/Canada Bird Strike Advisry Center. Expand the United States BAM and AHAS int Canada. Establish a single web-based advisry system based n BAM and AHAS. Implement radar and ther remte sensing technlgies t prvide near real time and real time bird hazard advisries at lcal and reginal scales. Implement a bird strike risk warning system at the airprt level. This can be dne at a limited number f airprts at the same time. Implement lcal-, reginal-, natinal-, and Nrth American-level bird strike advisry systems. Implement cmmunicatins systems t prvide bird strike advisries t grund-based and airbrne users. Integrate the varius airprt bird strike risk warning systems int the cnslidated Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System. Prvide the system nline. 8

9 DeFusc, Hvan, Harper & Heppard 8. Cnclusin The Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System presented here has been crdinated with technical experts and representatives frm the varius United States and Canadian agencies wh will ultimately be respnsible fr supprting the integrated system. Specific Memrandums f Agreement need t be initiated t fully implement the system. The system envisined in this summary is just underway and will be phased in ver a perid f several years. Ultimately, we desire a fully peratinal system with integrated cmpnents t address the severe and cstly prblem f bird strikes thrughut the Nrth American cntinent. This system can als be further integrated n the glbal scale with participating internatinal agencies frm all interested natins. Exchanging cperatin, technlgy, and prcedures with ur internatinal partners can nly serve t create a safer envirnment fr all wh share the skies with the birds. 9. Acknwledgements The Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System Strategic Plan develpment effrt was led by the Institute fr Infrmatin Technlgy Applicatins (IITA). Lcated at the USAF Academy in Clrad Springs, Clrad, the IITA is an independent research center supprted by the Air Frce Office f Scientific Research. There have been numerus ther agencies wh have cntributed t this dcument. The staff f the USAF Institute fr Infrmatin Technlgy Applicatins, alng with the Federal Aviatin Administratin and Transprt Canada, spnsred the develpment f this wrk prviding material supprt and administratin fr the effrt. Other rganizatins that prvided invaluable inputs and assistance include the USAF Bird/Wildlife Strike Hazard Team at the USAF Safety Center, the Air Natinal Guard Bureau, the US Navy BASH prgram, and the US Department f Agriculture/Wildlife Services. We wuld als like t acknwledge the fllwing internatinal rganizatins fr their effrts: German Bundeswehr Geinfrmatin Office, the Internatinal Bird Strike Cmmittee, and the United Kingdm s Central Science Labratry. The utstanding internatinal, multi-agency cperatin was essential t the develpment f this Strategic Plan and ultimately t the success f the Nrth American Bird Strike Advisry System. 9

National Search and Rescue Committee (NSARC) Secretariat Issue Paper

National Search and Rescue Committee (NSARC) Secretariat Issue Paper Natinal Search and Rescue Cmmittee (NSARC) Secretariat Issue Paper Status: Cntingency Airspace and Air Missin Management during a Disaster Respnse (13 June 2012) Issue The fllwing issue paper prvides infrmatin