First edition 2005 Aerodrome Bird Hazard Prevention and Wildlife Management Handbook

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1 First edition 2005 Aerodrome Bird Hazard Prevention Authors: ACI World Operational Safety Subcommittee In collaboration with: Bureau de travaux et d études en environnement (BTEE)

2 AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL First edition 2005 Aerodrome Bird Hazard Prevention PUBLISHED BY ACI WORLD HEADQUARTERS GENEVA SWITZERLAND Authors: ACI World Operational Safety Subcommittee In collaboration with: Bureau de travaux et d études en environnement (BTEE)

3 CONTENTS Foreword Chapter 1 Introduction to bird and wildlife hazards Chapter 2 The attraction of the aerodrome environment Chapter 3 Aerodrome habitat management Chapter 4 Bird hazard and wildlife management in the vicinity of the aerodrome Chapter 5 Active methods of scaring and controlling birds Chapter 6 Organization of wildlife management on aerodromes Chapter 7 Control of mammals Chapter 8 Reporting and record keeping Chapter 9 Conclusions Appendix A Activities covered by a wildlife hazard prevention operative Appendix B References, sources and internet sites Contents

4 FOREWORD Safety is the top priority for the air transport industry. ACI is proud to present this new Handbook on Wildlife Hazard Management. Most of the material it contains has been distilled from excellent guidance material available from several large Civil Aviation Authorities around the world, as well as ICAO material, and it builds on the existing ACI guidance in the ACI Policy Handbook. While remaining short and succinct, it provides checklists for action, as well as an explanation of risks to be assessed and means of mitigation available. As stated in the text, local risk assessments are inevitably necessary. This subject is clearly of great importance to Airport Operators, who want to avoid or mitigate all foreseeable risks of accidents occurring - there are also important liability issues in case of an accident. These risks and issues have been discussed many times at ACI conferences and committee meetings - therefore, ACI feels that it has the responsibility to put forward a guide to best practice, to assist its members. It forms part of a coordinated approach to Safety Management Systems; that ACI recommends to its members. ACI would like to acknowledge the contributions of several main authors, notably Andrew Badham of BAA plc. A major review of the content was conducted by Stéphane Pillet of BTEE, a specialist consultancy located in Switzerland, and by Ian Witter of BAA plc. We would like to thank these individuals particularly, as well as other members of the ACI Operational Safety Sub-committee who have reviewed and edited the contents. We commend this Handbook to your attention. Robert J. Aaronson Director General 4 Foreword

5 CHAPTER 1 Introduction to bird and wildlife hazards Wildlife prevention is an important element of the operations of all airport Introduction Wildlife, and particularly birds, is a known hazard to aircraft. The damage caused to both civil and military aviation worldwide by wildlife, whether birds or mammals, is not a new phenomenon. For as long as powered flight has existed, incidents involving wildlife have been recorded. In the early days the risk of bird or wildlife strikes to aircraft was perceived to be minor due to low numbers of movements; however, with increasing aircraft movements worldwide, incidents involving wildlife have become a significant problem at aerodromes. Birds are not the only species constituting a hazard for air traffic. The presence of mammals near or on many aerodromes throughout the world is well documented. Statistics show that there were over 430 collisions between aircraft and deer in the United States between 1990 and In certain cases, the presence of stray dogs or other mammals can also give rise to problems. Over the years some aircraft collisions with birds and mammals have been fatal, with the first accident recorded in North America in Cal Rodgers, the first pilot to cross the United States from East to West, lost his life when a seagull became caught up in his controls, causing his aircraft to crash. Since then, over 360 people have lost their lives in accidents attributed to wildlife strikes, including both civil and military aircraft. In terms of costs, the damage caused to aircraft by wildlife strikes amounts to millions of dollars every year for the airline industry. To illustrate this point, it is estimated that wildlife and bird strikes cost the US civil and military aviation industry over $600 million annually The threat to modern aircraft from bird strikes is taken seriously by the aeronautical industry. Current aircraft design means that many aircraft only have two engines, often of large fan diameter, which may contribute to their vulnerability to bird strikes. However certification standards have been tightened over the years to improve modern aircraft s resistance to such threats. Introduction to bird and wildlife hazards 5