SIRM AFI - Bird Strikes & Wildlife Management
Threat
For the industry the challenges presented by our feathered friends are not new. However, without effective wildlife control and management the exposure to such risk will grow. In the wake of the pandemic and environmental shifts, the hazard has changed. Migration patterns, for example, have shifted which means the plans we once had in place for the management of the seasonal bird activity may no longer be applicable or effective. Environmental changes on the other hand have resulted in bird strike events at altitudes not commonly observed, this itself could challenge the design philosophy of aircraft and in particular the height, speed, weight and angle of impact relationships.
For an airline, bird strike is costly and can have severe impacts on the ability to operate. Whilst the outcome of such events are borne by the airline, besides the technical specification of the aircraft, the fundamental mitigations for the reduction of bird strike rests with the aerodrome. This means that communication and collaboration between aerodrome operators and the airlines is required to manage the latent conditions that either attract or accommodate bird activity.
When faced with an increase in internal wildlife reports, one airline presented the efforts they have taken to improve mitigation, reduce the risk of catastrophic outcomes, and reduce the likelihood of increased cost.
Whilst diligently investigating each report through the SMS, the airline utilizing the data and SMS principles determined the following actions:
- Obtain proof of enhancement of airports’ wildlife risk management
- Airport improvement of night patrol and nocturnal birds’ identification
- ADEMA Airports collaboration with ornithologists
- Acquisition of bird scaring material for MJN airport
- Improvement of control resources for SMS & TLE airport
- Continuous improvement of knowledgeable DIE airport staff
- Continuity of ATC and Airport staff communication regarding bird events; Timely NOTAMS
- Plan ahead on habitat management, considering geography and climate (end of rainy season)
- Evidence of implementation of preventive actions described in wildlife hazard control program for each aerodrome manager, to be sent to Authority (every half-year)
- Authority action regarding pigeon farmers surrounding MOQ airport
- Recommend flight crews to notify on-site teams directly for immediate actions (FSFI0623)
In an ideal world, the airport would be managing and mitigating the threat that wildlife presents, but this is more often than not being driven by the airlines for action.
Call to Action - Industry
- Through performance and risk-based oversight principles, Regulators should be assessing the effectiveness of Airport wildlife management programs.
- Airlines engagement with airport authorities is critical, collaboration and use of aligned SMS is essential for determining cause and contributory factors.
- Encouraging Local Runway Safety Teams (LRST) to engage, collaborate and share issues and practices that could have benefits that go beyond wildlife management.
- Local authorities need to be more engaged with the requirements of the airports and aviation community when considering changes to environmental factors.
- Increase in aviation bird studies, including migration patterns, environmental impacts, behaviour changes etc.
- Consider the introduction of bird detection radars at airports which experience a large volume of reports or known high bird activity.
Call to Action – IATA
- IATA are in the process of establishing a collaborative Bird Strike working group, which will aim to assess the changes in the global wildlife risk, future work that is generated by this group may support the industry call to actions.
- The CASIP will review the associated issues.
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