Wildlife Aircraft Hazards Wildlife Aircraft Hazards Biol. Ed Cleary Staff Wildlife Biologist Federal Aviation Administration Office of Airport Safety and Standards Biol. Ed Cleary Staff Wildlife Biologist Federal Aviation Administration Office of Airport Safety and Standards

2 Responsive to changes in: 1. Technology  Aircraft design  3 or 4 engines to 2 engines  Engine ingestion standards 2. Research results Program started in 1960s

3 3. Wildlife populations  13 of 14 species of birds over 4 lbs.  Deer populations increase  350,000 in 1900  <26 million today

4  Wildlife strike reporting is voluntary  1,700 reports in 1990  6,100 reports in 2002  Increases in:  Public awareness  Number of operations  Number of aircraft  Wildlife populations  Number of strikes

5

6 Wildlife is attracted to an airport because they can find:  Food  Cover  Water

7  Habitat modification  Protection  Population management  Flight schedule modification Wildlife strike control strategies:

8 1. Regulatory  Title 14 CFR  Specific triggering events  Wildlife hazard assessment  Wildlife hazard management plan FAA’s BASH control program:

9 2. Increasing aviation community awareness  Bird Strike Committee USA  Posters  Advisory Circulars  AC 150/ Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or Near Airports  AC 150/ Construction or Establishment of New Landfills Near Public Airports

10  Manual Wildlife Hazard Management At Airports (English, Spanish, French)

11 Annual Report

12  Articles in the scientific and popular literature  Presentations/papers at various aviation group and scientific meeting  Web Site:

13 3. Sponsoring research  Habitat management  Wildlife management techniques  Database management (46,000 records)  Feather ID (Smithsonian)

Sandra Wright, USDA, Manager, FAA Wildlife Strike Database for Civil Aviation Carla Dove, Smithsonian: Provides free bird identification via analysis of feather remains Sandra Wright, USDA, Manager, FAA Wildlife Strike Database for Civil Aviation

15 4. Interagency cooperation  US DoA Wildlife Services  US DoD Air Force  US DoI Fish and Wildlife Service  US Environmental Protection Agency

16 6. International Cooperation  Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (Mexico)  Safe Skies for Africa  East Africa  Republica Dominicana  International Birdstrike Committee

17 Keeping wildlife off airports means --

18 safer skies for all who fly.