The Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group held its second biennial workshop on 23 and 24 July, generously hosted by Sydney Airport Corporation at the Kingsford Smith Suite in the International Terminal, and sponsored by Brisbane Airport Corporation, Australian Museum, Avisure and the IVM Group.
There was a very pleasing cross-industry representation for this year’s workshop, with delegates from airports—large and small, Australian and New Zealand;airlines, Australian and NZ Defence forces, wildlife consultants, wildlife management service providers and suppliers;and regulators, from Australia and Thailand.
Over 70 took part in the two days of interactive workshop sessions, providing valuable feedback on AAWHG activities, and especially on the suite of AAWHG draft recommended practices (RPs). Chair, Jackson Ring, said ‘We will incorporate this valuable feedback and plan on finalising the RPs by the end of the year’. Discussion focused especially on the training and competencies for flight crew, air traffic controllers and aerodrome safety personnel, data collection and analysis and significant strike investigation.
Workshop themes
This multi-sector approach reinforced the workshop theme: ‘Working Together for Aviation safety’. While wildlife hazard management is an airport regulatory requirement, a holistic (and effective) approach to safety requires involvement and action from all industry participants. The two-day program opened with a session on passive wildlife management, where case studies of vegetation and insect management trials at Brisbane, Darwin and Perth airports, highlighted the value of such a holistic approach.
Brisbane Airport Corporation found the one-hectare trial to be so successful they are extending it to 115 ha, and Perth Airport’s management of the food chain for Nankeen kestrels has seen a pleasing reduction in kestrel strikes. In 2010 Kestrels accounted for 49 per cent of strikes, while today that figure is 20 per cent.
Did you know?
The majority of bird strikes occur at low altitudes: 50–60 per cent of bird strikes occur at zero to 50 feet, and 30 per cent between 50–500 feet.
An update on the National Airports Safeguarding Framework provided discussion on off-airport management and its impact to reduce wildlife strikes.
Wellington Airport showcased the methods and results of tracking black-back gulls, their highest risk species;and the ATSB presented an overview of drones and wildlife. Gary Cooke then gave an update on the World Birdstrike Association.
Day two of the workshop began with a detailed case study of a significant bird strike investigation, where a jabiru (or black-necked stork),which stands at 1.3m tall and has a wingspan of around 2m,was ingested into the engine of a B737-800. Noy Industries then showcased new non-lethal scaring technologies and IVM Group highlighted the remote insect monitoring traps on the market.
Following day one’s RP workshop, another engaging, interactive and productive session was held on day two,with groups looking at the challenges facing remote/regional, large and defence airports. The workshop concluded with a visit to the Australian Museum. Groups hosted by Greta Frankham and Andrew King, Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics, had the opportunity to see the work of the DNA laboratory first-hand, ora whirlwind tour of the Museum’s wildlife exhibits, and the intriguing artefacts in the current exhibition, ‘100 Treasures of the Australian Museum’.
